Frozen pregnancy at different stages
The cessation of fetal development before 28 weeks is called miscarriage, and beyond 28 weeks is called fetal death. The cause of the pathology is infections, including STIs, exposure to medications, climate change, air travel, stress, but most often it is a natural process of discarding an embryo with genetic disorders.
According to WHO, 70% of all pregnancy arrests occur before 2 weeks, so the woman does not even suspect that something has happened to her. In this case, the fertilized egg comes out on its own, causing slightly more intense bleeding than usual, which the woman perceives as her menstruation due.
In 25% of cases, pathology occurs before the 10th week. At such a stage, a frozen pregnancy often does not lead to a miscarriage; the fetus remains in the uterus and decomposes, poisoning the woman’s body, so the help of a gynecologist is required.
Why pregnancy freezes
“This is the second time in a row this has happened to me! - a girl cries at an appointment with an obstetrician-gynecologist. – Six months ago the pregnancy froze at 11 weeks, now it’s generally 6-7. What is wrong with me? My husband and I really want a child..."
Doctors calculated the periods at which the embryo is most vulnerable: 3-4, 8-11 and 16-18 weeks. It is at this time that the likelihood of miscarriage and frozen pregnancy is high. This is the time of laying the vital organs of the future baby and changes in the mother’s body.
Culprit 1: hormonal imbalances
The woman's endocrine system undergoes the most significant changes in the first trimester of pregnancy. The production of maternal hormones is influenced by the hormones of the placenta and fetus. From the moment of conception, the amount of female sex hormones in the body increases: progesterone and estrogen, and not only their presence is important, but also their balance.
So one of the hormonal causes of missed abortion and spontaneous abortion is a lack of progesterone, without which the embryo cannot “settle” firmly in the uterus. In approximately 20% of women, the level of male sex hormones increases during pregnancy - this is the second possible reason for pregnancy loss.
These disorders can be predicted by analyzing hormonal status even before pregnancy and treatment can be started in advance.
Culprit 2: genetic disorders
Genetic abnormalities of the fetus manifest themselves quite early, many of them are incompatible with life. Genetic “breakdowns” are inherited by the embryo from both the mother and the father, or arise from an unsuccessful combination of parental genes. It is believed that if the second, third or more pregnancies in a row fail, genetics is to blame. However, doctors find it difficult to say with accuracy.
Culprit 3: infections
Pregnancy is a state of immunosuppression, suppression of the immune system. Otherwise, how could the mother’s body come to terms with the appearance of a “stranger” on its territory, half of whose genetic information is completely different? The immune system would immediately react with serious aggression to such a “semi-compatible transplant”, and the baby would have a hard time.
But nature has provided for everything - the child is reliably protected from the attack of antibodies by the placenta and fetal membranes. On the other hand, the pregnancy hormone - human chorionic gonadotropin (the same one from which the second line appears on the express test) powerfully suppresses immunological attacks on the part of the mother’s body. Hormones of the placenta, corpus luteum, adrenal glands and the fetus itself act in approximately the same way. The baby feels good, but the mother turns out to be vulnerable to various infections.
All infectious diseases become aggravated in pregnant women. The “local” harmless flora, having gained freedom, multiplies beyond measure, causing a lot of problems. The vaginal flora is activated, and there is a danger of intrauterine infection of the fetus. In this sense, mycoplasmosis, ureaplasmosis, chlamydia and all sexually transmitted diseases (gonorrhea, syphilis, etc.) are unfavorable.
Irreversible changes and multiple malformations are caused by cytomegalovirus (CMV) and rubella virus. However, infection with them is dangerous only during pregnancy; an “old” infection, on the contrary, creates a stimulus for the production of IgG antibodies and prevents the exacerbation of the disease. But IgM antibodies are a sign of a “fresh” infection and a cause for serious concern. I don’t want to scare you, but getting rubella in the first trimester of pregnancy is a mandatory indication for its termination. Cytomegalovirus is less aggressive, but is much more often the cause of undeveloped pregnancy.
Another danger is the flu epidemic. In pregnant women, a common ARVI is difficult because the immune system is working at half capacity. Moreover, the danger comes not so much from the pathogen itself, but from general symptoms: intoxication, increased temperature, which leads to disturbances in blood flow in the “mother-placenta-fetus” system. The embryo lacks oxygen and nutrients and may die. Therefore, during seasonal outbreaks of influenza, pregnant women are recommended to be vaccinated with a polyvalent killed vaccine.
Culprit 4: poor lifestyle
Doctors say: in favorable conditions, pregnancy, as a rule, proceeds without complications and is easily tolerated. With the right regime, there is no need to make significant adjustments. Now show me a woman living in the right mode...
