Specialists call the cessation of fetal development of the fetus a missed pregnancy. Such a nuisance can happen to a woman of any age. Most often, the fetus freezes for up to 12 weeks. For a number of reasons, pregnancy can be terminated at a later date. In order to protect her life and save the future baby, a woman should know about the main risks.
For what reasons does pregnancy fade?
Various factors can provoke a halt to fetal development. Genetic or chromosomal abnormalities can cause a frozen pregnancy. An ultrasound error is not possible in this case. The woman's body is programmed to bear healthy offspring. If the fetus has abnormalities, most likely the pregnancy will terminate early. Many women do not even suspect that they were pregnant. And spontaneous miscarriage can be confused with another menstruation.
If a woman cannot bear a healthy child, it makes sense to investigate the hormonal background of the future mother herself. Due to hormonal disorders, a frozen pregnancy, miscarriage can also occur. Ultrasound error is possible only for up to 7 weeks of pregnancy. At a later date, the doctor can easily diagnose fetal fading.
Bad habits against pregnancy
If a woman leads a healthy lifestyle, the chances of having a healthy baby increase several times. But alcohol, nicotine, narcotic substances can be considered serious enemies of full-fledged offspring. You can meet many women who do not give up their bad habits and at the same time give birth to healthy children at first glance. In fact, problems in babies can appear only in adulthood.
Proper nutrition is also the key to a healthy pregnancy. Overeating and abuse of fast food leads to excessive weight gain. Quite often, obese women experience a missed pregnancy. An ultrasound error is not possible in this case. Excessive weight can be called a risk factor on the way to the birth of full-fledged offspring.
During pregnancy, special attention must be paid to your health. It is no coincidence that women, before registering for a antenatal clinic, need to undergo a physical examination with all specialists and pass basic tests. Thus, you can find out what health problems are at this stage. Some have to limit themselves not only in junk food, but also in the use of smoked meats, spicy dishes, sweets and coffee.
Focus on age
Despite the fact that the age from 18 to 30 years is considered optimal for the birth of children, more and more women do not seek to have children too early. Initially, they want to build a career, travel the world. There are often cases when for the first time mothers become after 40 years. Meanwhile, a frozen pregnancy is not uncommon at this age. Ultrasound error is possible in very rare cases.
If a woman decided to give birth to a child at a young age, she should treat her health with special attention. In most cases, such expectant mothers are almost around the clock under the supervision of doctors. Childbirth in women after 40 years is also usually more difficult.
Often a miscarriage also occurs in those expectant mothers who survived in vitro fertilization. Many succeed in getting pregnant successfully only with the second or third attempt.
Frozen pregnancy or ultrasound error?
An ultrasound machine facilitates the work of doctors in many industries. Obstetrics and gynecology is no exception. Ultrasound examination helps to determine the gestational age, whether the fetus is developing correctly, as well as its gender. But sometimes there are still errors in the diagnosis.
In the early stages, errors in the diagnosis of a missed pregnancy are quite common. The fact is that up to five weeks it is quite difficult to consider the fetal heartbeat using an ultrasound machine. Errors in diagnosing a missed pregnancy for more than 7 weeks almost never occur. If the doctor diagnoses a missed pregnancy for a period of 5-6 weeks, the issue of forced abortion is not worth it. An additional examination will be scheduled in a week. The hope remains that the fetus is alive, and the doctor mistakenly set the wrong gestational age.
More dangerous can be called an error in the diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy. In this case, the doctor can see a false fetal egg, which outwardly resembles a normally developing pregnancy. In fact, the fetus is not in the uterus, but in the tube. Such a mistake can cost a woman's life. To avoid such errors, when registering for a antenatal clinic, you should follow all the doctor’s recommendations, and also remember to listen to your health.
Fetal ultrasound errors
In most cases, if the fetus does not develop correctly, spontaneous miscarriage occurs even early. But the frozen pregnancy is not always observed. Ultrasound error may be associated with the position of the fetus in the uterus. In this case, the child continues to develop, and the doctor does not notice the pathology. If these or other deviations are revealed, I expect the future mother to terminate the pregnancy.
Incorrect ultrasound diagnostics can cause many problems. In the best case, problems arise during childbirth and the obstetrician will do everything to save the life of the mother and baby. In the worst case, a child may be born with developmental disabilities. The cause of an erroneous diagnosis may be poor quality equipment or the low qualification of a doctor. Therefore, it is better to entrust an ultrasound examination to an experienced specialist with high-quality equipment.
How to get rid of a frozen pregnancy?
To determine the developmental arrest of the fetus can not only an ultrasound machine. Frozen pregnancy can be previously diagnosed by the pregnant woman herself. There are a number of symptoms that should be immediately addressed.
In the early stages, a frozen pregnancy can be generally invisible. A woman may even rejoice at a sudden retreat of toxicosis and good health. In fact, the manifestations of toxicosis can become a guarantee of a normally developing pregnancy. A woman should tell her gynecologist about any changes in health, even for the better.
A symptom of a missed pregnancy may be a slight increase in body temperature. In this case, the woman will also feel absolutely normal. Only a doctor can diagnose pregnancy fading at the next examination. It will be necessary to confirm the diagnosis using ultrasound. Frozen pregnancy is diagnosed only with a complete absence of fetal heartbeat for more than 5 weeks.
Late Pregnancy
Unfortunately, the fetus can also stop developing in the second or third trimester of pregnancy. Anxiety symptoms in this case may be the lack of movement, pulling pains in the lower abdomen, as well as spotting. A woman should keep a schedule of her baby's movements, as well as constantly listen to her well-being.
In the later stages, the expectant mother should attend a antenatal clinic every two to three weeks. At the next examination, the doctor first feels the location of the fetus, and also listens to his heartbeat. In the event of bad symptoms, an ultrasound may be prescribed. This is necessary so that a frozen pregnancy is completely excluded. Whether a mistake is possible, only a qualified specialist can tell.
The consequences of an undeveloped pregnancy
If the fetus freezes at an early stage, in most cases spontaneous abortion begins. This is bleeding that resembles another menstruation. But in no case should it be allowed to drift. Even if a miscarriage happened at an early stage and the woman feels absolutely normal, you should seek the advice of a doctor. If the uterus does not cleanse itself, surgery will be required.
In the early stages, an undeveloped pregnancy is often observed. Whether a mistake is possible, only a doctor can tell. This is especially true of the freezing of the fetus in the later stages. If the pregnancy is interrupted in the second or third trimester, the doctor should prescribe an
artificial birth as soon as possible
. If you turn to a specialist out of time, serious health problems can occur.
When can I get pregnant again?
A miscarriage or a frozen pregnancy is a serious stress for the female body. The longer the pregnancy lasted, the more time it will take the expectant mother to restore the body.
If a miscarriage has occurred for up to 10 weeks, pregnancy can begin to be planned after two to three months. Those who have lost a child at a later date will have to wait at least a year.