The pregnant girl fell. Dangerous and not so dangerous falls during pregnancy: what to do, how to avoid. Fall during pregnancy: threat of miscarriage

During pregnancy, many women are haunted by the fear of falling. And it has good reasons. Clumsiness of gait associated with a shift in the center of gravity, difficulty viewing due to a large belly can easily lead to a fall. This is especially likely in late pregnancy. However, nature took care to protect the baby as much as possible.

Child protection

The child is most protected in the early stages of pregnancy. During this period, the uterus and embryo are hidden in the pelvic cavity and are securely hidden behind its bones.

As the period increases, the uterus begins to protrude beyond the pelvic ring and becomes more vulnerable. But at the same time, the volume of amniotic fluid surrounding the embryo also increases. They play the role of a shock absorber, a softening pillow. It is the waters that take the main blow and dampen its force due to vibrations.

But it would be wrong to say that a fall during pregnancy is absolutely harmless to the child or the expectant mother. On the contrary, it can lead to very serious consequences.

The outcome of the injury depends on which area the woman fell on - the stomach, back or side.

Falling on your stomach

When you fall on your stomach, the entire force of the impact is directed specifically at the uterus, especially after 12–16 weeks of pregnancy. For the most part it is extinguished by amniotic fluid. But the vibrations that arise in this case can themselves harm the baby. The principle of their action is similar to the blows of waves in a raging sea.

If the fall during pregnancy was serious and the injury was severe enough, it can lead to the following consequences:

Miscarriage or premature birth.
Premature abruption of a normally located placenta.
Bleeding.
In the later stages, there may be direct damage to the child - bruises and even fractures.

With such a fall, the expectant mother not only experiences severe stress. By instinctively stretching her arms forward, she has every chance of getting fractures in the bones of the forearm, wrist and hand.

Falling on your back

At first glance, falling on your back seems safer. Indeed, the blow falls on the spine or pelvis area. The bones reliably protect the uterus from bruises.

However, there is less shock-absorbing fluid on the back side. This means that if a woman falls backward, the entire force of the blow will spread not only to the spine, but also deeper inside the body, without encountering any special obstacles along the way.

For an expectant mother, falling on her back poses a serious threat. Often such injuries occur in winter, during icy conditions. The result could be:

Severe bruise of the back and lower back, hematomas in this area.
Kidney bruise.
Bruise or even subcapsular rupture of the spleen (with a very strong blow).
Spinal fracture. This is possible with severe calcium deficiency and osteoporosis and is typical for late pregnancy.

Falling on your back has always been considered a serious injury; it requires a mandatory examination by a doctor to exclude unpleasant complications.

Falling on your side

Although falling during pregnancy is not a safe incident, when a woman lands on her side, the chances of harming the baby are minimal.

Of course, he will be injured, but it will be softened by amniotic fluid. In this position, the embryo is most protected by the surrounding membranes and internal organs.

However, the mother may be seriously harmed:

If the elbow is involuntary, there is a high risk of breaking the arm.
Falling on your side can lead to broken ribs and lung damage leading to pneumothorax. This becomes especially relevant in the later stages of pregnancy, when they are compressed by the uterus.
If the expectant mother falls on her right side and on an uneven surface, there is a possibility of liver damage. This is a life-threatening injury due to developing bleeding.
A fall on the left side leads to injury to the spleen.

Of course, all of these serious injuries are possible if the woman was hit sideways with great force or if she fell, for example, onto rocks.

In a normal situation, if you fall on smooth asphalt, especially while wearing thick winter clothing, injuries are likely to be minimal.

However, no one canceled the fear in such a situation. Stress can be so strong for a woman that it can trigger a miscarriage, placental abruption, or the onset of premature labor. Therefore, you must be sure to control yourself and try not to be nervous.

Action tactics

The first thing an expectant mother should do if she falls is to carefully get up, preferably with someone's help, and calm down.

Anxiety and worries about the life and health of the baby will not help him in any way, and can cause very serious harm - both in the early and late stages of pregnancy.

If a woman feels severe pain in the abdomen, back or side, weakness, dizziness, trembling in the arms and legs, she should immediately call an ambulance. These symptoms may indicate serious internal organ damage or bleeding.