A frozen pregnancy often comes from stress and overexertion. The baby is unlikely to like it if the mother spends a full working day in a stuffy room, staring at the computer, and gets up from her chair only to drink a couple of cups of coffee and brew Doshirak for lunch. Such conditions can contribute to various complications, for example, early placental abruption, and lead the uterus to a state of increased tone. Both interfere with blood flow, and the unborn child receives little oxygen and nutrients.
Pregnancy, especially its first trimester, is a reason to take care of yourself and even pamper yourself. It is recommended to spend no more than an hour a day on public transport. Nervous shocks are generally contraindicated. You need healthy food, a lot of fresh air and positive emotions, moderate mental and physical activity, preferably in the form of walks and simple exercises.
According to labor laws, pregnant women cannot be involved in night work, overtime work, work involving lifting and moving heavy objects, vibration, exposure to high and low temperatures, noise, radiation and certain chemicals. Healthy sleep of eight or more hours a day is important. Standing for more than three hours a day is not recommended. .
Traveling abroad is also not without risk. Firstly, if something unexpected happens, a foreign country will not provide full medical care. Secondly, long-distance flights and especially moving, time zone changes, an unusual diet and climate change require a lot of effort from the body and can cause damage. The fetus in the early stages does not tolerate acclimatization well, and this can also cause a non-developing pregnancy.
***
In the vast majority of cases, a frozen pregnancy is the result of an unfortunate combination of circumstances, a poor combination of random and completely correctable factors. The six-month interval required to restore the endometrium for the next pregnancy will allow all necessary medical measures to be carried out and give the body a break. And don’t forget about the future father, he will also have to undergo some tests, the doctor will tell you which ones specifically.
How to determine that pregnancy has stopped
The problem with a frozen pregnancy is that in the early stages it is difficult for a woman to determine from her state of health that the embryo is no longer developing.
Possible signs:
- Malaise;
- Symptoms of toxicosis disappear;
- The tension in the mammary glands disappears;
- The sensitivity of the nipples decreases.
Also, for up to 6 weeks, basal body temperature is of great importance, which decreases significantly due to hormonal changes.
The most effective method for determining a frozen pregnancy in the early stages is a blood test for hCG. When pregnancy is fading, the analysis shows a low concentration of the hormone.
It is also necessary to undergo an ultrasound of the uterus. When the development of the embryo stops, it shows a discrepancy between the size of the uterus and the gestational age.
How can I tell my loved ones and others about my frozen pregnancy?
Discussing a missed pregnancy with your parents and friends can be difficult. Your loved ones may sincerely worry about you and still not find the right words. They may indeed not know how best to support you, but this certainly does not mean that they love you little or are indifferent to your loss. The first reaction is most often followed by a second, calm, honest and very warm.
In the modern world, there are many ways to help a woman get pregnant, carry and give birth to a healthy child. Children come to us in different ways and at different times. All we can do is want to meet our child and do everything in our power to achieve this. For some, this requires just a step, for others there is a long road ahead, but for those who want to become parents, a child will definitely appear.
What to do for different types of frozen pregnancies
The course of the process depends on the classification of the failed miscarriage and the type of frozen pregnancy, which happens:
- With anembryonia type 1.
In this case, the embryo located in the fertilized egg is not visualized on ultrasound. The size of the uterus corresponds to the 6th week of development. With this pathology, both the fertilized egg and the embryo stop developing. For up to 6 weeks, the patient is prescribed drugs that stimulate uterine contractility - causing a miscarriage. After 1-2 days, the contents of the uterus come out on their own. - With anembryonia type 2
. The fertilized egg continues to develop, it corresponds to the required development period, but the embryo has already died and is not growing. The woman undergoes a cleaning to remove any remaining fertilized egg. - All types of fetal death after 7 weeks.
After 7 weeks of pregnancy, the patient is prescribed a cleaning for any type of pregnancy loss. A course of antibiotics is also prescribed to prevent the development of endometritis - inflammation of the endometrial layer in the uterus.
Could I have prevented a frozen pregnancy?
No. It is very important to understand: the chances that your actions led to the pregnancy fading are negligible. Doctors cannot always name the exact cause of a missed pregnancy, and this uncertainty is sometimes difficult to come to terms with, but they can rely on statistics: even if you have experienced several missed pregnancies in a row, you have every chance that the next pregnancy will result in a healthy baby.
What happens if a frozen pregnancy is not removed? How long can you walk with her?
It is impossible to revive a frozen fetus, so you need to eliminate the consequences as quickly as possible. If this is not done, the fertilized egg will begin to decompose, releasing carcinogenic substances.
