Signs and symptoms of frozen pregnancy in the early stages that should alert you. Signs of a frozen pregnancy: how to recognize it in time If the fetus has frozen, what are the symptoms?

After a woman learns about her special situation, she begins to dream and make plans for the future, in which she prepares a place for her future baby. But unexpectedly, disaster strikes and she is informed that her pregnancy has stopped. This is a difficult test for every woman, and not so much physical as emotional. Many questions immediately arise, and it can be difficult to find answers. But still, let's figure out why pregnancy falters and what consequences should be expected.

Fetal fading is a form of miscarriage that occurs in women regardless of age and number of previous pregnancies. This occurs under a combination of circumstances that have not been fully studied, and ultimately leads to the complete death of the embryo.

According to official statistics, dying occurs once in 176 pregnancies.

A frozen (non-developing) pregnancy is an irreversible disruption of the development of the fetus, accompanied by a stop in its growth, instant death and destruction of its tissues. In obstetric practice, this pathology is called a failed miscarriage, since the death of the fetus occurred without clear clinical signs and subsequent release of the fertilized egg from the uterus. Therefore, it is important to know the signs of a frozen pregnancy in order to quickly seek help from a doctor and prevent complications.

Sometimes freezing of a false embryo is diagnosed. This happens when the egg is successfully fertilized and the fertilized egg is implanted into the endometrial layer, but the embryo itself is not there. This pathology is called “empty sac”.

Frozen pregnancy - timing the appearance of pathology

This pathology occurs at any gestational age. There are even cases when fetal death occurs several days before birth. It also doesn’t matter the woman’s age, but women over 40 are at greater risk.

Having studied thousands of cases of fetal death, doctors have tentatively established the most critical periods of pregnancy, when the fetus is most vulnerable:

Period 1 - 3 and 4 gestational weeks.
Period 2 - from 7 to 11 gestational weeks.
Period 3 - 16 and 18 gestational weeks.

After the 20th week of pregnancy, cases of fetal development arrest and death are rare.

In the vast majority of cases, frozen pregnancy is diagnosed at an early stage (before the 14th gestational week). This occurs as a result of improper development of the embryo or disturbances in the body of the pregnant woman. In later stages, fading is caused by hormonal imbalances, genetic abnormalities or infections.

Frozen pregnancy - causes of tragedy

Doctors put forward several main hypotheses for fetal freezing. The cause of his death can be confirmed by histological examination of the obtained genetic material. But it also happens that the reason remains unproven.

Here are the most common factors influencing fetal death:

Genetic disorders. At the 8th week of pregnancy, the formation of important organs in the fetus occurs. If this process is accompanied by chromosomal abnormalities, fetal development stops. For this reason, more than 70% of embryos die. This is facilitated by the transmission of bad genetic material from one of the parents or the incompatibility of the gene pool of a woman and a man. If a woman is diagnosed with a second frozen pregnancy, the couple is sent for a consultation with a geneticist.
Hormonal imbalance. For fertile division of healthy embryonic cells, the female body must produce a lot of progesterone and few androgens. If a “breakdown” occurs at this level, the fetus dies. This situation can be eliminated at the stage of pregnancy planning, so preconception preparation will be an excellent prevention of this pathology.
Infectious diseases. Reduced immunity during gestation is normal, but for this reason a woman becomes vulnerable to various diseases. The following are considered especially dangerous in this situation: rubella, influenza, cytomegalovirus, ARVI. Intoxication of the body, increased temperature, and stress on the immune system during illness can provoke developmental disorders and death of the baby. Symptoms of a frozen pregnancy will be invisible against the background of the ongoing disease.
ECO. Although medicine has made great progress in artificial insemination, this method of getting pregnant has not yet been fully studied. Scientists still cannot prevent the frequent freezing of the embryo after implantation into the uterus, and often a woman has to undergo the IVF procedure several times.
Sexually transmitted diseases. Pregnancy does not exclude sexual intercourse, which carries the risk of catching gonorrhea, genital herpes, chlamydia or syphilis. It often happens that there are no visible symptoms of a pathological course, but during pregnancy the fetus froze for no particular reason. In such a situation, the woman is recommended to undergo an examination by a venereologist or infectious disease specialist.
Antiphospholipid syndrome. This is a rare autoimmune disease that is accompanied by excessive production of antibodies to phospholipids. Such a pathology in a woman can cause egg rejection, underdevelopment or blockage of the placental vessels, which leads to the death of the embryo.
Unacceptable lifestyle during gestation. What is meant by this judgment? First of all, these are poor nutrition, low activity, lack of stress tolerance, overwork, oxygen deficiency, uncomfortable underwear and, of course, bad habits. Each of these factors can affect the development of the baby.

Symptoms of frozen pregnancy in early and late stages

A non-developing pregnancy does not have symptoms like a normal miscarriage, so a woman may not immediately notice that there is something wrong with her pregnancy. And this poses a serious threat to her health, because the deceased fetus begins to decompose and can cause harm to the female reproductive organs. But there are still some characteristic symptoms, and a woman who is very attentive to herself will definitely notice them. Their nature and severity may vary.

Signs of a frozen pregnancy - first trimester

In the first weeks of pregnancy, you can suspect a problem by monitoring your well-being, the nature of vaginal discharge, toxicosis and fluctuations in the basal temperature chart. These signs are indirect and do not provide an exact guarantee that the fetus has died. Therefore, the appearance of one of the symptoms is a reason to go to an obstetrician-gynecologist.

How to determine a frozen pregnancy by signs:

Discharge. In the event of a miscarriage, the rejection of the dead fetus occurs rapidly and it leaves the uterus on its own. And when freezing, the embryo continues to be held on the endometrial ball, but the body tries to gradually get rid of it. During the first 48 hours after the start of regression of embryo development, the nature of the discharge does not change. They remain whitish in color and have a normal structure. Then the tissues of the embryo begin to decompose, and the fertilized egg is already involved in this process. It is gradually rejected from the uterus, as indicated by the appearance of bloody veins in the discharge. If freezing has not been noticed within two weeks, the woman begins to bleed with complete rejection of the dead fetus.
Toxicosis. If a woman has severe toxicosis from the moment of implantation of the egg, a change in its character can indicate an arrest in fetal development. Vomiting and nausea are provoked by the synthesis of hCG, which increases with each week of pregnancy. If the embryo dies, the hCG level drops and after 24-36 hours the woman experiences a decrease in vomiting and nausea. After 4-6 days, toxicosis completely disappears. It is worth recalling that the weakening of toxicosis can also be the result of the physiological adaptation of the female body to the fetus.
General health. If a decomposing embryo remains in the uterine cavity for a long time, it will cause intoxication of the entire body. This condition can be confused with a cold or fatigue, but if a woman’s first pregnancy was frozen, she will immediately distinguish a normal condition from a pathology. 2-3 weeks after the death of the embryo, a woman may notice dizziness, severe weakness, loss of strength, anxiety, and aching pain in the projection of the uterus. After 4 weeks, the temperature begins to rise and the abdominal pain intensifies. After 5 weeks, the woman begins to have a fever, the pain becomes cramping, and loss of consciousness may occur. If a woman does not undergo curettage in time during a frozen pregnancy, she will develop severe inflammation of the uterine tissue and sepsis.
Fluctuations in basal temperature. Often women keep a basal temperature chart to find out the time of ovulation and successfully become pregnant. After fertilization, they continue to measure the temperature and monitor the progress of the pregnancy. This is a reliable way to notice the fading of the fetus within a couple of days after its death. Normally, the temperature level during gestation exceeds 37⁰C. 48 hours after the fetus freezes, the temperature begins to drop from 37⁰C to 36.7⁰C. And after the fruit begins to decompose, the temperature will sharply jump above 37.5⁰С

Symptoms of frozen pregnancy - second trimester

Starting from the second trimester, all the above-mentioned symptoms are accompanied by a number of others. After the 16th week of pregnancy, the fetus is already large and actively making itself felt, so it becomes easier to understand that something is wrong with it.

Common signs of pathology include:

The baby has not moved for two or more days.
Nagging pain in the abdomen and lower back.
The appearance of blood in vaginal discharge.
Leakage of amniotic fluid with an unpleasant odor.

