Hey everyone! I just have some questions what I discussed with coworkers:
A fellow coworker told me a pregnant friend of his the fetus had died. They did I believe an US (I don't know how old the fetus is) and no heartbeat. So they were going to remove the fetus the next morning.
1. My question is what is the time frame to remove the fetus if it has died or if the fetus is even removed? My coworker feels the fetus should have been removed that day and his friend shouldn't have to wait an entire day.
2 and 3. My other question is while the fetus is dead will it harm the mother staying inside? I thought there could be risk of infection and other issues like the fetus detaching causing bleeding issues but I also thought the fetus is still recieving supplies from the mother so how long can that last? I thought if the fetus is almost to full term the baby is delivered naturally?
My coworker feels it was unethical instead of removing the fetus that day to remove it the next day. My coworker even further states the nurse involved should have acted as a pt advocate and demanded the dead fetus be removed in that same day. Now maybe I'm missing something. I don't know if it was a reg checkup or if she was hospitalized. All I know is the fetus died in the womb, staff were to remove it the next day and my coworker feels that is unethical. Is that true?? I don't think so. I understand the mother being distraught but to even demand the nurse do more?
I told him I thought you normally remove the fetus but not 100% positive when they deterimine this. Unless there was bleeding isn't one day resonable? I'm sure the mother is a wreck but there are other procedures the staff do. Any thoughts?
