Questions in the Maternal and Child Health Forum have been answered by doctors from Henry Ford Health System.

Question Title: Blighted Ovum/miscarriages

Forum: The Maternal and Child Health Forum
Topic: Pregnancy - Normal

Posted by Steph on May 22, 1999 at 16:10:28

Hi-

I am 7.5 weeks pregnant. I am a first timer and have alot of concerns. I have been reading a bit on blighted ovum's. There aren't alot of specifics out there. Could somebody please answer a few questions?
1. How long can a BO live before miscarrying?
2. Are there any symptoms one feels if they have a BO? (aside from regular pg symptoms).
3. What is the chance of having a blighted ovum? Percentage?

I have other questions on miscarriage.

Are there any percentages/statistics based on weeks of pregnancy vs. chances of miscarriage? I know that up to 12 weeks a m/c can happen at anytime but I was wondering if there is any data on this. Do most m/c's happen very early in pregnancy?

I don't have my first prenatal for another week and a half...

Posted by hfhs.md.rcs on May 23, 1999 at 18:19:34

Dear Steph:
A blighted ovum means that the early placental tissue developed and the baby tissue did not develop. Thus, by definition, a blighted ovum means there never was a baby.

There are no unique symptoms of a blighted ovum. The symptoms are those of pregnancy (missed period, breast tenderness, fatigue, urinary frequency, nausea) and then the symptoms of miscarriage (crampy pain, spotting/bleeding). It can take 2 months before these symptoms appear.

The overall chances of miscarriage are ususally quoted as 15%. Before implanation, 1/2 of fertilized eggs are lost. Following implanation, early pregnancy tests detect 1/3 of pregnancies that will not survive. By two months when an ultrasound study will show a fetal heartbeat, the likelihood of the pregnancy being lost is 5-10%.

It is normal for women to worry about the normality of their pregnancy. All mothers worry: intially will they miscarry; then will the pregnancy be normal; then will my baby be normal; them will I have able to deliver without a cesarean section; then will my new child remain healthy; then will my toddler have accidents; etc etc. My dear mother died at 79 years of age worrying about me.

Keywords: early pregnancy symptoms, blighted ovum

This information is provided for education purposes and is not a medical consutlation. If you have specific questions, please speak with your healthcare provider.

 

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