Unlike the first weeks of pregnancy, in the later stages the body quickly gets rid of the dead fetus and after 4-5 days the woman begins premature labor.

Important! As soon as you notice the first sign of a frozen pregnancy, immediately seek emergency medical help.

Informative methods for diagnosing fetal freezing

It is impossible to establish the fact of pregnancy fading only from the symptomatic picture. Therefore, at the first suspicion, a woman is sent for examination. And only after a thorough diagnosis, a woman undergoes cleansing after a frozen pregnancy.

Diagnostic procedures include:

Confirmation of diagnosis during gynecological examination. Often, during a control gynecological examination, the doctor notices that the size of the uterus does not coincide with the established gestational age, and blood discharge comes from the genital tract. This may confirm regression of fetal development. But alternatively, this may also indicate a threatening miscarriage with a living embryo. Therefore, additional research is being carried out.
Making a diagnosis during ultrasound. Pregnancy after 8 weeks allows you to reliably determine the absence of a heartbeat in the fetus and possible developmental abnormalities. But a period of less than 5 weeks does not give a complete picture during an ultrasound, and the specialist may not see the embryo or signs of its vital activity. Therefore, in the first weeks of pregnancy, a blood test for hCG levels is performed to confirm the diagnosis.
Diagnosis by determining hCG levels. There are strictly established norms for the concentration of hCG in the blood for different stages of pregnancy. Therefore, it is enough to do a venous blood test to determine fetal freezing. In this case, the level of hCG during a frozen pregnancy will correspond to the level outside pregnancy.

Frozen pregnancy - treatment

The tactics for managing a woman with a frozen pregnancy can be different, depending on the gestational age, physical and psychological state of the woman.

If the diagnosis is made early and there is time to wait, the woman is placed in a hospital setting under the supervision of doctors and a spontaneous miscarriage is expected within a few days. If the period is less than 8 weeks, a medical abortion is performed using special drugs.

After 3-4 days, if this does not happen, the woman is sent for cleaning during a frozen pregnancy under general anesthesia. This is a simple gynecological procedure, similar in principle to abortion. 14 days after the procedure, an ultrasound is performed to make sure that the uterine cavity is clean, without signs of inflammation.

After this, the woman is in the hospital, she is prescribed a course of antibiotics, hormone therapy (if indicated) and sedatives. Various tests are also prescribed after a frozen pregnancy, depending on the causes of the pathology. . This may include hormonal tests, taking smears to hide the infection, and general blood counts.

Important! Disposing of a dead embryo is permissible only under medical supervision. Self-administration of herbs or hormonal pills to contract the uterus can lead to rapid bleeding or blood poisoning.

Frozen pregnancy - consequences for a woman

Serious complications in women occur only when they consult a doctor late. If the diagnosis is made on time and treatment is prescribed correctly, a woman in the future will be able to easily become pregnant and give birth to full-fledged babies. The most difficult thing in such a situation is to determine the cause of the baby’s death and make efforts to prevent it from happening again.

Women are often interested in the question: can a frozen pregnancy occur again? Doctors unanimously answer that this can happen many times if the cause of the death of the embryos is not eliminated. Therefore, this problem needs to be approached comprehensively - undergo examinations, cure existing diseases, visit a geneticist and insist on a positive result.

The loss of an unborn baby is a severe shock for a woman. Not only her reproductive system suffers from this, but also her psycho-emotional background. Therefore, in addition to treatment, a woman needs a long time to accept the current situation. Often a woman who has experienced a frozen pregnancy does not know what to do, so she needs the support of loved ones or the help of a psychologist.

Frozen pregnancy. Video

It is important for the expectant mother to carefully study the signs of a frozen pregnancy in the early stages in order to seek medical help in time. Women of all ages face this pathology. The older the pregnant woman, the greater the risk of anembryonia. According to statistics, on average, in 15% of cases the death of the embryo occurs.

Why does the fetus freeze in the early stages of pregnancy?

