Miscarriage during a frozen pregnancy

What is a miscarriage?

According to medical statistics, spontaneous miscarriage is a complication that occurs more often than others during pregnancy. About 10-20% of all recorded pregnancies end in miscarriage.Miscarriage is a sporadic, sudden, termination of pregnancy, which is accompanied by complete or partial emptying of the uterus.

A frozen pregnancy (ZB) can be seen on ultrasound examination. It consists in confirming the non-viability of the fetus without bleeding. ZB can result in miscarriage, when the body gets rid of the dead fetus on its own, or medical abortion, when medical or surgical procedures are used to clean the uterine cavity.

Causes of miscarriage and frozen pregnancy

80% of miscarriages occur in the first trimester before 12 weeks. In 50% of cases, this is due to genetic defects in the fetus. The risk of miscarriage due to chromosomal abnormalities decreases with the course of pregnancy: by 20 weeks it is 10-20% versus 41-50% in the first trimester. The main cause of genetically determined early miscarriages is autonomous trisomies, when cells have three homologous chromosomes instead of two. Such defects occur at the time of conception and are not subject to correction. They lead to miscarriage or the development of severe genetic diseases. In addition to genetics, there are immunological, endocrine and infectious causes.

In the second trimester, various diseases and disorders in the mother's body become the main cause of miscarriage.

There is a list of factors that can trigger early pregnancy loss:

• the age of the woman. At the age of 20-30 years, the risk of spontaneous miscarriage is 9-17%, at 35-40 years - 20%, at 40-45 - 40%;

• alcohol abuse;

• caffeine abuse;

• smoking;

• drug use;

• chronic diseases of the mother;

• maternal infections;

• use of medications incompatible with pregnancy;

• spontaneous termination of pregnancy in the anamnesis. The risk of subsequent pregnancy loss in women with one spontaneous miscarriage in the history is 18-20%, with two - 30%, with three - 43%.

Symptoms and signs of miscarriage

You can suspect a miscarriage by sudden spotting and sharp pain in the lower abdomen. If these symptoms occur, you should seek immediate medical attention. The doctor should perform an ultrasound diagnosis. The gold standard for diagnosis is transvaginal scanning (TVS), when a sensor is inserted into the uterus through the vagina. If the fuel assembly is unavailable, transabdominal scanning can be performed through the anterior abdominal wall.

A frozen pregnancy may be asymptomatic and not manifest itself until the next scheduled ultrasound.

How does a miscarriage occur?

The miscarriage process has four stages. This does not happen overnight and lasts from a few hours to several days.

The first stage is the threat of miscarriage. Among the symptoms: pulling pains in the lower abdomen, scanty blood discharge, increased uterine tone. The process of detachment of the placenta from the place of attachment in the uterus begins. The inner pharynx is closed. The main thing is to seek help in time, then with proper therapy there is a chance to stop the miscarriage and save the pregnancy.

The second stage is an incipient miscarriage. Severe discharge, the cervical canal is slightly open, the doctor diagnoses the final detachment of the placenta.

The third stage is a miscarriage in progress. You can feel the regular contractions of the uterus, the exodus of the fetus, placenta and uterine contents has begun, and copious blood discharge.

The last fourth stage is a complete miscarriage. Pregnancy is terminated, the uterine cavity does not contain the fetus and the products of conception.

How can I identify a ZB?

It should be remembered that it is possible to diagnose a frozen pregnancy only during an ultrasound examination. Home tests will not give reliable results. Ultrasound will show the presence or absence of a fetal heartbeat.