Fetal fading

Fetal fading can occur in women of any age. This pathology means fetal death and develops at the confluence of several factors.

Before planning pregnancy, every woman should know the possible risks, as well as be able to recognize the signs of any pathology and promptly consult a doctor.

Frozen pregnancy is rare, among doctors this condition was called miscarriage, as the death of the embryo occurs without obvious signs of abortion. The fetus can die at any time, regardless of the age of the woman, although most often the pathology develops among parturient women over 40 years of age. Fading pregnancy in most cases occurs at a period of up to 13 weeks, the causes of pathology are a variety of factors: chronic diseases, infections, genetic disorders, etc. However, the fetus can die and without obvious reasons, but in any case, fetal fetalism threatens the woman's health, in particular, can lead to infertility.

[1], [2], [3]

Causes of fetal fading

The fading of the fetus is provoked by many factors, and quite often there is a confluence of several circumstances. It is not always possible to establish the exact cause of this pathology, since after death of the fetus, necrosis of the tissues occurs, which makes research difficult.

Among the causes of fetal death are hormonal failures, chromosomal abnormalities, infections, etc. The most common cause of pregnancy fading is alcohol and cigarettes. Also lead to death of the fetus can herpes, chlamydia, toxoplasmosis, etc., so doctors recommend that before planning pregnancy to undergo examination and cure all existing diseases.

The reasons why the fetus stops developing and dying have not been studied enough, however, experts identify several main factors:

• hormonal imbalances can lead to a deficit of progesterone, which causes the fruit to lose the necessary nutrients, which ultimately provokes a stop of development and death of the fetus. Usually such a cause provokes fading in the first trimester. In addition, the cause of fading may become a disease of thyroid, polycystic and other ovarian disorders.
• Immunological factor, which has recently been considered increasingly. Female fetus is perceived as an alien egg as an alien body, since it contains about half of the genetic information of the future father, in this regard, the body begins to produce antibodies that interfere with the development of the fetus. In other words, the woman's immune system kills the embryo.
• autoimmune disorders associated with a large number of antibodies to blood plasma phospholipids - antiphospholipid syndrome. This pathology leads to fading of the fetus in almost 5% of cases. Risks of fading with repeated pregnancy increase to 42%. The cause of antiphospholipid syndrome is mainly heredity, this pathology leads to blood clots and with the course of pregnancy the danger of complications may increase, in addition, antiphospholipid syndrome can affect delivery and the postpartum period.
• Infectious diseases, both chronic and acute. The most common diseases that can lead to the fading of herpes, mycoplasmosis, chlamydia, etc., which may be present before pregnancy, but with a decrease in immunity, the disease begins to manifest itself more aggressively.

Cytomegalovirus can cause fetal pregnancy in the first trimester, if the infection occurs at a later date, it can lead to serious developmental defects. Syphilis, gonorrhea is also a danger to the health and life of the child.

• chromosomal abnormalities. During the development of the embryo, various developmental disorders may occur, for example, the pathology of the zygote, and the abnormal development of the placenta.
• stress, abuse of medicines, especially antidepressants.
• bad habits (drugs, alcohol, cigarettes)
• external impact (air travel, gravity, exposure, excessive exposure to the sun)
• causes of unknown nature. Pregnancy fading has not been sufficiently studied and in some cases to determine why the development of the fetus has stopped.

Why does fetal fading occur?

To identify the main reasons for fetal fading is rather difficult, since several factors can simultaneously lead to this pathology. For example, hormonal failures and chromosomal changes in the embryo or infection.

Also, the use of drugs, alcohol, smoking during pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases can cause fetal death.

How to provoke fading of the fetus?

In some cases fetal fetus can be provoked by the woman herself. Smoking, drinking, drugs, drug abuse can lead to the fact that the development of the embryo will stop. In addition, frequent nervous overstresses or stresses, coffee, sedentary lifestyle disrupt the normal development of the fetus, lead to insufficient intake of oxygen and nutrients to it.

Signs of fetal fading

Fetal fading has several symptoms that a woman can determine on her own. Most often, fading occurs in the first trimester, often this pathology is detected on a routine examination or ultrasound. In this case, fading may appear a few weeks later than the death of the embryo.