This pathology does not occur without reason. It is provoked by certain factors. There are suggestions that frozen pregnancy in the early stages, the causes of which should be determined to prevent this in the future, may occur in the following cases:

Genetic mutations are the most common factor. This pathology appears before the 8th week of gestation. More often it is incompatible with later life.
Hormonal disorders. These include a lack of progesterone and an increase in the level of androgens - male hormones.
Infections. During the period of carrying a baby, the body of the expectant mother is highly susceptible to viruses. The amniotic sac and placenta protect the embryo. However, this “armor” does not help with exacerbation of infections. In addition, at high temperatures that accompany infectious diseases, oxygen delivery to the fetus deteriorates.
Problems with blood clotting. The fertilized egg is not able to attach to the inside of the uterus. In addition, this pathology provokes blockage of blood vessels; as a result, the embryo does not receive the required amount of valuable substances, and it stops developing.
Unbalanced diet and unhealthy lifestyle. These include a diet poor in vitamins, excessive stress, constant exposure to the computer or TV, irregular walks, and so on.

How to determine a frozen pregnancy in the early stages?

The death of the embryo at the initial stage may be asymptomatic. However, there are still a number of signs that eloquently indicate to a woman that a problem has arisen. It is important for her to know how a frozen pregnancy manifests itself in the early stages. This will help prevent serious consequences for the mother's health. Neglecting such symptoms is unwise and even dangerous.

The first signs of a frozen pregnancy in the early stages

There are a number of symptoms, the manifestation of which should make a woman wary. The body itself will tell you how to recognize a frozen pregnancy in the early stages. The expectant mother should pay special attention to the following symptoms:

Sudden disappearance of toxicosis. If early gestosis occurs suddenly and without cause, it’s time to sound the alarm.
Softening the breasts. After conception, women notice that the mammary glands have become enlarged and painful. During the entire period of gestation, baby breasts can relax and become fuller. There is nothing unnatural in such alternation, because it is associated with hormonal “jumps” in the body. However, if the mammary glands relax in the 1st trimester of pregnancy, this may be a sign of fetal fading. There are other “provocateurs” of breast softening. For this reason, you should not panic when this symptom appears.

Discharge from frozen pregnancy in the early stages

If the body does not immediately get rid of the dead fertilized egg, its rejection will occur gradually. A frozen pregnancy in the early stages will show symptoms in the form of vaginal discharge. The consistency of the secretion and its shade directly depend on how much time has passed since the death of the fetus. Signs of a frozen pregnancy in the early stages are:

The first 2 days after the death of the embryo, the consistency of the secretion is normal. They have a whitish color.
Starting from the 3rd to the 6th day, the fertilized egg gradually begins to peel off from the walls of the uterus. As a result, bloody streaks appear in the discharge.
12-14 days after the death of the embryo, the secretion acquires a brownish-reddish tint.

More often, pregnant women turn to a gynecologist when they notice red discharge - signs of fetal fading. This process is irreversible, and it is no longer possible to correct anything. However, bloody discharge does not always indicate that the development of the embryo has stopped. They can also signal another pathology occurring in a woman’s body.

Feelings of a frozen pregnancy in the early stages

At the initial stage, the woman feels as before. However, as decomposition progresses, the signs of fetal failure in early pregnancy intensify. Along with the disappearance of toxicosis and softening of the mammary glands, severe headaches appear. In addition, the pregnant woman is overcome by weakness and lack of strength. A month after the death of the embryo, severe cramping pain appears in the lower abdomen.

BT for frozen pregnancy in the early stages

Some women continue to control even after fertilization. During normal gestation, the thermometer should show 37°C. However, the temperature during a frozen pregnancy in the early stages decreases. This symptom is the earliest sign of fetal death. It appears as follows:

after 46-48 hours the temperature drops to 36.8°C and remains at this level for a couple of days;
after 4 days BT is 36.7°C;
when the fertilized egg begins to rapidly decompose, an inflammatory process occurs in the female body with a sharp “jump” in temperature.

Frozen pregnancy - diagnosis

Women go to the doctor with complaints of nagging pain or bleeding. The doctor conducts a thorough examination, allowing him to detect fetal freezing in the early stages. During it, the doctor compares the size of the pregnant woman’s uterus with what it should be at a given stage of gestation. In addition, the doctor prescribes additional tests: and testing for hCG. Based on the results obtained, he will either confirm the death of the fetus or refute it.

