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What Causes A Missed Abortion?

Posted on Thu, 22 May 2014

Question: Hi,
I had my first ultrasound at 7w5d the fetal was measuring 6w5d (one week delayed) there was a good heartbeat bpm 155 and the ctr length was healthy.

Yesterday I had a missed abortion there was no heartbeat the baby was measuring 9 weeks instead of 13 weeks

Why did this happen? We heard a healthy heartbeat at almost 7 weeks then why did this happen

Answered by Dr. Mahesh Koregol (16 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
9 weeks

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

I read your query and I am sorry to hear about your loss.

Following is my reply:

1) Missed abortion means the heart beat would have stopped after seeing it on scan.

2) The common cause for missed abortion is chromosomal abnormalities in the baby which constitute about 30% of the causes for abortions.

3) Since the heart beat has stopped at 9 weeks probably baby has grown till 9 weeks and stopped growing due to missed abortion.

Let me know if you have anymore questions.

Regards,
Dr. Mahesh Koregol

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Mahesh Koregol (22 minutes later)

While i understand this, but can this happen even after seeing the heartbeat. We thought everything was going fine

How do i prevent this for futureand how soon can i try to conceive again

Answered by Dr. Mahesh Koregol (46 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Yes

Detailed Answer:
Hi

You are right.

This can happen even after seeing heart beat. That's why it is called missed abortion.

Many women undergo this problem of missed abortion. But majority of them conceive successfully and deliver next time.

It is not necessary that this will repeat next time. You are young and likely to have successful pregnancy.

You can try for next pregnancy 3 months after this abortion.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj