Antenatal fetal death and its causes

Antenatal fetal death is a very sad phenomenon, which is nevertheless common in obstetric practice. Death of the fetus may occur during any period of pregnancy. That is why information about what causes this phenomenon, will be useful to many.

What is the antenatal period?

The antenatal period is the period of intrauterine development of the fetus. Its onset coincides with the moment of the fusion of the sex cells and the formation of the zygote. This period ends with childbirth. It is also divided into two stages: embryonic (this is the first twelve weeks of pregnancy, when the laying of organs takes place) and fertile, when the whole organism develops further.

Antenatal fetal death: causes

In fact, intrauterine death can occur for completely different reasons. Here are just the most common of them:

• Infectious diseases carried by the mother during pregnancy, including influenza, pneumonia, etc .;
• Some diseases of the cardiovascular system, including heart disease, anemia, hypertension;
• Problems in the work of the endocrine system, including diabetes mellitus;
• Inflammation of the genitourinary system;
• Severe toxicosis in the second half of pregnancy;
• Pathology of the placenta, including its detachment and presentation;
• Sometimes the antenatal fetal death occurs due to pathologies of the umbilical cord, for example, with the formation of a true node;
• Rhesus-conflict between the mother and child organism;
• Polyhydramnios or, conversely, water scarcity;
• Trauma during pregnancy, in particular falling on the abdomen;
• Education during intrauterine development of pathologies that are incompatible with fetal life;
• Antenatal fetal death may occur as a result of hypoxia, when the developing baby does not receive enough oxygen;
• Intrauterine infections carried by the fetus can also be attributed to risk factors;
• Sometimes the cause can be an intoxication of the mother's body with heavy metals and poisons;
• The abuse of certain medicines may also lead to the termination of pregnancy;
• Alcoholism, smoking and addiction to drugs during childbearing also adversely affect health.

Unfortunately, doctors do not always manage to determine why the death of a child occurs. In any case, a woman in this position needs help.

Antenatal fetal death and its signs

Death of the fetus in the womb is accompanied by some symptoms, which are worth paying attention to. The doctor may notice that the uterus has stopped increasing in size and has lost its tone. In addition, patients complain of weakness, dizziness, heaviness, and sometimes abdominal pain. With a routine examination, the gynecologist may notice that the fetal movement and palpitation are absent.

It is worth noting that intrauterine death is extremely dangerous for a woman, as it is fraught with the development of sepsis. Therefore, it is necessary to take measures. In the early stages of pregnancy, doctors perform surgical removal of the embryo. If death occurred in the second half of the antenatal period, then it is necessary to stimulate childbirth.