How to determine whether the fetus has stopped developing?
With the continuous advancement of modern medicine, more and more women are able to receive good health care and medical services during pregnancy. However, for some fetal health conditions, there can be problems even with the best care. One common problem is that the fetus stops growing. If not detected and treated promptly, this can lead to health risks for the mother and fetus. This article will introduce how to determine whether the fetus has stopped growing and help pregnant women deal with such situations in a timely manner.
Observe the physical symptoms of pregnant women
First, pregnant women should pay close attention to their physical symptoms. In a normal pregnancy, pregnant women will have many typical symptoms, such as breast swelling, early pregnancy reactions, abdominal bulge, etc. However, these symptoms may disappear or lessen if the fetus stops developing. In fact, pregnant women may feel that their belly is smaller than before, somewhat like when they were first pregnant. If a pregnant woman feels that although she is not bleeding, the classic symptoms of late pregnancy are reduced or even disappear completely, then she needs to consider checking whether the fetus is normal.
Additionally, another symptom that pregnant women may face is vaginal bleeding. Vaginal bleeding is a common phenomenon in early pregnancy, but if the bleeding is particularly large, dark, and lasts for a long time, the cause may be that the fetus has stopped developing.
Use of ultrasound
Doctors often recommend an ultrasound if a pregnant woman has physical symptoms that suggest the baby is more likely to have stopped growing. Ultrasound examination is a safe and non-invasive examination method. By producing images through the reflection of ultrasound waves, doctors can clearly see whether the fetus in the womb is developing normally, as well as the size and development of the fetus. If the size of the fetus is not as expected, or if it is found that the fetus has stopped moving, then you need to seriously consider whether the fetus has stopped developing.
Get a blood test
In addition to ultrasound, blood tests can also be used to determine whether the fetus has stopped growing. This method mainly judges the health of the fetus by detecting certain specific chemicals in the body of pregnant women. The most commonly used marker is progesterone. Progesterone is an estrogen produced by the ovaries and placenta, and its levels reflect the health of the fetus. If progesterone levels are too low, it may indicate a problem with the fetus. However, the accuracy of this method is not very high, and other tests are needed to confirm the diagnosis.
Pay attention to fetal movements
Finally, pregnant women need to pay close attention to their fetal movements. Fetal movement is a good sign of fetal health. Under normal circumstances, fetal movement should become more and more frequent in the middle and late stages of pregnancy. If at this time, the pregnant woman feels that the fetal movement has become irregular or even completely absent, then she needs to go to the hospital for further examination in time.
Summary
In short, the health of the fetus is very important to pregnant women. If it is suspected that fetal development has stopped, pregnant women should pay close attention to their physical symptoms, undergo ultrasound examination, and blood tests.Check the fluid and pay attention to fetal movements. Prompt detection and treatment of such situations can help reduce maternal and infant health risks.
