Does this make sense, or has anyone ever heard of this happening?
If a doctor were examining a woman who is 5 months pregnant, and the baby did not have a heartbeat, would he/she then send the patient home, before removing the baby from the mother? Is this ever the case, and if so, in what case would this occur?
2007-09-08T21:38:15Z
Her water did not break, and she was not having birthing pains. Apparently she just went for her normal check up and the dr told her that he could not find a heartbeat, and she went home. She said that she will need to have a c-section to have the baby removed.
2007-09-08T23:44:31Z
They are waiting nearly a week to remove the baby.
Anonymous2007-09-08T20:48:52Z
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I would certainly not expect the doctor to send the woman home; I would expect the doctor to induce labor so that the fetus would be born. This is presuming that the woman is at a hospital. If she were at a clinic, then I would imagine they would arrange to admit her to a hospital to do the procedure. At that point they might send her home for a short time until she could be admitted.
I am not an expert, but I did give birth to a stillborn child. In some cases, a doctor might do that to wait and see if she goes into labor naturally to deliver the baby. I need to know more to answer the question correctly. Was she having labor pains? Did her water break? If she is really heavy that might be a factor, too. If I were this woman, I would defiantly run, not walk, to the closet hospital emergency room and get a second opinion. I would want to know if my baby was dead or alive. I hope this helps, but in my mind, it is highly unusual for her to be sent home. PLEASE go to the emergency room of your local hospital. The baby's life, and the mom's life depend on it. I will keep you guys in my prayers. A stillborn delivery is the most difficult thing a woman can go through.
As long as there is no sign of infection it isn't unreasonable since there isn't a way to force that baby out in a clinic setting. The mother may very well go into labor at that point or need to schedule an induction to have the baby. Also usually they will schedule a ultrasound at the hospital for the next day to have a higher powered ultrasound machine confirm the lack of heart tones. It does happen if something was wrong with the baby. I didn't make it to 5 months...I lost my baby at 3 months due to no heart beat and had to have a D&C performed. at 5 months she's likely to have to deliver the baby normally.
Toronto: if the baby's heart has stop that doesn't mean the mother has had a miscarriage. It means the baby has died. It is normally up to the mother to decide which option she prefers at the point that a detailed ultrasounds has been done. She can either wait to have the baby on her own or be induced. It is always a wise idea to get a second opinion.
At that point in the pregnancy, it depends on the wishes of the patient and what the doctor recommends.
Sometimes, labor may be induced or a cesarean performed. Sometimes they will wait to see if the baby passes on its own, before inducing or doing surgery.
Without knowing hte details, only the mother and doctor can decide what is best in their situation.