Retention of dead fetus

Failure to expel a fetus that has died in the uterus. This may happen at any time during pregnancy or during labor. Retention of dead fetus is attributable either to qì-blood vacuity or to uterine stasis obstruction.

Patterns

Qì-blood vacuity (气血虚弱 qì xuè xū ruò) retention of a dead fetus is characterized by discontinuation of growth and slight shrinkage of the abdomen, pale red discharge, fatigued essence-spirit, somber complexion, and poor appetite with bad breath.

Medicinal therapy: Treat by supplementing qì and boosting the blood, assisted by precipitating the fetus, using formulas such as Child-Curing Powder (疗儿散 liáo ér sǎn), which contains ginseng (Ginseng Radix, 人参 rén shēn), Chinese angelica (Angelicae Sinensis Radix, 当归 dāng guī), achyranthes (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix, 牛膝 niú xī), frankincense (Olibanum, 乳香 rǔ xiāng), myrrh (Myrrha, 没药 mò yào), and common dysosma (Dysosmae Versipellis Rhizoma, 鬼臼 guǐ jiù).

Static blood obstruction (瘀血阻滞 yū xuè zǔ zhì) retention of dead fetus is characterized by cessation of movement of the fetus and a discharge of purple-black blood from the vagina. When the fetus dies shortly before birth, lumbar pain, and fullness and oppression in the chest with panting, and a dark green-blue complexion are observed.

Medicinal therapy: Move the blood and dispel stasis with formulas such as Falling Flower Brew (脱花煎 tuō huā jiān), which contains Chinese angelica (Angelicae Sinensis Radix, 当归 dāng guī), chuanxiong (Chuanxiong Rhizoma, 川芎 chuān xiōng), cinnamon bark (Cinnamomi Cortex, 肉桂 ròu guì), achyranthes (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix, 牛膝 niú xī), plantago (Plantaginis Herba, 车前 chē qián), and carthamus (Carthami Flos, 红花 hóng huā).

Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment mainly on LI, CV, and SP. Select LR-3 (Supreme Surge, 太冲 tài chōng), LI-4 (Union Valley, 合谷 hé gǔ), SP-6 (Three Yīn Intersection, 三阴交 sān yīn jiāo), CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct, 中脘 zhōng wǎn), and CV-6 (Sea of Qì, 气海 qì hǎi) to move qì, quicken blood, and expel the fetus. Use filiform needles, and needle more than moxa.

• For qì-blood vacuity, add ST-36 (Leg Three Lǐ, 足三里 zú sān lǐ), CV-4 (Pass Head, 关元 guān yuán), BL-20 (Spleen Transport, 脾俞 pí shù), and BL-21 (Stomach Transport, 胃俞 wèi shù); needle with supplementation.
• For static blood obstruction, add SP-8 (Earth’s Crux, 地机 dì jī) and SP-10 (Sea of Blood, 血海 xuè hǎi); needle with even supplementation and drainage or with drainage.