If measures are not taken at this stage, inflammation and sepsis will develop - blood poisoning, which is life-threatening. In an extremely advanced situation, the patient’s uterus is removed, but doctors are determined to preserve the organ, so they cleanse the uterus of embryonic remains. Then the woman undergoes long-term rehabilitation therapy; she will be allowed to become pregnant no earlier than after 3 years.
What it is?
Frozen pregnancy (FPM) is characterized by cessation of fetal growth and development.
Intrauterine death of the embryo can be determined by a decrease in hCG, absence of movements, and decreased tone of the uterus. A reliable diagnosis is made based on the results of a fetal fetal PCG and ECG, which record the absence of a heartbeat and ultrasound. After death, the fetus is subject to rejection from the uterine cavity. If this does not happen naturally, then modern methods of removing the fertilized egg are used. There is always a reason for a ST. It must be detected and eliminated before reconception occurs in order to prevent a similar situation in the future.
When does it happen?
The pathology of this type of abortion can occur at any time: from the moment of conception and up to 37 weeks. But most often, freezing occurs in the first trimester. The most dangerous periods of pregnancy are considered to be 3, 4, 8 to 11 and 16–18 weeks.
REFERENCE! The greatest chance of stopping fetal development occurs during the 8th week of pregnancy. It is at this time that the largest number of fading occurs. During this period, the baby's vital organs are formed.
How long can you walk with a frozen pregnancy?
A woman may not suspect the death of the fetus until the doctor, based on the results of the examination, informs her about it. After freezing, the fetus can remain inside the body from several days to 4 weeks.
There are often situations when, after making a terrible diagnosis, a woman refuses to believe that it is true, delaying the day of cleansing. This is quite dangerous, as an inflammatory process and blood poisoning , which will lead to serious complications, including death.
REFERENCE! Not all women agree to cleanse after they find out that the fetus is dead, and in rare cases such a risk is actually justified and the pregnancy ends with the birth of a healthy baby.
Why is the test positive for a frozen pregnancy?
a positive result for a long time, can mislead you into thinking that the fetus is alive It's all about the reaction of the test to the hCG hormone. Basically, most tests show a positive result if the level of hCG in the body exceeds 25 mIU/ml. During a normal pregnancy, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) increases every day, and when the fetus freezes, the concentration of the hormone will decrease gradually.
In each individual case, the rate at which hCG levels fall during a frozen pregnancy is individual and depends on many factors. For example, in the early stages, a decrease in the concentration of human chorionic gonadotropin can occur within a few days, and at a later stage, the positive result persists for 1–2 weeks and reaches a month.
ON A NOTE! You should not assume that the embryo continues to develop safely based on a positive test result. It would be more accurate to track a decrease in hCG levels by taking a blood test.
conclusions
Doctors never leave an undeveloped pregnancy uncontrolled. In the case when the fertilized egg does not come out on its own in the form of a miscarriage, the woman is prescribed an abortive method depending on the period.
In the initial stages of up to 6 weeks, a medical medical abortion is recommended, which stimulates uterine contractions to remove the contents of the uterus.
At a period of 7 weeks or more, the woman undergoes cleaning, but uses a more gentle method of hysteroscopy.
In the late stages of over 12 weeks, the woman undergoes an operation during which the cervix is dilated and the fetus is expelled.
If you leave a frozen pregnancy unattended, you can lose not only the uterus, but also your life.
When can you plan your next pregnancy after a missed abortion?
The best time to plan your next pregnancy is when you and your partner are ready—physically and emotionally. Recovery takes time; any loss is important to accept and survive. It’s important to allow yourself to grieve so that one day, when the feelings subside, you wake up with the thought: “Yes, I’m ready to try again. I believe that everything will work out, even if it didn’t work out before, even if I have to make more than one attempt, the time will come and I will meet my child.”
You may want to get pregnant as soon as possible, or the very thought of another pregnancy may cause fear - any reaction is natural and there is no “norm” here. Women and their partners often have mixed feelings about their next pregnancy: hope mixed with fear, excitement mixed with anxiety.
If you or your partner are experiencing significant fear and anxiety about your next pregnancy, please see a neonatal psychologist who can help you cope with these feelings and prepare.
Oksana Igorevna
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT
Abortion and contraception clinic in St. Petersburg - department of the medical gynecological association "Diana"
Make an appointment, tests or ultrasound via the contact form or by calling +8 (812) 62-962-77. We work seven days a week from 09:00 to 21:00.
We are located in the Krasnogvardeisky district, next to the Novocherkasskaya, Ploshchad Alexander Nevsky and Ladozhskaya metro stations.