It is also necessary to do if the expectant mother notices that:

The child began to move too actively or, conversely, suddenly calmed down.
Painful growing contractions appeared.
The amniotic fluid has receded.
Bleeding from the genital tract began. Even a small amount of blood is a dangerous symptom.

The sooner a woman is hospitalized, the sooner she will receive the necessary assistance, including emergency delivery if necessary.

If the fall was not severe, and the woman does not notice any unpleasant sensations, it is better for her to go home and rest. However, during this or at least the next day, you must see your doctor.

Since any injury is easier to prevent than to treat, it is important to take certain precautions to avoid falls and consider risk factors.

Risk factors

In some situations, the likelihood of falling increases significantly. The following factors lead to increased risk:

Wearing high-heeled shoes, especially stilettos, as well as slippery flat soles.
Late pregnancy, when the center of gravity is shifted and gait is impaired.
Inability to see an obstacle or pothole due to an enlarged abdomen.
Sprain of the symphysis pubis, which leads to instability of this joint and a pronounced change in gait.
Walking in icy conditions and snow or rain.

Prevention

Falls during pregnancy should be avoided at all costs. After all, even the most insignificant injury during pregnancy can result in serious complications.

First of all, you need to take care of comfortable shoes. During pregnancy, you should forget about high thin heels or platforms. Shoes should be comfortable and stable, but not flat. A low, wide heel is highly desirable.

Traumatologists and gynecologists do not recommend expectant mothers to go outside in bad weather. Snow, rain, and ice lead to increased trauma, which is especially dangerous in late pregnancy. If you can’t do without walking, you need to attach special anti-slip pads to the sole.

In the last weeks, expectant mothers need to move very carefully and, if possible, slowly. You should not run after vehicles or rush without looking at your feet. The smoother your gait, the lower the likelihood of falling and injuring your abdomen or back.

If the joints are unstable due to increased extensibility of the ligaments, it is better to follow a home regime.

If a fall is inevitable, you must try to land on your side, under no circumstances putting your hand forward.

Pregnancy is a special time. At this time, a woman should think not only about herself, but first of all try not to harm the child.

Natalia Garrett

Dear preschool teachers. Please answer the question about your specialty. as an educator and teacher. My child is an active boy, a child, senior group. I go to the group in the morning and work with the children before breakfast. Notebooks and the teacher of the State kindergarten torment all children with the malicious question “What is 5-2?” Why does my 5.5 year old child need “5-2”???? Walks with children: teachers sit on the playground with their asses tightly stuck to the seat and you can only hear: Vasya, move away, Petya, don’t throw sand, Kirill, don’t jump. Dear educators, what about outdoor games with children? I I've NEVER SEEN so that there are active games with children in kindergarten for all 3 years of attendance. Why don’t “educators” conduct active educational games with children? Is this the norm today? And a stream, and the sea is agitated once, etc. My teacher comes out and says that my child in the senior group is not following the math program... What kind of nonsense??? Who came up with it? Drawings are a separate topic... You look at the drawings and half the group of boys... have drawn practically nothing. I understand. that the modern kindergarten and school curriculum is designed for barely moving comfortable children?

291

Ulyana

Good day everyone! Lately, my daughter’s restlessness has begun to bother me. She will be 6 years old in August. And it seems to me that she has problems with concentration (or I just don’t understand something). As an example: we go to rhythmic gymnastics. Everyone listens to the coach, mine is in the clouds, distracted, chatting with other girls, playing... swearing many times, asking, maybe it’s not interesting, I’m not going to force it. He says that he likes it and wants to continue, but continues to play around and is 0 serious. At home, he also doesn’t sit still for long, it feels like there’s a propeller on his back, he’s in motion every second.
In general, we spoiled it a little, now we are cleaning it up. She doesn’t listen at all, we have to repeat several times what we want from her. He does it only when we impose another ban. He is hysterical, promises that it won’t happen again, but everything repeats itself. In the last week, I received a complete ban on cartoons, sweets, walks after kindergarten... How can I teach her to be more disciplined and responsible? Could this be some kind of hyperactivity?

