Warning signs of stillbirth
(Baonghean) Stillbirth is a condition in which the fetus dies before birth but after the 20th week of pregnancy. Up to 50% of stillbirths have no specific cause:
1. Lack of fetal movement
When a mother no longer feels her baby move, it could be a sign of stillbirth. Counting fetal movements is something that mothers should do every day to ensure the health of the fetus. To know how to count fetal movements, the mother should lie on her side and count any movements of the baby that she feels in a certain period of time (usually 1 hour).
2. Uterus does not develop
As the baby grows, the mother’s uterus must grow as well. If the fetus is stillborn, the mother’s uterus stops growing. During regular prenatal checkups, the doctor will estimate the growth of the uterus. If the uterus does not keep up with the growth of the pregnancy, there must be some problem. After the examination, the doctor will make a final conclusion about why the uterus has stopped expanding.
3. Cannot hear fetal heartbeat
Routine prenatal checkups usually check for a fetal heartbeat. A special device is used to listen to the fetal heartbeat. There are times when it is difficult to hear the heartbeat, but the doctor will continue to measure until the heartbeat is found. If the heartbeat is still not detected, the pregnant woman will be tested to find out the reason, including the cause of stillbirth.
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