Patient's question:
I already have a healthy baby with my husband, and we recently decided to have another one. I've been pregnant for a few months now. The other day, I went for a prenatal checkup, and the doctor said that the embryo had stopped developing. What does this mean? What causes the embryo to stop developing? Can the baby in my belly still be born?Doctor's answer:
Embryonic arrest refers to the cessation of growth in the embryo. Common causes are due to chromosomal abnormalities, such as abnormalities in the number or structure of chromosomes, which can lead to fetal malformations or certain functional disorders. Most outcomes result in miscarriage. In early miscarriage, chromosomal abnormalities, environmental factors, maternal factors, and certain diseases can all lead to embryonic arrest and cause miscarriage. If the embryo has stopped growing and developing, an artificial abortion is necessary to terminate early pregnancy. A baby that has stopped developing cannot survive until birth.