If a fetus is not growing in the womb, it is a sign that something is wrong. And there are various foolproof symptoms of fetus not growing in the womb.
It could be a result of the mother’s health or the baby’s physical, developmental, or genetic abnormalities.
To avoid growth issues, it’s essential to take the time to figure out what’s causing the issue, so you can take the proper steps to ensure the baby is healthy.
To know how early you can detect a problem with your pregnancy, you will need to know what to look for. Unfortunately, there are so many symptoms and signs that you may not know what to look for.
Therefore, we have brought together a list of some of the most common symptoms of a fetus not growing in the womb and are going to discuss them.
However, before we discuss that, let’s start by discussing a little about the growth process in pregnancy.
A Little Talk About Pregnancy
The day of your last period is the beginning of pregnancy. The egg that will become your baby rapidly divides into several cells within 24 hours of fertilization.
The embryo develops into a fetus by the eighth week of pregnancy. A fetus is a term used to describe the developing human organism from the end of the eighth week till birth.
The fetal phase usually lasts around 30 weeks, and delivery usually happens about 38 weeks following conception.
The development of the organs is finished at this time. The fetus’s size and weight both increase quickly at about Weeks 9–38.
By the 38th week, the fetus has completed organ development, grown significantly in size, and is completely formed and prepared for delivery.
Regular dimensions and weight ranges for a fetus at 38 weeks of pregnancy are 36 to 51 centimeters (14–20 inches) in length and 2.7 to 4.6 kilos (about 6–10 pounds).
Most times, a normal pregnancy lasts for about 40 weeks. Three trimesters are created out of these weeks.
Every fetus is meant to go through these phases; however, if there are complications with the pregnancy, the fetus may not go through these typical stages of growth and development. Let’s look at some of the causes behind this.
Poor Fetal Growth – What Is It?
What is poor fetal growth? In the womb, a fetus who isn’t developing as swiftly as he should is experiencing poor fetal growth.
An estimated weight below the 10th percentile of gestational age is how it is formally defined. Therefore, any infant smaller than average may be identified as having a disorder.
What Causes A Baby To Stop Growing In The Womb?
You may be wondering what causes poor fetal growth. Well, there are several reasons for poor fetal growth. A placental problem is the most frequent cause.
Note that the placenta is the tissue that carries food and blood to the baby. It connects the mother and fetus and allows the baby to expel waste materials while supplying it with oxygen and nutrition.
However, a baby might develop more slowly if, for instance, the placenta is unable to provide the baby with enough oxygen and nutrients or if the placenta’s blood supply is compromised.
Other problems that can impede fetal growth in newborns include:
1. Chromosomal abnormalities
2. Multiple gestations (twins, triplets, or more)
3. Residing at an altitude of more than 5,000 feet
4. Heart issues
5. Inadequate maternal health conditions, such as advanced diabetes
6. High blood pressure
7. Protein in the Urine
8. Infections like syphilis, toxoplasmosis, and rubella
9. Early placental separation
10. Kidney or lung conditions
11. Undernourishment or anemia
12. Sickle-cell disease
13. Immune disorders
14. Using drugs or alcohol excessively or while smoking.
How Do You Know If Your Fetus Is Not Growing?
How do you know if your fetus is not growing as a pregnant mom? If you notice any strange changes and cues in your body, it may be a pointer that something is wrong.
Also, watch out for symptoms. What are the symptoms that the baby is not growing in the womb? Here are a few examples:
1. The Baby’s activity level decreases noticeably
2. Exceptional fundal height
3. No fetal motion
4. Absence of fetal heartbeat
5. A severe cramp
6. Pain in the abdomen.
7. Contractions
8. Frequent vomiting
9. Excruciating and persistent back pain
10. Bleeding
11. Increased heart rate
12. An increase in urine protein
13. Pain in the abdomen
14. Swollen legs, feet, and face
15. Rapid weight gain that is excessive
16. An increase in vulvar discharge
17. A significant weight decrease
18. There is no noticeable growth in the baby bump.
These are some symptoms of a fetus not growing in the womb that you should look out for.
