Many wanted pregnancies terminate early due to issues beyond a parent's control. Sometimes fetal death in utero necessitates early termination of the pregnancy. Other times, early pregnancy termination stems from maternal health conditions that would be life threatening if the pregnancy wasn't terminated. The goal in early pregnancy termination is to deliver the baby when it can survive on its own, but this isn't always possible.
Genetic Abnormalities
Many pregnancies, as many as 10 to 25 percent, end after a positive pregnancy test, the American Pregnancy Association states. Many more end before the first pregnancy test is positive due to chromosomal abnormalities that are incompatible with life. Genetic heart, lung and chromosomal defects may allow the fetus to grow for a short time and then stop growing or die in utero. Conditions such as anencephaly, where part of the fetal brain is missing, result in death within days of birth; some parents choose to terminate the pregnancy early through labor induction if there's no chance that the fetus will survive or if the fetus will be severely damaged.
Incompetent Cervix
Women who have had many surgeries on the cervix or who have malformation of the cervix may painlessly begin to dilate at four to six months of pregnancy, PDR Health reports, often before the fetus is able to survive. A stitch or suture in the cervix plus medications to stop contractions may hold the cervix closed until the baby reaches the point where it can survive, but in some cases, the amniotic sac ruptures as the cervix dilates, which may result in premature delivery.
Infection
Infection can occur when the amniotic sac or bag of waters breaks early. Chorioamnionitis, an infection of the layers of the amniotic sac that occurs in around 2 percent of pregnancies, according to the Cleveland Clinic, can kill the fetus, so early termination of the pregnancy may save the baby.
Placental Complications
Placental complications such as placental abruption, where the placenta separates from the uterine wall, depriving the fetus of oxygen, and placenta previa, where the placenta implants abnormally and can cause heavy bleeding, can necessitate early termination of the pregnancy by cesarean section or induction of labor.
Stillbirth
Stillbirth, also called fetal demise, is the death of the fetus in utero after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Stillbirth occurs in 1 in 160 pregnancies, devastating parents who thought that getting past the first three months of pregnancy indicated that their baby was fine. Many conditions cause stillbirth; around 15 to 20 percent of stillborn infants have birth defects, while 40 percent have intrauterine growth retardation, the March of Dimes states.
Infection causes between 10 and 25 percent of stillbirths, and maternal health problems such as diabetes or high blood pressure account for another 10 percent. Around 25 percent of stillbirths result from problems with the placenta, and another 2 to 4 percent die from problems with the umbilical cord cutting off blood flow, the same source states.