The minimum cost of a medical abortion in our clinic is 4,500 rubles. The price includes all pills, an examination by a gynecologist and an ultrasound to determine the timing of pregnancy.
The nuances of proper pregnancy planning in the future
In most cases, repeated attempts to get pregnant end successfully. The expectant mother should set herself up for a positive result. Unnecessary worries will only harm the situation. Experts have identified the term “ psychological infertility .” It develops on a nervous basis. The disease often occurs after a frozen pregnancy. The reason for its appearance is the fear of repeated failure.
When making repeated attempts to conceive, a woman must follow the rules. These include:
- Complete cessation of alcohol and smoking.
- Limiting stressful situations.
- Taking vitamins by both partners.
- Regular visits to the gynecologist and endocrinologist.
- Control over hormonal levels.
- Conducting vaccinations.
- Prevention of the formation of infectious diseases.
- Visit to a geneticist's office.
- Proper nutrition.
In preparation for conception, every little detail matters. A woman should pay attention to her immune system, strengthening it with useful procedures and taking vitamins. At the planning stage, it is recommended to treat your body as if pregnancy has already taken place.
REFERENCE! A rare cause of intrauterine fetal death is the development of a serious disease. These include rubella, chickenpox, hepatitis, etc.
The death of a fetus is a bitter event, but a woman should not give up on her desire to experience the joy of motherhood. According to statistics, many who are faced with this diagnosis carry and give birth to healthy children in the future without any problems.
When to plan a new pregnancy
Medical sources disagree on the optimal timing of conception after a missed abortion:
- some suggest that you can get pregnant after 3 months;
- others recommend holding off on planning for a baby for 6–12 months.
It all depends on the factors that caused the fading of the previous pregnancy, and the characteristics of the expectant mother’s body.
If the cause of fading was an infectious disease without complications, for example, influenza, other indicators are normal, the body has recovered, doctors see no contraindications to a new pregnancy, you can plan to conceive earlier than 6 months. But both parents need to prepare for it.
What is a temporary filling and why is it placed?
When visiting a dental clinic, the patient assumes that the existing damage to the dental tissues will be completely healed.
The dentist comprehensively examines the oral cavity and applies appropriate treatment methods to fully restore the functionality and anatomy of the teeth.
Why do they put a temporary filling?
In the process of caries treatment, even before the final filling is placed and the tooth is finished, it often becomes necessary to install a temporary filling.
In the case of additional diagnostics, if using other methods the doctor is unable to make an informed decision about removing the dental nerve, then sometimes a temporary filling is applied to the cavity cleared of caries.
Further, based on the patient’s feelings, we can conclude that it is necessary to remove the nerve or about the possibility of installing a permanent filling.
If the patient does not experience pain, this means that the nerve is preserved, has not been affected by the inflammatory process, and a permanent filling can be installed without fear.
What to do if a tooth hurts under a temporary filling? Pain in a tooth when pressing or biting indicates developing pulpitis. In this case, even if there is medicine under the filling, a visit to the doctor should not be postponed. As temporary relief, you can take an analgesic for toothache.
During treatment, sometimes there is a need to leave the medicine in the affected area for several hours or days. In this case, it is necessary to prevent food particles and saliva from entering the cavity. Then the doctor applies a temporary filling, isolating the cavity.
When installing a temporary filling in the cleaned canals, the doctor first dries them, places the necessary medicine and filling substance for a period of 2 days to three weeks, most often the treatment time is 3-4 days.
pregnancy yellow mucus discharge Urine analysis allows you to obtain data on the state of the urinary system and includes: microscopic examination of sediment, its physical (color, density, transparency) and chemical properties.
General analysis
Sometimes the production is time-consuming
Source
What to do if there were several missed pregnancies in a row
Fading pregnancy may recur if:
- little time has passed since the previous conception (at least 6–12 months must be waited);
- the causes of the pathology were not eliminated.
If the situation repeats, you should pay more attention to pregnancy planning, undergo all the necessary tests, perhaps not in the same clinic, and consult with different doctors:
- gynecologists;
- geneticists;
- immunologists.
Don't forget to take care of yourself and believe in the best.
A close friend of mine experienced two miscarriages within two years. The reasons could not be determined. All kinds of tests and results of various studies on her and her husband were normal. Doctors, at best, shrugged their shoulders and advised me to wait; at worst, they prescribed mountains of dietary supplements, more research and additional tests. She carefully “filtered” the information received and believed that everything would work out. And the confidence that everything would be fine did not deceive her. My friend’s child is now 9 years old. A handsome, cheerful and healthy boy.