HCG for frozen pregnancy in the early stages

This hormone begins to be produced intensively after the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine cavity. To determine its indicator, blood is donated in the morning on an empty stomach or in the afternoon (you can’t eat anything 4-5 hours before). With normal development of the embryo, the level of the hormone in the blood increases daily. However, hCG decreases during frozen pregnancy. If the fetus dies, this is reflected in the hormone levels as follows:

the concentration of hCG in a woman’s blood is much lower than it should be at this stage of gestation;
During the control test, a decrease in the hormone level is noted.

In some cases, hCG may even increase, but its level still remains below normal. Gynecologists believe that the “behavior” of this hormone does not yet confirm anembryonia. Signs of a frozen pregnancy in the early stages should be taken into account as a whole. For this reason, growth disturbance is only one of the symptoms. To obtain a reliable picture, the doctor will prescribe other diagnostic procedures.

Ultrasound of a frozen pregnancy in the early stages

This procedure gives reliable results in determining anembryonia. If a frozen pregnancy is suspected, an ultrasound will show the following results:

The size of the fertilized egg does not correspond to the norm (much smaller).
Not “visible” (after the 5th week of gestation it should be clearly visible).
The size of the embryo is smaller than it should be at this stage of pregnancy.
After the 4th week of gestation, a sign of anembryonia is deformation of the fertilized egg.

Frozen pregnancy - what to do?

If the doctor’s assumptions about the death of the embryo are confirmed, he develops a further plan of action. Removal of the fertilized egg from a woman’s body can be carried out as follows:

prescribing medications that provoke miscarriage;
scraping;
wait-and-see position - after the death of the fetus, the amount of progesterone decreases, which can cause spontaneous miscarriage.

More often, a frozen ectopic pregnancy in the early stages is “interrupted” by curettage. This mini-operation is performed under anesthesia. Curettage allows you to completely remove the fertilized egg. However, this procedure has contraindications. Scraping is prohibited:

for genital infections;
in case of exacerbation of chronic diseases;
for bacterial infections that attack the woman’s body.

Recovery after early miscarriage

The rehabilitation period after curettage can last several weeks. It is important for a woman to strictly follow the doctor’s recommendations:

It is necessary to take antibacterial drugs.
After curettage, you need to remain in bed. Physical activity can cause bleeding.
Since there may be intense discharge in the first 2 weeks after a mini-surgery, you need to use pads. The use of tampons during this period is prohibited!
You need to abstain from sex for at least 2 weeks.
If a frozen pregnancy is “aborted” at an early stage, severe pain in the lower abdomen persists. You don’t need to endure them heroically; you can take a painkiller.
It is necessary to take care of reliable contraception. Plan your next pregnancy at least 6 months later, or even later. By that time, the woman’s body should recover.

Frozen early pregnancy - consequences

If the death of the embryo is detected in time, complications for the woman’s health can be avoided. Otherwise, sepsis is even possible. The risk that pregnancy after a frozen pregnancy will be associated with the same problems still remains:

If anembryonia occurs for the first time in a woman, the probability of its recurrence is up to 25%.
After the 2nd pathological pregnancy, the risk that the problem will recur is about 35%. For this reason, the expectant mother should carefully monitor the signs of a frozen pregnancy in the early stages.
If anembryonia occurs for the third time, the chance of embryo death increases to 40%.

How to avoid frozen pregnancy in the early stages?

It is possible to prevent anembryonia. First you need to figure out why pregnancy stalls in the early stages. Also, expectant parents need to undergo a full examination before conceiving. A woman needs to undergo a smear test for vaginal flora and be tested for TORCH infections. The threat of fetal death will be minimized if destructive habits are abandoned in advance. Folic acid will help you bear a healthy baby. Signs of a frozen pregnancy in late or early stages are inextricably linked with a woman’s diet (it must be healthy).

We didn't even hear. And not at all because it did not exist. It’s just that previously, any arbitrary termination of pregnancy, regardless of the reasons for its occurrence, was called a miscarriage. Today, thanks to technological progress, with the help of ultrasound and other examinations, doctors can make a diagnosis that no one even suspected a few decades ago. A frozen pregnancy is the same case.