237

Elena

It started when my daughter became stubborn. She refused to pee in the potty before bedtime and blew into the crib. The teachers complained. The problem was solved, the crib in the kindergarten is dry. My daughter told the teacher that I put her (my daughter) diaper on at night. Well, the conversation turned to the fact that this is not correct. Because The girl is big 3.4 and it’s time to wean her otherwise she’ll just pee in the bed. To wean is to wake you up at night. And then the nanny complained that her daughter, coming from a walk, peed on the sofa (this is an isolated case, this hasn’t happened at our house since 2 years). And they say, this is directly related to the fact that we put on a diaper at night. I tried to wake you up. My daughter is completely hysterical. The whole house roars. But the bed is dry. So I think, how is it correct? I don't mind waking you up if it helps the cause. But is there any benefit...

136

Irina Krasavina

Nature intended to make a woman more careful through hormones, but as an exception, their surges cause falls. Most often this happens in the early stages. Pregnancy hormones provoke: toxicosis, rapid fatigue of a woman, spasms of blood vessels in the head, and frequent cases of loss of consciousness as a reaction to a stuffy room.

In mid-pregnancy, when the belly becomes noticeably rounder, a woman’s center of gravity shifts. The woman becomes clumsy and often stumbles. Dizziness in pregnant women is not uncommon, even in later stages.

The third trimester is the most dangerous in terms of the pregnant woman’s unexpected loss of control over her body. The combination of haste, clumsiness and lack of ability to assess the ground under your feet is the main cause of falls. As medical practice shows, falling during pregnancy is rare, and more often it happens in winter, when there is ice.

Why is falling dangerous?: in the early stages, mainly for the expectant mother, since bruises, sprains, and dislocations cannot be avoided, but they are not dangerous for the child (exceptions are a woman falling from a height, direct blows to the stomach, shaking during strong collisions). Falls are rare in the second trimester and are fairly safe for the baby. The exception is non-progressive placental abruption, but this is known already during childbirth.

In late pregnancy, any fall- an unnecessary provocateur of premature birth. Trauma, stress, or shock can cause placental abruption, which is difficult to stop. There are falls:

On the stomach. Dangerous, especially in the later stages. If a woman falls on her stomach on some object, damage to the fetus is possible. These can be traumatic brain injuries and even fractures. A fall from a height provokes premature birth and can cause the death of a child in the womb.
On the back. Quite dangerous at any time. You can hurt your head and injure your spine. Falling on your back is always accompanied by a shaking of the body and severe stress for the woman. Intense surges of adrenaline are extremely undesirable during gestation; they provoke uterine hypertonicity and the risk of miscarriage.

How to avoid falling on your back

On the butt. Considered less dangerous during pregnancy. Shaking can have negative consequences, but they are rare in medical practice.
On the side. Injuries are the most “safe”. The only danger is the risk for a woman to break her arm.
On your knee. Falls are painful, but not dangerous. It’s another matter if the knee joints are severely damaged - the woman will need serious medical and rehabilitation procedures, which is absolutely undesirable during the gestation period.

If you couldn't avoid falling: remain calm, do not get nervous, even if it happens; to get up, it is better to ask for outside help or use any stable objects; After a pregnant woman falls, it is always better to call an ambulance. If an ambulance is not called immediately after a fall, you should monitor your symptoms. You should be wary of: any vaginal discharge (red, brown, greenish, yellowish, transparent); feeling of pressure in the lower abdomen; cramping pain in the abdomen; severe hematoma and swelling in the area of the bruise.

Read more in our article about falls during pregnancy, actions after them and ways to prevent them in the future.

Read in this article

Causes of falls during pregnancy

The body of a pregnant woman undergoes many metamorphoses. All of them are triggered by the production of hormones. Nature intended to make a woman more careful through biologically active substances. However, as an exception, hormonal surges cause falls. Most often this happens in the early stages. Pregnancy hormones provoke:

toxicosis;
a woman's fatigue;
spasms of blood vessels in the head.

Cases of loss of consciousness in early gestation are common. If a woman finds herself alone in a crowded and stuffy place or in the middle of the street, fainting is very likely.

If an ambulance is not called immediately after the fall, the pregnant woman should closely monitor her condition for several days. Alarming symptoms:

any vaginal discharge (red, brown, greenish, yellowish, transparent);
feeling of pressure in the lower abdomen;
cramping pain in the abdomen;
severe hematoma and swelling in the area of the bruise.

If these symptoms occur, a visit to a medical facility is necessary in order to preserve the pregnancy, the health of the mother and the unborn child.

