Stillbirth: Signs, causes and treatment

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor I Nguyen Thi Man - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital. The doctor has more than 10 years of experience in diagnosing, consulting and treating in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

1. Stillbirth

Stillbirth or stillbirth is the case where the fetus dies in the womb before being discharged completely and has a weight of more than 500 grams. Stillbirth is divided into 2 groups:
Stillbirth less than 20 weeks: due to genetic structural abnormalities or fetal infection Stillbirth after 20 weeks: divided into stages. Early stillbirth occurs between 20-27 weeks, late stillbirth occurs from 28-36 weeks, and full-term pregnancy occurs after 37 weeks. Therefore, an 8-week stillbirth of less than 20 weeks is a formality. premature stillbirth, and due to many reasons from the mother or fetus. And it should be treated early and promptly so as not to affect the mother's health.

2. Signs of stillbirth

In the early stages of pregnancy, it is often difficult for pregnant women to recognize the signs of stillbirth, because the 8 week fetus is still very small and has no obvious symptoms. In some cases, pregnant women still have normal pregnancy symptoms. However, when the pregnancy is still for a while, the pregnant woman begins to show some symptoms such as:
Abdominal pain below the navel The fetus no longer kicks: the pregnant woman will no longer see the fetus moving or kicking. Your belly will feel tight, heavy, and smaller. In some cases, abdominal pain and diarrhea are frequent. No pregnancy: pregnant woman no longer shows signs of pregnancy in the 8th week of pregnancy Vaginal brown or black bleeding Abdomen not growing bigger Nipples suddenly enlarged and colostrum is released Amniotic fluid breaks During pregnancy ultrasound The fetal heartbeat can no longer be heard. See also: Signs of stillbirth that pregnant mothers need to know

3. Causes of stillbirth

Stillbirth is caused by many factors. May be due to pregnant women or fetuses. However, about 20-50% of stillbirths have no known cause. Some causes of stillbirth in the 8th week, for example:

3.1 Causes of pregnant women Stillbirth can occur due to causes from pregnant women such as:
Pregnant women have diseases related to parasites such as flu, hepatitis, syphilis, mumps , malaria,... Having a number of chronic diseases such as: hypertension, heart disease, nephritis, liver failure, tuberculosis,... Some endocrine diseases such as hypothyroidism, basedow, diabetes ,... Pregnant women infected with pregnancy poisoning lead to fetal toxicity in pregnancy Deformed uterus, poor growth Pregnant women over 40 years old, poor nutrition and hard labor 3.2 Causes from Fetal malformations: when the fetus is developing, there are abnormalities that lead to malformations such as hydrocephalus, placental edema,... Chromosomal disorders: inherited from the father or mom. A disorder in the division of chromosomes or a mutation during fertilization. The umbilical cord is wrapped around the neck, around the body and limbs or the umbilical cord is knotted, pinched, twisted,... Blood type disagreement between mother and child In addition, stillbirth at 8 weeks is also due to a number of other causes. from appendages such as: tangled cord, placenta, amniotic fluid and abnormal uterus can also lead to stillbirth.
See more: How long after a miscarriage will my period return?

4. How to deal with stillbirth

If the fetus is stillborn at a very young age, the fetus can disappear automatically without medical intervention.
Some interventions such as:
Use of drugs: this is a quick and safe solution and avoids damage to the mother's uterus. Aspiration: is the fastest method to remove the fetus. Because if the fetus stays in the womb for a long time, bacteria can appear and adversely affect the health of the pregnant woman. In addition, taking care of pregnant women after stillbirth is very important.
Psychological: pregnant women often appear negative feelings such as boredom, guilt, disappointment, ... Therefore, to help pregnant women overcome psychological trauma, husbands need to care, care and often confide, talk, encourage the wife to feel comforted and regain balance. In addition, the mother needs to actively relax such as reading books, listening to music, ... to keep her mind at ease. Diet: stillbirth not only causes blood loss but also puts pressure on organs in the body. Special attention should be paid to the diet, supplementing with protein, vitamins, iron, etc. to prevent anemia. Plan to get pregnant again: after stillbirth, the mother needs time to stabilize mentally and physically. Therefore, the best time to get pregnant again is at least after 6-12 months.

During pregnancy, mothers need to take good care of their health and have regular antenatal check-ups to minimize the risk of harm to mother and baby.
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