How Will The Doctor Determine That My Baby Isn’t Developing Inside The Womb?
It is important to know how your Doctor will check if your baby is developing normally or not. Here is how your Doctor Diagnoses that a baby is not developing in the womb.
Your doctor will perform routine tests throughout your pregnancy to determine your baby’s development. An ultrasound is a preliminary test to monitor a baby’s development inside the uterus.
With a sensor moved across your abdomen during the ultrasound scan, your doctor can observe your unborn child (belly).
After the ultrasound, your doctor will gauge the size of your baby’s head, abdomen, and legs. These measurements will show you and your doctor if your baby grows regularly.
Your doctor will also determine the quantity of amniotic fluid in your uterus. Low levels of amniotic fluid are present when a baby has a growth constraint.
Tiny babies may require more frequent ultrasound examinations to monitor their health.
Obvious Symptoms Fetus Is Not Growing In The Womb
As a pregnant mom, you should be well aware of the symptoms of fetus not growing in your womb. To be on the lookout, though, here are some symptoms of fetus not growing that you need to know:
1. You stop feeling your baby move and kick
2. Cramps
3. Pain
4. Bleeding from the genital area
5. Nausea
6. Vomiting
7. Fluid leakage or strange vaginal discharge
8. Early pregnancy waters breaking
Doing an ultrasound scan is the most reliable way to confirm a baby’s death while still in the womb. For example, the scan might reveal whether your unborn child’s heart has stopped beating.
You can get a second scan if you’d like to confirm that your baby passed away. Now, let’s discuss in detail the twelve most common symptoms of a fetus not growing in the womb.
1. An Abnormal Fundus Height
It is one notable pointer that can be a symptom of fetus not growing in the womb. Measurement of the fundal height aids the physician in determining whether or not a woman’s uterus is expanding.
While doing a routine check-up, your baby’s fundal size will be checked. You will have to lie down, and the length from the top of the uterus to the pubic bone is measured using a tape measure.
After 16 weeks, fundal height often corresponds to the pregnancy’s development. If your uterus is not as tall as it should be, it indicates that the fetus is not developing normally inside the womb.
The cause could be a breech baby or too much or too little amniotic fluid if the worst happened. However, it might also be a symptom of the fetus not growing normally.
2. Absence of Heartbeat
Usually, a fetus’s heart begins to beat around the fifth week, and detection of the heartbeat doesn’t become possible until around the tenth week.
After that, electronic monitoring of the fetus can be used to find a heartbeat, or in some situations, you can touch your stomach and count the beats per minute (bpm).
Sometimes a change in the baby’s posture or placental problems makes it impossible to hear the heartbeat. In this situation, your physician could advise you to try again on your next visit.
If she can still not listen to the fetus’s heartbeat, an ultrasound examination may be advised to determine the cause of the undetectable heartbeat.
Lack of a heartbeat can be a symptom that the fetus is not developing normally in the womb or, in the worst situations, it is a symptom fetus is not growing in the womb anymore.
3. Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR)
The growth of the fetus is hampered by intrauterine growth restriction. Usually, the IUGR test is done to monitor your baby’s development.
If your IUGR test is positive, it means that your fetus is 10% smaller than expected for gestation, which is a symptom fetus is not growing normally.
If the placenta, which under normal circumstances ensures the infant receives all the nutrients they need, malfunctions, it can cause IUGR.
Also, diabetes, anemia, and kidney problems are additional causes. Complications with IUGR, including breathing difficulties, high blood sugar, and high body temperatures, may develop and persist even after birth.
As a result, you need essential to monitor this situation carefully. This could also occur when there are multiples, with one baby having IUGR while the other is unaffected.
4. Low HCG Level
During pregnancy, the placenta releases a hormone called hCG. Throughout pregnancy, hCG levels frequently change depending on the trimester.
hCG levels are typically very high during the ninth to sixteenth weeks of pregnancy. A low hCG level is not a cause for alarm because normal levels vary from person to person.
