Blighted Ovum During Pregnancy
A blighted ovum during pregnancy can be devastating for an expecting mother who was anticipating bringing a new life into the world. When an expecting mother endures these types of miscarriages, she deserves to know about it as soon as possible.
If healthcare providers make mistakes in identifying a blighted ovum, or if they misdiagnose a normal and healthy pregnancy as a blighted ovum, it can result in preventable harm for the mother and count as medical malpractice.
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Miller Weisbrod Olesky has a decades-long track record of results for children and families across the United States who have suffered from all types of improperly-treated pregnancy complications. Our team of specialized birth injury attorneys and registered nurses can review the unique circumstances of you or your family’s case to deliver the treatment, care, and financial resources you deserve. You won’t be charged with any fees until we win your case.
What Is a Blighted Ovum?
A blighted ovum (also sometimes called an anembryonic pregnancy) is a pregnancy complication that occurs when a fertilized egg implants into the uterus but doesn’t grow into an embryo. Ovum means female reproductive egg cell, and calling it blighted refers to the egg cell being in a state of deterioration or decay.
With a blighted ovum, the placenta and the gestational sac that normally surrounds the embryo continue to develop in the mother’s womb. The sac appears on an ultrasound as a dark black spot, resembling a bubble or blip.
Early ultrasound pictures of an embryo can look like a blighted ovum to the untrained eye. It is for this reason that the standard of care is to not diagnose a blighted ovum until it reaches a specific size to prevent a possible misdiagnosis.
What Causes a Blighted Ovum?
The exact cause of a blighted ovum isn’t always known. Research has shown that certain chromosomal irregularities can trigger a blighted ovum in some women. This can happen when errors occur during reproductive cell division, specifically during the meiosis stage.
Who Is Most at Risk for a Blighted Ovum Miscarriage?
Expecting mothers above the age of 35 have a higher risk of having chromosomal problems during pregnancy. This is because as her eggs age, her reproductive cells (gametes) are more susceptible to errors during cell division. Other factors like family history or smoking can increase an expecting mother’s risk for a miscarriage.
What Causes a Blighted Ovum?
A blighted ovum will typically mimic the symptoms of early pregnancy. This is because a gestational sac and placenta will still grow and begin to produce pregnancy hormones like human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). This will cause the mother to experience morning sickness and other typical early pregnancy symptoms.
The biggest symptom of a blighted ovum miscarriage is vaginal bleeding that is heavier than normal. If an expecting mother notices light bleeding and gray or dark red clumps in the blood, she should immediately see a doctor. It isn’t always the case, but passing small blood clots during pregnancy is a likely sign of a miscarriage.
The only definite method to determine if an expecting mother has a blighted ovum is with an ultrasound.
How is a Blighted Ovum Treated?
Healthcare providers can usually diagnose a blighted ovum with a transvaginal ultrasound. They can also take blood samples to test for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) hormone levels. When hCG levels are abnormally low or do not continue to rise, it can indicate a miscarriage.
For women who don’t pass the blighted ovum on their own, a small surginal procedure may be necessary to empty the contents of its contents. This procedure is known as dilation and curettage and is usually performed under sedation or general anesthesia.
In other cases, the expecting mother’s doctor will prescribe medications to induce a miscarriage. The medication Cytotec can sometimes be used to help pass a miscarriage through induced contractions.
Doctors must schedule a follow-up appointment with the mother around four to six weeks following her miscarriage to confirm that her uterus is empty and that she is not at risk of any further complications like an infection.
What Mistakes Can Healthcare Providers Make When Treating Blighted Ovum Miscarriages?
Though blighted ova often present minimal risk to the mother’s overall health, medical providers can still make errors when diagnosing and treating them. This can include:
- Failing to identify a woman’s blighted ovum, resulting in a delay of care.
- Failing to conduct an adequate ultrasound during prenatal testing.
- Misdiagnosing a viable pregnancy as a blighted ovum miscarriage.
- Failing to remove a mother’s blighted ovum when she cannot pass it vaginally.
- Failure to remove a mother’s placenta, risking an infection from retained products of conception.
- Making anesthesia errors when operating on the mother’s uterus during a dilation and curettage procedure.
It’s important to note that it requires a detailed review of the specific facts and timeline of a mother’s pregnancy and miscarriage and the action taken shortly after it before making a definitive judgement as to whether medical malpractice occurred.
Frequently Asked Questions About Blighted Ovum Miscarriages
How Common is Blighted Ovum?
Blighted ova, while not exactly common themselves, are a relatively common cause of miscarriage. Some estimates state that blighted ova account for up to half of all miscarriages within the first trimester.
How Common is Blighted Ovum in IVF?
A blighted ovum is no more common with in vitro fertilization than it is with any other method of fertilization. The chances of having a blighted ovum depend more on a mother’s risk factors and genealogy.
Do hCG Levels Double With Blighted Ovum?
