It can be one of the most the challenging things for parents to encounter. A Fetal loss can also be known as a fetal death and sometimes classed as a stillbirth depending when in the pregnancy it happens; it is when a death occurs before a baby is born. It normally happens early on in the pregnancy and it’s nearly impossible to prevent it. It is a difficult thing for parents to face, but it is something that happens far too often.
What are the facts?
Many people’s surprise, there is a high frequency of fetal loss, according to Medscape in 2005 there was an average stillbirth rate of 6.2 per every 1000 births in the USA, and in 2009 there were an estimated 2.64 million stillbirths globally.
What are the causes of fetal loss?
Often the cause of a fetal loss may not be known, there are however a number of different factors, that are known, that could lead to a fetal loss, one of the highest risk factors is maternal overweight and obesity and also maternal smoking. There could be the chance also of there being a genetic problem with the fetus, which is another common factor leading to fetal loss. There is also the possibility that there is a problem with the uterus or the cervix.
Knowing when it has happened
There are a number of different ways to find out if a foetus has been lost. One of the main symptoms recognised in most patients is the decrease to fetal movement, and also not being able to feel heart tones. These though do not confirm a fetal loss, it has to be diagnosed by visualisation of the fetal heart and along with this the lack of cardiac activity.
Testing for the causes
Although the causes for fetal loss are known, finding out the specific cause cannot always be possible, there are some tests however that can be done to try and find out what a specific cause of fetal loss. One of these tests is done by a fetal autopsy, also a look at maternal history could also show why fetal loss has happened. A placental evaluation can also be conducted and a urine toxicology can be carried out to try and find a specific cause. These are just some of the tests that can be done although do not always guarantee an answer.
Coping in the future
It is not an easy thing to cope with, it takes time to take in and overcome what has happened, sometimes counselling may be needed. Often parents who experience a fetal loss do go on to have healthy children. If a particular problem is found it is important for it to be addressed before the next pregnancy.
A fetal loss is a hard thing to cope with, and as the statistics show it is something that happens all too often. There are various reasons for why it happens, but it is hard, nearly impossible, to stop it from happening, and it takes a long time to get over. If fetal loss does occur and the problem is found and addressed before the next pregnancy there is a high chance of going on to having healthy children.
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