According to some data, in our time this diagnosis is given to about 40% of pregnant women. Their pregnancy ends already, which is provoked by a frozen pregnancy. It occurs when the fetus stops developing. The reasons for this phenomenon can be different - from bad habits of future parents to chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus. Most often, frozen pregnancy is caused by various infections that a pregnant woman accidentally picked up (rubella, chickenpox) and hormonal disorders in the body.

It’s good if a frozen pregnancy ends on its own with a miscarriage. This usually occurs very early in pregnancy. Otherwise, the consequences for the woman can be extremely unpleasant. After all, the frozen fetus begins to deteriorate, causing inflammation in the uterine cavity. Therefore, if a frozen pregnancy is diagnosed, medical termination of the pregnancy is clearly indicated by curettage of the uterine cavity or taking medications that lead to a miscarriage (if the gestational age does not exceed 8 weeks).

To avoid unpleasant consequences, it is important to identify the symptoms of a frozen pregnancy as early as possible. But is this possible? Signs of a frozen pregnancy can be both pronounced and hidden. The surest way to avoid an undesirable outcome is regular examination by specialists and careful attitude towards your health.

What are the symptoms of a frozen pregnancy?

You know very well about: vomiting (toxicosis), swelling of the mammary glands, high basal temperature, etc. All these symptoms arise due to the woman’s body adapting to a foreign body (fetus). And if this fetus stops developing, then, logically, everything should fall into place. However, most often this does not happen. The pregnancy peters out, but its symptoms continue. And only later is their abrupt cessation observed. It happens that a woman clearly feels the sudden termination of pregnancy. This should alert her and become a reason to see a doctor.

Discharge. If a frozen pregnancy occurs already in the first three weeks after conception, then, most likely, scanty periods will appear on time, but their duration will be much longer than usual. If pregnancy is established, they should always cause an urgent visit to the doctor. Even if it's a small drop of blood, don't risk it. Usually it is not a frozen pregnancy that causes bleeding, but the threat of its termination. That is, the embryo continues to develop, and the uterus tries in every possible way to get rid of it. It happens that a frozen pregnancy is combined with a miscarriage. In this case, spotting is sure to appear.
Pain. Most often, nagging pain in the lower abdomen indicates an incipient miscarriage, but they are not typical for a frozen pregnancy. Only in the later stages of fading may pain resembling menstrual pain appear.
Breast. The most striking symptom of pregnancy is pain and swelling of the mammary glands. With a frozen pregnancy, these symptoms stop abruptly.
Toxicosis. If you were very severely tormented by nausea and vomiting in the first trimester and suddenly they suddenly stop, consult a doctor, especially if your pregnancy does not exceed 10 weeks.
Basal temperature. With a frozen pregnancy, it returns to the same levels as in the normal “non-pregnant” state. However, this is not the main symptom of the pathology.

You should be more attentive to yourself if a similar situation has happened before. The threat of another frozen pregnancy is quite common.

The most dangerous is a frozen pregnancy in the later stages. It carries not only negative physiological consequences, but also psychological ones. Symptoms of a frozen pregnancy in the second trimester can be both obvious and hidden.

Stomach. During a frozen pregnancy, it stops growing. The uterus does not increase in size.
Movements. The most obvious sign of a frozen pregnancy is the cessation of fetal movements. Several days of “silence” in the stomach is an extremely dangerous situation.
Body temperature. If the fetus died quite a long time ago, and the woman does not suspect it, then serious changes occur in her body. An infection develops in the uterus, which causes a sharp increase in body temperature.
Bleeding. At any stage of pregnancy, any discharge should be a reason to consult a doctor. During a frozen pregnancy, discharge may not be observed.

However, under no circumstances should you make a diagnosis yourself. Even if all the symptoms coincide, it still doesn’t mean anything. Only a doctor can confirm the diagnosis after conducting a lot of different examinations.

Gynecological examination. By palpation, a discrepancy between the size of the uterus and the expected gestational age is detected. However, this method helps to detect a frozen pregnancy only in the second and third trimester. In the first weeks of pregnancy, the size of the uterus is not yet so different from the “non-pregnant” size.
Chorionic gonadotropin. A blood test for hCG levels is mandatory if a missed abortion is suspected. In this case, its indicators first stop at a certain level and then decrease.
Ultrasound. Using this examination, frozen pregnancy can be diagnosed at different stages. The absence of a heartbeat in the fetus, stopping the growth of the embryo or its absence in the fertilized egg are all clear signs of a frozen pregnancy.