While there isn’t substantial evidence showing that human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels double, it is true that hCG levels increase with a blighted ovum just like they do in a regular pregnancy.
This is because the placenta still begins to form in a blighted ovum pregnancy, which is responsible for producing these hormones. It is also the explanation for why women with a blighted ovum will experience early hormonal symptoms of pregnancy like morning sickness.
Is There a Baby When You Have a Blighted Ovum?
No, there is no baby in a blighted ovum. The fertilized egg implants into the mother’s uterus, but it never develops into an embryo.
How Long Can You Carry a Blighted Ovum?
Some women will naturally miscarry within a few days without ever even knowing they were pregnant. For others, however, it may not be until their first or second prenatal visit when their doctor informs them of their blighted ovum.
It is extremely rare for a blighted ovum to go into the second trimester; the majority of women will naturally miscarry within 7 to 12 weeks.
Can You Still Have a Baby After a Blighted Ovum?
Yes, it is absolutely possible for a mother to experience a blighted ovum miscarriage and then go on to have a healthy pregnancy. However, she must alert her primary healthcare provider of her history with a blighted ovum so they can properly prepare for her risk of a future miscarriage.
Was My Pregnancy Misdiagnosed as a Blighted Ovum Miscarriage?
A mother’s miscarriage can be heartbreaking for her and her family, but it is even more heartbreaking when the news is delayed past the point that doctors would be able to identify it. It’s even worse to know that a mother’s viable pregnancy was misdiagnosed as a blighted ovum.
If someone believes medical negligence contributed to their misdiagnosis, legal support may be an option. A specialized birth injury attorney can review the medical records and circumstances to assess whether a claim exists.
Families and victims of mismanaged pregnancy complications and misdiagnoses deserve to know whether it was preventable. Our dedicated birth injury lawyers want to help you find those answers and obtain the funds necessary to purchase devices that can help improve the quality of your child's life.
If you or someone you know was injured after a medical procedure and you suspect it may have been caused in part by medical mistakes, Miller Weisbrod Olesky will thoroughly investigate the facts and hold responsible medical providers accountable by pursuing medical malpractice claims against them.
Sometimes families are hesitant to reach out to a medical malpractice attorney or law firm. Parents may feel overwhelmed by their circumstances or are worried that a law firm will not be able to help them. But the only way to find out if you have a case is to talk to an attorney who understands how birth injuries can lead to developmental delays and other complications that require long-lasting medical support.
What Is the Statute of Limitations in a Birth Injury Lawsuit?
A statute of limitations (SOL) is a law that sets a time limit on how long an injured person has to file a lawsuit after an accident. It is essential to understand that statutes of limitations vary based on the type of case and the state where it is filed. For instance, the deadline for birth injury claims is typically different from other claims, such as injury to personal property, fraud, contract disputes, and collection of debts.
Generally, the clock starts ticking on the date the injury occurred. However, there are exceptions to this rule, and in some cases, the statute of limitations starts when a person discovers or reasonably should have discovered an injury. When dealing with government agencies, SOLs can become even more complex.
For example, if the party that injured you was:
- A federal employee
- Employed by a military hospital, Veterans Administration facility, or a federally funded medical entity
You may need to file a birth injury claim under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA). In FTCA cases, claimants must go through certain administrative procedures before filing a lawsuit. In some states, if the negligent party was a local or state government hospital or the doctors and medical providers are employees of a governmental entity, the time period in which you must give "notice" may be shorter.
If your case is filed outside of the statute of limitations, it will typically be dismissed, and you will not be eligible to recover compensation for your injuries. Determining when a statute of limitations begins on your case can be tricky. If you're considering pursuing compensation for a birth injury, contacting an attorney as soon as possible is in your best interest.
How The Birth Injury Attorneys at Miller Weisbrod Olesky Can Help
It takes a detailed expert review of the facts and circumstances of a woman’s pregnancy to determine whether the late diagnosis or misdiagnosis of her blighted ovum stemmed from medical malpractice.
At Miller Weisbrod Olesky, a team of specialized attorneys, nurses and paraprofessionals uses our detailed medical negligence case review process to assess your potential birth injury case.
We start by learning more about you and your story. Then we gather medical records to determine what happened before, during, and after your injuries. We call in skilled medical experts who review your records and let us know if they think medical errors could have caused your injuries.
If we feel medical negligence caused or contributed to your miscarriage or resulting complications, we meet with you to discuss how you can receive compensation from the medical professionals who made the errors.
At no point in our legal intake process will we ask you to pay anything. The medical review of your case and the consultation are free. We only receive payment when you do. The sooner you reach out to us, the sooner we can begin investigating your case and gathering the evidence needed to support your claim.
We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you won't pay any legal fees unless we win your case. Contact us today to schedule your free legal consultation by calling our toll-free line at 888-987-0005 or by filling out our online request form.