However, a low level of hCG could be a symptom of the fetus not growing because it could be caused by inadequate fetal growth, a miscarriage, a blighted ovum, or ectopic pregnancy and raise suspicions about your pregnancy.
5. Cramping Excessively During Pregnancy
There are several aches and pains associated with pregnancy. However, one needs to be cautious when acute abdominal discomfort resembles menstruation cramps.
Early in pregnancy, insufficient blood flow may be the reason for the symptoms of the fetus not growing in the womb, but if they continue, you may need to see a doctor.
When you have regular contractions accompanied by cramps and pains but not yet close to your expected date of delivery (EDD), you should be cautious because this could be a warning sign that you should not ignore.
Please note that this contraction is distinct from Braxton Hicks contractions, which are painless and feel like a tightening in the abdomen. They also subside after a short period.
You should alert your doctor if you feel mild to severe contractions, especially if they are accompanied by leg weakness, back discomfort, waist pain, watery discharge with traces of blood, and cramping.
All of these are not typical signs of pregnancy and could be a symptom fetus is not growing in the womb.
Gastric disturbances may also manifest as contractions. Consult your doctor to confirm what it is and is not, and find out if to be concerned.
6. Bleeding In Pregnancy
During pregnancy, women frequently experience spotting, which is perfectly natural. However, bleeding must still be assessed by a doctor because it is unquestionably a source of worry.
It could indicate hormonal changes, implantation bleeding, or miscarriage. It is also a warning sign and a symptom of a fetus not growing in the womb when you suffer heavy bleeding per vagina, followed by contractions, pain, cold, and fever.
The stage of your pregnancy will determine when you experience this. It could also mean other things, including miscarriage, placenta previa, placental abruption, or hormonal bleeding.
For other warning signs of miscarriage, read the article on how to detect signs of miscarriage here.
7. Profound Back Pain
Back discomfort is a frequent pregnancy symptom because the expanding baby puts a lot of pressure on the spine and lower back. When you are expecting numerous children, this discomfort gets worse.
So keep an eye out for back pain that worsens and isn’t just a dull ache. Additionally, it’s not a good indicator if the pain starts in the front of your body and moves to your back. It would be helpful if you saw a doctor right away.
However, if it persists despite trying several solutions, it becomes a pregnancy risk sign that you should be aware of because it could indicate several different things.
Intense back pain may indicate preterm labor or miscarriage, stunted fetal growth, kidney or bladder infection, cyst, etc. A cold and a fever could also be present with back pain.
It is advisable to call your doctor as soon as you notice any of these symptoms to rule out any complications and to receive the proper medical attention if needed.
8. Copious Vaginal Discharge
During pregnancy, vaginal discharge may significantly increase as the pregnancy goes on. The body secretes more discharges in preparation for childbirth to lower the risk of infection, safeguard the cervix, and keep a healthy balance of bacteria.
Additionally, it is increased to flush out or inhibit the growth of dead cells within the vagina. Usually, a pregnant woman’s vaginal discharge is clear, whitish, and odorless.
However, you should head to the hospital immediately if you see a yellowish or greenish discharge that has a strong odor.
Cervical inflammation may cause an unusual discharge, which could signify a miscarriage or a symptom of the fetus not growing in the womb.
It may be a dangerous indication of pregnancy if you are getting close to your due date and experience profuse vaginal discharge, whether it trickles or gushes out.
Preterm labor, preterm rupture of membrane miscarriage, placental abruption, a leaky bladder, or watery mucus are a few more issues that it might also indicate.
If you notice these symptoms, keep an eye out and keep a close eye on the discharge, especially if it gets awful and is accompanied by blood, contractions, a headache, and backache.
If so, it might indicate that some of these underlying issues are present, so you should speak with your doctor, nurse, or midwife or take other necessary steps to reduce the likelihood that your baby will pass away.
9. The Morning Sickness Abruptly Stops
Pregnancy and morning sickness symptoms go hand in hand. Morning sickness usually ends by the end of the first trimester or even earlier, for most women, with no adverse effects on the fetus.