However, the doctor can make a final diagnosis only by comparing all the results obtained. Before the verdict and even after it, try not to panic. It's easy to say, but of course there is nothing worse for a mother than the loss of her baby. However, remember that after a frozen pregnancy you have every chance of carrying a healthy baby.

Take care of yourself!

Especially for- Tanya Kivezhdiy

Frozen pregnancy is manifested by the cessation of fetal development as a result of disorders that arose already during the period of waiting for the child. This condition is typical for the early stages. The outcome of a frozen pregnancy is fetal death and premature termination of pregnancy.

Causes of frozen pregnancy

The fetus is most vulnerable until the twelfth week, when the formation of important organs and systems of the unborn baby occurs. During this period, the greatest likelihood of miscarriage or miscarriage remains.

Frozen pregnancy can be caused by many reasons. Among them are:

a genetic failure that is accompanied by chromosomal abnormalities of the fetus. These developmental disorders appear very early and carry the threat of miscarriage;
disturbances in the hormonal system of a pregnant woman, occurring against the background of a lack of progesterone or, conversely, too high a level of androgens. This complication can be detected before pregnancy if you take hormonal status tests and receive treatment in advance;
suppression of the pregnant woman's immunity. When pregnancy occurs, a woman’s immunity sharply weakens: all reserves of strength go to protect the child. Weakened immunity causes problems with the vaginal microflora, which provoke infection of the fetus;
rubella. The disease causes multiple developmental defects;
flu. For the expectant mother, it is very difficult and has multiple complications. Influenza contributes to the appearance of intoxication in a pregnant woman, disrupts blood flow and oxygen supply to the fetus;
diabetes;
drinking alcohol and smoking;
treatment with certain medications;
irrational and unbalanced nutrition;
constant stress, overexertion;
lack of oxygen in the room;
work in hazardous production;
lifting weights;
living in an environmentally unfavorable area.

The risk group includes the following categories of women:

Over 35 years of age.
Those who have had an abortion in the past.
With abnormal development of the uterus;
Who had an ectopic pregnancy.

Why does frozen pregnancy happen?

Frozen pregnancy is caused by bleeding disorders, which are based on antiphospholipid syndrome. It manifests itself in a decrease in the formation of blood vessels in the placenta, as a result of which its basic functions are reduced. Another sign of antiphospholipid syndrome is blockage and damage to the uteroplacental vessels, which contributes to impaired development of the placenta (most often occurs in the sixth week).

Frozen pregnancy sometimes also occurs due to a woman’s poor lifestyle. The first signs can immediately make themselves felt. Direct factors affecting the condition of the fetus include:

poor nutrition;
little exposure to fresh air;
wearing clothes that strongly compress and tighten the stomach;
prolonged exposure to a computer monitor.

Signs of a frozen pregnancy

The peculiarity of miscarriage is that the fetus has already died, but the symptoms of pregnancy still continue. If a woman experiences a sudden cessation of pregnancy symptoms, she should immediately go to the hospital.

The main symptom of fetal freezing is a discrepancy in the size of the uterus: it either becomes sharply enlarged or significantly decreases in size. The woman does not feel these changes. This symptom can only be determined by a gynecologist at the next examination.

A frozen pregnancy is manifested by the following symptoms:

No movement of the child for several days. During an ultrasound, the baby's heartbeat cannot be heard.
Copious bloody discharge.
Feeling of weakness, chills and internal trembling.
Fever.
Drawing and aching pain in the lower abdomen, cessation of its growth. There is also no enlargement of the uterus.
Disappearance of signs of toxicosis.
A decrease in basal temperature and a sharp increase in body temperature, especially if the fetus died a long time ago and the woman does not know anything.
Stopping breast growth.
No baby's heartbeat.

To avoid a frozen pregnancy, you must regularly visit your doctor and take the necessary tests. The doctor may be the first to see the discrepancy between the size of the uterus and the current stage of pregnancy. Carrying out an ultrasound examination will help to accurately listen to the presence or absence of an embryo’s heartbeat.