In the early stages of indicating the death of the embryo can be a sharp cessation of toxicosis, a decrease in basal temperature, and breast tenderness.

In some cases, these signs are left without attention or are perceived as a natural manifestation of pregnancy.

At a later date, it is possible to determine that the fetal death occurred because the child has stopped moving, also severe pain in the abdomen or the bleeding that has opened can indicate pathology.

The first signs of fetal fading

Determining the fading of the fetus in the early stages is quite difficult on its own, because in each case the pregnancy proceeds individually. For example, some women have no toxicosis or other manifestations of pregnancy (dizziness, weakness, craving for salt, etc.). In the first trimester to indicate the death of the embryo can dramatically stop the signs of pregnancy (provided that they were). If a woman initially felt good, then it is possible to detect fading when visiting a doctor or ultrasound.

At later terms, the pathology may be indicated by the fact that the child stops moving. In most cases, when fetal death occurs, the woman begins a spontaneous miscarriage. But in some cases, a woman can walk with a dead fruit within her for several days and even weeks. The fact that the fetus is dead and the process of decomposition has begun, can indicate pulling or severe pain in the abdomen, spotting.

Fetal fading at week 8

The eighth week of pregnancy is a rather early period on which the umbilical cord and placenta has not yet been formed, the main purpose of which is to protect the fetus from the effects of external negative factors. At this time, the embryo is extremely vulnerable, and an infection or hormonal disorder can provoke developmental disparities that are not compatible with life. Fetal fetation at such an early period occurs quite often and in most cases ends in a spontaneous miscarriage.

[4], [5], [6]

Fetal fading at week 16

Fetal fetal most often occurs at a period of up to 13 weeks, however, it happens that the fetus is killed in the second trimester. At 16 weeks of pregnancy, the risk of pregnancy fading is extremely high, and several factors may contribute to this.

Intrauterine fetal death can occur due to infection, chromosomal developmental disorders, the Rh factor conflict of the child and the mother, abortions in the past.

Detect fading pregnancy at week 16 allows monitoring of uterine growth and ultrasound. Not always signs of frozen pregnancy (wiggling of the child, lower abdominal pains, spotting, etc.) indicate fetal death, the specialist and ultrasound can only confirm this diagnosis.

After confirming the fetal death in the womb, the doctor prescribes an emergency operation (cleaning) to remove the fetus from the uterus, otherwise it can lead to inflammation, infection, and severe bleeding.

After cleaning, a woman is observed for several days and conducts a full examination to determine the causes of fetal fading.

After fading pregnancy, plan the next one at least six months later.

[7], [8], [9]

Fading of one fetus in a double

In pregnancy, the death of one of the embryos occurs once per thousand pregnancies. Fetal fading can occur for various reasons, often one fetus dies due to abnormalities of development, improper blood circulation, impaired placental development, umbilical cord. Also, the death of one of the embryos can be facilitated by a mechanical factor, for example, an acute shortage of oxygen to a single placenta and a single fetal sac.

The death of one of the embryos leads to serious violations of the health of the second, as well as death. According to statistics, in case of death of one of the embryos in the first trimester the probability of normal development and the birth of the second reaches 90%. If one fetus stops developing for a period of up to three weeks, then there is complete resorption of the embryo or softening and drying ("paper fruit").

If the death of a single fetus occurred in twins at a later date, the second can develop a severe lesion of the central nervous system, internal organs or death.

With the death of one of the embryos a woman may not feel any symptoms. Usually, the pathology is detected on ultrasound (absence of palpitation, wiggling). One fatal fetus with a double in the second and third trimester can lead to a large loss of blood from a living child. By the connecting vessels blood from the living fetus enters the dead, and since the heart does not work, the dead organism is able to absorb quite a lot of blood. Because of the large blood loss in a live fetus, severe anemia can begin, which will lead to the defeat of the central nervous system and oxygen starvation.

The doctor's actions directly depend on the period at which the death of one of the children occurred. In the last months of pregnancy, the doctor can decide on emergency delivery, despite the unavailability of the live fetus to birth. In this case, for a live child, premature birth is less dangerous than continuing with a dead organism and the less time passes from the moment of fetal death to artificial delivery, the better for a second child. With the timely detection of frozen pregnancy, the probability of a safe outcome for a living child is approximately 55%.