However, the abrupt cessation of morning sickness in certain pregnant women may be caused by low hCG levels, which may indicate a miscarriage. It may also indicate a symptom of a fetus not growing in the womb or a symptom of a dead baby.
Therefore, getting a professional’s assessment and confirming that your baby is not in danger when you immediately experience no signs of morning sickness, especially if you are still in your first trimester.
10. Breast Size Decreasing
During pregnancy, a woman’s body goes through many hormonal changes. The breasts grow and become more sensitive as the pregnancy progresses.
As the pregnancy continues, you also start to feel heavier and fuller. However, a dramatic drop in breast size could signify a miscarriage, suggest symptoms of a fetus not growing correctly, or a dead fetus because the pregnancy hormones have stopped acting.
11. No Fetal Movement
The fetus starts to move around the 18-week mark in response to pain, light, and sound. According to experts, a pregnant woman should experience ten kicks roughly every two hours during this time.
When the fetus is in distress, the count drops. The best course of action is to consult a doctor. A bad situation might arise if medical care is delayed in any way.
Fetal movement should be felt daily or every other day, beginning in the early 16th week of pregnancy, as a sign of a healthy pregnancy and that the baby is growing well inside the womb. However, most women report feeling it more frequently between the 20th and 22nd week of pregnancy.
You may feel it more toward the end of the third trimester, which is normal. However, when you don’t feel your baby move for days or weeks, that’s not normal. It would help if you were on the lookout for this could be a symptom of the fetus not growing.
When you don’t feel any fetal movement, it could be a symptom of the fetus not growing because the baby’s movement indicates growth, activity, and strength.
Other disorders, such as fetal distress, infection, low amniotic fluid volume, anterior placenta, sluggish movement, low oxygen levels, or aberrant heart rate, may cause abnormal fetal movement.
The fetus’s decreased mobility or noticeably increased or decreased fetal heartbeat are warning signs. Additionally, placental insufficiency and membrane rupture, which can result in the fetus having less activity, may also cause poor fetal movement and poses risks to the infant.
To monitor your infant’s motion In the 16th to 22nd week of pregnancy, you’ll probably feel the first kick, known as quickening. Baby movement should be monitored because it may differ from your own. After all, newborns need time to relax and be active, just as we do.
Take some cold or sweet liquids and watch your baby’s movements. Your baby should move 10 to 30 times during the following two hours.
For accuracy, perform this while you’re calm and there isn’t any background noise. If there is still no movement after doing this, get straight to the hospital or phone your doctor.
12. Placental Insufficiency
The organ that develops in the womb during pregnancy is the placenta. A rare but serious pregnancy complication is placental insufficiency, also known as placental dysfunction or uteroplacental vascular insufficiency.
It happens when the placenta is injured or does not mature properly. A decrease in the mother’s blood supply is a defining feature of this blood flow issue.
The problem can also arise if the mother’s blood supply does not sufficiently grow by the middle of her pregnancy. Placental insufficiency may also occur if the placenta fails to properly attach to the uterine wall or separates from the mother during labor.
When the placenta is damaged, the baby cannot receive enough oxygen and nutrients from the mother’s blood. The infant cannot develop and flourish without this crucial assistance.
Birth defects, early birth, and low birth weight can result from this. Additionally, the mother is at an elevated risk of problems. Early diagnosis of this issue is essential for the mother’s and the infant’s health.
Blood flow issues are associated with placental insufficiency. It can be brought on by maternal blood and vascular diseases, drugs, and lifestyle choices.
The following conditions are frequently associated with placental insufficiency: diabetes, persistently high blood pressure (hypertension), issues with blood clotting, anemia, certain medicines (particularly blood thinners), smoking, and using drugs (especially cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine).
Conclusion
We have listed 12 common symptoms of a fetus not growing in the womb.
It is important, as an expectant mom, to observe these signs and discuss with your caregiver if you have slight suspicion or sense something is off.
Although your worry may be unfounded, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Save this for later, momma!