Frozen pregnancy in the early stages

The life of the fetus in the earliest stages of its development is very fragile. Even minor deviations can lead to a missed pregnancy: psycho-emotional stress, stress, severe fatigue and overwork, long exposure to direct sunlight and long-distance air travel. For the normal development of a baby in the womb, it is necessary to completely eliminate all physical and psychological stress.

Frozen pregnancy in the early stages usually occurs before 13 weeks for the following main reasons:

certain chromosomal disorders, hereditary diseases. If a child is not viable, then nature does not give him the opportunity to be born;
malfunction of the hypothalamus;
Rh conflict between the expectant mother and her baby, especially if the mother is Rh negative and has had abortions before.
drinking alcohol or drugs, smoking.

Frozen pregnancy in late stages

The main reasons for miscarriage in the later stages include: previous infectious diseases of the child's mother, abdominal trauma, the situation if the child himself suffocated with his own umbilical cord.

Almost one hundred percent symptom of a frozen pregnancy is the absence of fetal movements for more than five hours. Among other signs, it is worth noting: the disappearance of nausea, vomiting, cessation of abdominal growth and a decrease in the tone of the uterus. Over time, bloody discharge may occur.

If a frozen pregnancy occurs in the later stages, it is necessary to pay special attention to the issue of rehabilitation of the woman, both therapeutic and psychological.

For three months, a woman must take hormonal contraceptives to normalize hormonal levels and restore the organs of the reproductive system. Taking multivitamins (to increase immunity) and sedatives (to tidy up the nervous system) is also indicated. A week after pregnancy fading, it is worth conducting a control ultrasound examination.

For a woman who has experienced fetal death, the support of family and friends is very important. In some especially severe cases, it is better to seek qualified help from a good psychologist.

It is necessary to plan your next pregnancy at least six months after the incident. This time should be used with maximum benefit: for the treatment of chronic diseases, examination of the endocrine system.

Complete physical and psychological rehabilitation after a sudden termination of pregnancy is the key to successful pregnancy and the birth of a healthy baby in the future.

Diagnosis of frozen pregnancy

A frozen pregnancy is diagnosed only by a doctor and with the help of a comprehensive examination, which includes:

Gynecological examination: will help determine whether the size of the uterus corresponds to the stage of pregnancy.
Ultrasound, which can be used to diagnose the absence of a heartbeat in the fetus and the arrest of its growth.
Blood test: will show a stop in the production of human chorionic gonadotropin.

Examination after miscarriage

After a frozen pregnancy, it is necessary to undergo a long examination to determine the causes of fetal death. Not only the woman, but also her partner should be examined.

A histological and cytogenetic study of embryonic tissue is also carried out, which will help determine the presence or absence of genetic failures.

If a frozen pregnancy occurs due to an infectious disease, it is determined which infection caused the death of the fetus.

Treatment after a frozen pregnancy

After a frozen pregnancy, a woman needs to carefully take care of her health. Possible intoxication by decay products of the tissues of the fetus and placenta, inflammatory processes in the uterus, so doctors are taking measures to completely remove the fetus from the uterine cavity.

Treatment of frozen pregnancy is carried out in two main ways:

Medication method. It consists in the fact that a woman takes medications that cause spontaneous miscarriage.
Vacuum aspiration method is a surgical intervention under anesthesia. Using vacuum suction, the uterine cavity is cleaned.

The procedure for cleaning the uterus during a frozen pregnancy:

Often after a missed pregnancy, hormonal contraceptives are used for treatment. They help normalize the menstrual cycle and prevent inflammatory processes in the female organs.

The issue of further pregnancy planning is decided by the doctor individually. It all depends on the period at which the frozen pregnancy occurred, the woman’s age, and the presence of concomitant diseases. During treatment, you should carefully protect yourself from possible pregnancy.

The preventive measures taken will help avoid miscarriage in the future. Before planning her next pregnancy, a woman should be vaccinated against rubella and chickenpox, especially if she works in a children's educational institution, treat sexually transmitted diseases, take a course of multivitamins and strengthen the immune system. The treatment regimen is agreed with the attending physician individually. In most cases, the prognosis after treatment is favorable.