Fetal washing during pregnancy

A woman’s body goes through many changes during pregnancy, making it an incredible journey. Certain phrases and customs may appear strange or even a little perplexing along the route. Fetal washing is one of these. Although this idea might seem strange at first, for some women it is a crucial component of prenatal care.

The process of your baby being surrounded by amniotic fluid, which is essential for providing protection and nourishment as they grow, is known as fetal washing or amniotic fluid exchange. Occasionally, physicians must keep a careful eye on this fluid to make sure everything is moving along as planned.

During pregnancy, knowing the basics of fetal washing and its benefits can allay worries and bring comfort. Let’s examine this in more detail and consider the situations in which expectant mothers might find it useful.

What is it?

It is important to realize that there are both pathological and natural causes of fetal washing, and that neither one calls for medical intervention. They usually mean implantation bleeding when they say "washing." A week or so after ovulation is when it develops. The egg cell divides, grows larger, transforms from a zygote into a blastocyst, and then, in about a week, emerges from the fallopian tube into the uterus. This process takes place in 7-9 days. Due to the blastocyst’s requirement to adhere to the endometrium, the functional layer of the uterus, the outcome of the pregnancy is determined at this point.

Implantation occurs in two stages. During the first stage, the blastocyst sticks to the endometrium, and after a few hours, the second stage begins, when the membranes of the fertilized egg begin to produce certain enzymes to dissolve the endometrial cells. The blastocyst needs to penetrate deeper into the endometrium to gain access to blood supply from the mother"s vessels. If this is successful, pregnancy and successful implantation are said to have occurred. But the destruction of endometrial cells, no matter how minimal and microscopic it may be, does not go unnoticed by the woman"s body. Most people have headaches, lower abdominal pain, unstable mood or drowsiness – protective mechanisms are triggered.

But there are women (there are few of them, but they still exist) for whom the destruction of endometrial cells is accompanied by slight bleeding – "smearing" on a daily pad. Blood from small vessels destroyed by blastocyst enzymes during implantation must leave the body, and it comes out through the vagina. Most often, a woman for whom pregnancy is a surprise does not attach much importance to discharge at this point. She understands that there is still about a week before her period, and habitually writes off the discharge to a hormonal imbalance, to the stress experienced the day before, to a recent cold, because of which the cycle is "acting up". She thinks that her period has simply started early.

However, implantation bleeding—also referred to as "fetal washing"—is distinct in that it ends entirely within a few hours or a day. The woman’s body is growing a baby, so there shouldn’t be any more strange discharge. She naturally misses her period, and the pregnancy test she took confirms this. Here, the woman becomes concerned after recalling that a week prior, she noticed a thin, bloody discharge on a pad.

There is nothing to be concerned about because implantation bleeding does not affect the child’s growth and development, the development of organs and systems, or the features of the pregnancy itself. It is safe for both the mother and the unborn child. It is also entirely normal if it does not occur.

When to worry?

When bloody discharge that is not related to implantation occurs in the early stages, you should be concerned and visit a doctor right away. In the early stages, no discharge should typically appear, with the exception of light, transparent, or whitish discharges. Brown, red, scarlet, pink, and any other discharge, therefore, does not indicate that "the baby is being washed," but rather that a pregnancy termination is a genuine possibility.

• there is not enough progesterone in the pregnant woman’s body, the level of hCG is reduced – hormonal support for the developing pregnancy is insufficient, the help of a doctor and the prescription of hormonal drugs to maintain the pregnancy are needed;
• the fetus has frozen after implantation a few days after implantation – it is rejected by the woman’s body, bloody “smearing” begins, which quite quickly turns into more abundant bloody discharge;
• there is a threat of spontaneous abortion due to endometrial insufficiency, increased tone of the uterine muscles, chronic or acute diseases in the mother.

The pathology can be identified by a woman alone. Washing the fetus cannot be discussed if the test has already revealed pregnancy.

The pharmacy test strip reacts to chorionic gonadotropin, which means that implantation happened at least a week ago if it is present in the urine. Blood is a pathology, and only a medical professional can determine the full severity of the condition and its causes.

Pregnancy-related fetal washing is an uncommon but normal event in which amniotic fluid leaks and is subsequently replaced; this is frequently misinterpreted for the breaking of water. Expectant mothers may find this process confusing, but it is not always a sign of labor. Pregnancy-related stress can be minimized by being aware of the differences and knowing when to see a doctor.

Rare cases – truth and myths

You can read accounts on women’s forums of people who discovered they were pregnant only in the third or fourth month because they had a period and no symptoms. People who sympathize with the post writers will quickly comment, "The baby was washed." Let’s talk about how to handle these kinds of stories and why this is possible.

On the day of ovulation, a woman releases one egg after maturing over the course of one menstrual cycle. Seldom—two. One can have monozygotic twins or just one child if one is fertilized. Fraternal twins are born when two different eggs fertilize.

On the other hand, a woman may very rarely mature two eggs, but they emerge from the follicles on the ovaries several days apart. As a result, the first one might not fertilize for a variety of reasons (no unprotected intercourse occurred during this time, sperm did not survive, etc. d.), but the second one at the exit might.

In this instance, implantation takes place during a period that coincides with the start of the following menstrual cycle. The woman starts having periods, but they seem lighter and shorter than normal. After two to three days, they cease and do not recur because the second egg is attached.

Narratives claiming that a woman’s menstrual flow occurred every month for the first four to five months of her pregnancy are typically untrue, or the woman may have mistakenly identified bloody discharge linked to hormonal deficiencies or the possibility of an interruption for menstruation.

Pregnant women may find fetal washing to be an unsettling phenomenon, given its rarity. It can ease concerns to know that there are explanations for it, like hormonal fluctuations or brief hiccups in the pregnancy process. Even though it’s usually not harmful, it’s important to follow up with your doctor to make sure everything is going according to plan.

Do not hesitate to contact your doctor if you experience any unusual symptoms or if you have any questions. You can feel comfortable and well-informed throughout your pregnancy with routine check-ups and open communication. When something feels off, follow your gut and don’t be afraid to ask questions.

Since every pregnancy is different, you can navigate these special experiences with confidence if you pay attention to your body and stay informed.

Video on the topic

Are there periods during pregnancy?

Periods during pregnancy. Domnich Elena Nikolaevna. Adonis

Bleeding during pregnancy

Bleeding in early pregnancy – an interview with Professor Petrikovsky about childbirth in the USA

Fetal washing during pregnancy

Implantation bleeding. Symptoms of embryo implantation