How to fall correctly

If a pregnant woman feels dizzy, her vision has darkened, and she can’t breathe, she urgently needs to get as close to the ground as possible (even to the point of sitting down on the asphalt) and ask for outside help. There is nothing to be ashamed of - everyone will help a pregnant woman. It’s much worse to lie flat on the sidewalk - it’s dangerous for mother and child.

If fainting occurs, it is better not to strain or try your best to stay on your feet. When you lose consciousness, natural defense mechanisms are triggered. They prevent serious injury even if a person falls from his own height. If the woman sits down, this will further soften the blow.

At the moment when a pregnant woman slips, trips, or begins to fall from an elevated position, she has literally a couple of seconds. You need to use this time correctly:

need to group;
You should not put your arms, elbows forward, or bend your knees - this increases the risk of fractures;
ideally twist and fall on your side;
You should not try to grab onto objects - it is better to fall flat, this reduces the risk of strong shaking of the body.

To avoid falling in the future, you need to learn a few rules:

wear low-slung, stable shoes;
do not walk alone in icy conditions;
even when shopping, a pregnant woman should distribute her weight on both hands;
it will be better if someone else carries the purchases;
Railings and handrails should not be neglected.

Pregnancy after a fall

Some women, even before pregnancy, experience serious falls. Can injury affect the ability to become a mother and will pregnancy develop normally after a fall? If there was no serious injury to the pelvic organs during the fall, the reproductive function remains with the woman, as well as the ability to bear a healthy child. Falls rarely cause damage to the uterus and ovaries. These organs are reliably protected by bones and soft tissues.

Pregnant women are more likely to fall in a hurry or if they create dangerous conditions themselves. For example, they climb the steps with bags, stand on a stool to hang curtains (or use a stepladder). Falls on ice are the most common option. Every woman in position should be aware that before any independent manipulation, she must make sure of its safety. It is better for a pregnant woman to move more slowly, and on the arm of her husband.

The most dangerous fall is on your stomach. In this case, damage to the fetus in utero is possible, and there is a high probability of placental abruption at any stage, which poses a threat to the mother and fetus. Therefore, pregnant women should be prudent and choose comfortable shoes, especially during icy periods.

Useful video

To learn how to fall on ice correctly, watch this video:

Anyone can lose their balance and fall, including a woman expecting a child. At first glance, it even seems that pregnant women have more reasons for this. But statistics show the opposite: pregnant women fall much less often than others simply because they are more careful. True, they do not immediately master this manner of behavior.

Causes of falls

In the first trimester, a fall is possible because the expectant mother has not yet adjusted to her new state and still strives to do everything quickly and without outside help. And she does not take into account that haste and excessive stress often become causes of falls, which are especially undesirable in her position. And a “beginner” pregnant woman is also not ready to give up high heels, which reduce stability. Later she will become more careful, learn to avoid dangerous places and wear practical shoes. Hormonal changes, toxicosis and vascular spasms in the early stages of pregnancy sometimes provoke dizziness and fainting. To avoid the consequences of fainting, you need to learn to recognize its symptoms. Before loss of consciousness, there is suffocation, rapid heartbeat, legs become weak, beads of sweat appear on the forehead. If these changes are noticed in time, the consequences of the fall can be mitigated. It is recommended to stop, sit down or lean against the wall, and ask passers-by for help.

One step, two...

The easiest way to fall is from the stairs: you can lose your balance both when going up and when going down. The danger is increased not only by slippery steps and wobbly railings, but also by talking on a mobile phone. So it’s better to get rid of this “bad habit”.

Between 10 and 23 weeks pregnant women fall very rarely. Their body has already adapted to the changes, their condition has stabilized, and their worries have subsided. The woman has prepared herself for a long wait and is calmly going about her current affairs. After the 24th week, the hormonal background of a pregnant woman changes, and with it her mood. The expectant mother seems to wake up from sleep and begins to rapidly prepare a “nest” for the child. At this time, the family usually starts renovations and makes basic purchases for the baby. The pregnant woman actively participates in the process; it seems to her that nothing will happen without her. Very often, a husband, returning home after work, sees that his wife, standing on a chair, is trying to hang new curtains or tear off old wallpaper. This activity increases the risk of falling. The situation persists until 29–31 weeks of pregnancy. After this period, the hormonal levels level out, the woman becomes calmer.

