Is fetal reduction surgery painful?

Sometimes life is very unfair. Some women try every possible means but still cannot get pregnant. Some women get pregnant, but it is not necessarily a good thing. For example, some women are pregnant with multiple babies. Pregnancy with multiple babies is actually dangerous. If abnormal conditions occur, fetal reduction is required. Although this is something no one wants to see, it is the only way to make pregnant women and fetuses safer. So is fetal reduction surgery painful?

Is fetal reduction surgery painful?

Whether fetal reduction is painful or not depends on each person's physical condition. There are currently two types of fetal reduction surgeries, one is through vaginal puncture, and the other is through abdominal puncture. Vaginal fetal reduction is performed under the guidance of B-ultrasound. The needle is inserted from the fornix and can quickly pierce the fetal heart tube, and then the fetus is sucked out. Abdominal fetal reduction is suitable for early pregnancies with many large fetuses.

Because the situations of pregnant women who need fetal reduction surgery are different, they should follow the doctor's advice and choose the surgical method that suits them. The doctor will comprehensively consider the pain and risks of the pregnant woman. As for whether it hurts or not, everyone feels differently. The surgeon should understand the risks of fetal reduction before performing the procedure.

Pregnant women should be aware of the risks that fetal reduction may bring to themselves, including bleeding, infection, and organ damage, etc.; because fetal reduction is an intrauterine operation, it may also cause miscarriage. Due to different implantation conditions of embryos in the uterus, the result of fetal reduction may be lower than the expected number of fetuses, and the fetuses may have to be reduced again. There is also the possibility of miscarriage of all embryos. Therefore, it is necessary to choose a regular hospital and require the operation of a skilled physician.

When is the best time to perform fetal reduction surgery?

Fetal reduction is best performed between 8 and 11 weeks of pregnancy. For early-stage multiple pregnancies confirmed by B-ultrasound, fetal reduction at 8-11 weeks of gestation is most appropriate and can yield more satisfactory pregnancy outcomes. The embryos in early fetal reduction are small and easy to be eliminated; the embryos have less necrotic tissue and are easily absorbed, with little impact on other embryos and the mother, especially it can reduce the miscarriage caused by fetal reduction in pregnancies with more than 4 fetuses. Therefore, fetal reduction surgery is best performed between 8 and 11 weeks of pregnancy.