For the treatment of pathology in the second trimester, the termination of any interrelations between two organisms and the transfusion of blood to a live fetus is used if there is no possibility of delivery.

In the third trimester, only artificial delivery is used, since the dead organism carries a severe threat not only to the living child, but also to the mother, as coagulation disorders (coagulability of the blood) are possible.

[10], [11], [12]

How to determine the fading of the fetus?

Fetal fading can occur without severe symptoms. The detection of pathology occurs after a visit to the doctor. If there is a suspicion of pregnancy fading (uterus of insufficient size, there are no movements of the child), ultrasound is always assigned for more accurate diagnosis.

Also, fetal fading can be determined by analyzing urine and blood, which show deviations from the norm.

Fetal fetation early

Often fading of the fetus in the first weeks of pregnancy is difficult for a woman to identify herself, as often the symptoms are hidden.

In most cases, the fading of pregnancy in the first trimester accompanies the disappearance of toxicosis, rapid fatigue, a decrease in basal temperature, an end to the swelling and soreness of the mammary glands.

In most cases, these signs are ignored or refer to a woman's new condition. It is possible to detect fading of pregnancy after some examinations.

The doctor prescribes an analysis for hCG, if the level of this hormone has fallen sharply or ceases to increase, then pregnancy is expected to die.

In some cases, ultrasound can show that there is no embryo in the fetal egg.

[13], [14]

Fetal fading in the second trimester

Fetal fading occurs most often in the first weeks of pregnancy. The death of an embryo before 18 weeks is usually due to various genetic disorders, and it is impossible to maintain such a pregnancy. Less common is the fading of pregnancy in the second trimester, as a rule, the reason for this is the transmitted flu, the exacerbation of the infectious disease, hormonal disorders, etc. The cause of fading pregnancy can only be determined by a specialist after additional examination. In some cases, the cause of fading remains unclear.

In the second trimester, the main symptom of the violation of pregnancy is the lack of fetal movement. Approximately on 18-20 weeks (at repeatedly giving birth earlier) the fetus starts to move, if the woman notes that the child does not move more than a day, this is a valid reason for an urgent call to the doctor.

On examination, the doctor will determine the size of the abdomen, ultrasound will listen to the fetal heartbeat, and placental abruption can also be diagnosed. In addition, pain or discharge can indicate an abnormal development of pregnancy.

Pregnancy fading in the second trimester occurs quite rarely, the main cause of the pathology are severe maternal diseases or genetic disorders. Also fetal death can occur as a result of trauma.

[15], [16], [17], [18]

Fading of the fetus in later terms

Fetal fading in late terms can be determined by more pronounced signs. The main symptom of pathology is the lack of movement.

In addition, there are a number of signs that may indicate fetal pregnancy:

• The breast becomes softer, not swollen
• great weakness
• the appetite changes (if earlier was absent, it appears and on the contrary)

After going to the doctor, a hCG and ultrasound test is mandatory for confirmation of the diagnosis.

[19], [20], [21]

How to prevent fetal fading?

It will be impossible to predict fetal fading in most cases. But women who have already experienced a tragedy, you need to know how you can try to prevent the re-development of pathology.

First of all, after the first frozen pregnancy, the doctor will conduct a survey to determine the causes of fading. If the cause is in infectious diseases, then before you plan a child again, you should undergo a course of treatment.

A full examination before pregnancy is recommended for all women, regardless of age.

The basic examination of a woman consists in the passage of ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs, smears for the detection of diseases, urine, blood tests, infection analysis, thyroid examination, hormone level assays.

Also, additional research methods that the doctor can prescribe based on the woman's medical history and individual characteristics of the organism are possible.

Fading of the fetus is not a sentence for a couple who dreams of having a baby. In the early term, the death of the embryo is most often due to anomalies of development incompatible with life. In the case of repeated pregnancy, the probability of fading is virtually eliminated. Adherence to a healthy lifestyle by future parents, the implementation of the doctor's recommendations, a complete examination before planning pregnancy and treatment of all existing diseases will prevent the development of this pathology.