According to statistics, 7% of women fall during pregnancy: 5% in the first trimester, 2% in the third. But when carrying twins or triplets, such a nuisance occurs much less frequently.

Defense Mechanisms

Natural mechanisms protect against serious consequences of falls. They work constantly and do not turn off during pregnancy. One of them - reflex relaxation of muscles during loss of consciousness - protects against miscarriage in the early stages of pregnancy, when the fertilized egg has not yet settled in the uterine cavity. During fainting, consciousness turns off, the muscles stop receiving impulses from the brain and relax, so the force of the blow is significantly reduced.

In the second and third trimesters, the placenta already firmly holds the fetus. It is surrounded by elastic cells of the uterus, which absorb shock as much as possible. And the fetus is “protected” by amniotic fluid, membranes, pelvic bones and the upper layer of the peritoneum.

By the 29th–31st week, all the baby’s life-supporting systems have been formed, all that remains is for him to gain the required weight and strength. The fetus begins to grow rapidly, and along with it, the belly of the expectant mother increases. And only thanks to the redistribution of the load does she manage to walk without losing balance or falling. In later stages, pregnant women walk leaning back. In this case, the center of gravity shifts from the middle part of the spine to the sacrum, the distance between the feet increases, the knees bend more strongly and spring better - stability increases. But even with such “support”, caution must be exercised.

Consequences of falls

The consequences of falls during pregnancy are conventionally divided into two groups: some can cause harm to the child, others – to the woman herself. Danger to the fetus occurs only under extraordinary circumstances, such as a fall from a great height or a high-speed collision. And the expectant mother is most likely to have the most common soft tissue bruises, dislocations, sprains, fractures and concussions. They bring a lot of serious worries. A concussion can cause vomiting, fractures can cause painful shock. But all these conditions do not affect the baby’s health in any way. Local anesthesia, which may be needed when applying a plaster cast to a complex fracture, will not harm him.

Due to a fall in the second trimester, a small vessel connecting the placenta to the uterus may be injured, which will lead to partial (non-progressive) placental abruption. This condition is always asymptomatic and does not affect the development of the fetus. The fact that it occurred at all will become known after birth by small blood clots on the placenta.

At a later stage of pregnancy (34–36 weeks), progressive placental abruption develops for the same reason. It provokes the onset of labor. With timely help, everything ends in childbirth and the birth of a healthy baby.

Action plan

Smooth landing

The consequences of hitting the floor, sidewalk or ground can be minimized by learning how to fall correctly. Already in the process of falling, you should at least slightly turn your body to the side in order to land on your side, then the likelihood of a fracture and concussion will decrease. When falling, you cannot put your legs and arms forward and bend them; they must lie flat on the ground, with their entire surface. Then the force of the impact will be distributed over a larger area, and a fracture will be avoided.

If a fall occurs, you need to act according to plan. Even if the force of the impact seemed insignificant, it is recommended to call an ambulance. When you have the opportunity to stay in place, you should take advantage of it and lie quietly for a minute or two, move your legs and arms, assessing your condition. There is no need to rush: everything has happened, and help is on the way. Even in winter, lying on the snow, there is no need to rush. In a couple of minutes, the body will not have time to become hypothermic, and the likelihood of getting sick is minimal. A sudden rise can cause your blood pressure to jump and make you feel dizzy. Therefore, it is recommended to get up slowly, preferably with the help of others. You should not listen to the advice of strangers - they most likely do not understand the situation well. You need to get to your feet from a comfortable position, without unnecessary muscle tension, for example from your knees. If you fall on your back, you should first sit down, leaning on your hands, and then, rearranging them, move to your knees. If you fall on your stomach, you must immediately turn on your side and from this position get on your knees.

The ambulance will bring the pregnant woman to the hospital, where she will be examined by several specialists: a therapist, a traumatologist and, of course, an obstetrician-gynecologist. If there are no fractures, dislocations or sprains, the examination by an obstetrician-gynecologist will be the longest. First, the doctor will listen to the child’s heartbeat, then ask about the nature of the fall, and find out if the stomach hurts. Then he will feel through the abdominal surface to see if the tone of the uterus has increased. If doubt arises, the examination will continue in the gynecological chair. The doctor will definitely notice that the cervix has shortened, as before childbirth. The last point of examination will be an ultrasound of the pelvic organs. If no violations are found during this examination, the expectant mother can be free. Fatigue and anxiety sometimes provoke fainting, so it is better to call a taxi or wait for relatives to arrive.

Homes with laminate floors and stairs increase the likelihood of falls. Carpets and rugs only reduce risk if they are securely fastened

Learning to fall

Simple recommendations will help you avoid falls during pregnancy.

There is no need to keep your hands in your pockets; you can use them to balance while walking. This makes it easier to maintain balance even on a slippery path. This skill will not hurt after pregnancy.
It is better to leave your bag at home while walking; it interferes with balancing with your hands.
In rain and ice, you should not go out alone. The support of the attendant will stop the fall.
No need to take long steps.
Purchases, even small ones, should be evenly distributed in the hands - this will increase stability.
Slippery soles of shoes or boots will increase the risk of falling. Already when purchasing, you can determine whether the shoes will slip. If, after running your fingernail across the sole, a scratch remains, then reliable grip on the ground is ensured.
When going up and down stairs, you should hold on to the railing.
Before you sit on a chair, you need to make sure that it is nearby. And if you move even a couple of centimeters, you might miss.
You need to get up from the sofa, bed or table slowly to avoid dizziness.

For many pregnant women, the most dangerous time is winter and early spring, when the streets become slippery and there is a risk of slipping. Of course, caring mothers are terribly afraid of falling and somehow harming the health of the unborn baby. Is falling during pregnancy really that dangerous?

Firstly, it is worth remembering that a woman’s body is designed in a special way. In the womb, the baby is surrounded by many protective factors that soften the blow of a fall. Thanks to the fluid in which the baby is located and the internal organs, the fetus moves smoothly and does not feel the impact as much as it seems to the mother. Thus, a fall during pregnancy may not even affect the well-being of the unborn child. But at the same time, in the back or abdomen area it can affect the normal development of the fetus. Therefore, in any case, you should be vigilant and be sure to visit a doctor.

Secondly, even after a slight fall, you need to pay close attention to your condition. If watery or red discharge appears, then there is a possibility that the amniotic sac is damaged or the placenta has begun to separate. In this case, it is best to immediately contact the doctor who is monitoring the woman during pregnancy and receive instructions for further actions. And remember that the advice of friends and relatives is not necessarily true, while the recommendations of a qualified specialist can be fully trusted.

If a woman falls during pregnancy, depending on the length of the pregnancy, various, not the most pleasant, consequences may occur. Of course, they have a certain shock-absorbing effect during all sudden movements, including falling. But they cannot fully protect the baby if the main blow falls on the uterine area. This can lead to dire consequences. In the later stages of pregnancy, this consequence can be a miscarriage.

It’s no wonder that falling during pregnancy happens quite often. A woman finds herself in an extremely unusual state for her normal life, when the load on the spine increases due to weight gain. All this leads to some clumsiness, and, consequently, walking becomes extremely uncomfortable. In the later stages, a woman’s gait especially changes, as a significantly enlarged belly leads to a shift in the center of gravity. Instinctively, the expectant mother tries to reduce the load on the spine, and to do this, she leans a little back when walking. On a wet or icy road, this position of the body can contribute to loss of balance and, as a result, a fall. In addition, she becomes distracted and immersed in her worries, and loses vigilance during walks.

Often a fall during pregnancy leads to various kinds of complications, which are usually divided into 2 groups:

Obstetrics
Non-obstetric

Non-obstetric complications do not have such an impact on the development of the fetus, for example, sprain, bruise, fracture. Complications related to the obstetric group directly affect the condition of the unborn baby, for example, premature water, bleeding due to placental abruption and many others.

A fall during pregnancy can cause many dire consequences, ranging from damage to internal organs to damage to the fetus. The former appear within a few minutes after the fall, while the latter may not be noticed immediately. First of all, you should pay attention to whether the baby moves and how these movements occur. That is, it is necessary to monitor whether there are any changes in the frequency and strength of the child’s movements, as this may be a signal of problems.

The most important thing is that if you detect any deviations from the usual state after a fall, you should immediately contact a specialist who will be able to provide qualified assistance or dispel all fears.