Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 19, 2025

Methods for Studying Uterine Contributions to Pregnancy Establishment in an Ovariectomized Mouse Model
Published on: April 7, 2023
"Clandestine" home delivery with mifepristone
Mélanie Loiseau1, Pascal Guerard2, François Paraf3
1Forensic Medicine Department, Dijon University Hospital, 14 Rue Paul Gaffarel, 21000, Dijon, France. melanie.loiseau.pro@gmail.com.
Denial of pregnancy, a rare condition, can lead to tragic infant deaths. This case highlights potential mifepristone-induced premature birth and the need for psychiatric care in late-discovered pregnancies.
Area of Science:
- Forensic Medicine
- Psychiatry
- Toxicology
Background:
- Denial of pregnancy is a rare psychic phenomenon linked to higher infant mortality.
- Forensic evaluation of live birth viability is crucial in infanticide cases.
- Clandestine home births pose significant risks to both mother and infant.
Observation:
- A 32-year-old woman denied pregnancy until 30 weeks amenorrhea, delivering at home at 35 weeks.
- The infant was claimed stillborn, but forensic examination confirmed live birth.
- Maternal mifepristone use was detected; the drug is used for abortion or labor induction.
Findings:
- Mifepristone may induce premature live birth, potentially leading to complications like meconium inhalation syndrome.
- The infant's death was likely due to asphyxia from meconium inhalation due to lung immaturity.
- Lack of medical care during and after the home birth exacerbated the infant's condition.
Implications:
- This case underscores the need for vigilance and comprehensive management, including psychiatric support, for women with late-discovered pregnancies.
- It reveals a legal ambiguity in France concerning fetal rights versus abortion laws.
- The case established a legal precedent in France for similar situations involving denial of pregnancy and infant death.
More Related Videos
05:36Author Spotlight: Inducing Pseudopregnancy in Female Mice Without the Need for Vasectomized Males Prior to Non-Surgical Embryo Transfer or Artificial Insemination
Published on: July 7, 2023
09:04Comprehensive Evaluation of the Effectiveness and Safety of Placenta-Targeted Drug Delivery Using Three Complementary Methods
Published on: September 10, 2018
Related Concept Videos
Drug Delivery: Miscellaneous Routes
Oral inhalation and nasal sprays swiftly transfer drugs across the respiratory epithelium's mucosal layer. Inhaled glucocorticoids and bronchodilators directly target lung conditions such as asthma, while fluticasone nasal spray mitigates allergic rhinitis.
Transdermal patches transport drugs...
Drug Delivery: Parenteral Route
There are three primary parenteral routes: intravenous (IV), intramuscular (IM), and subcutaneous (SC). The IV route introduces the drug directly into the bloodstream, ensuring immediate action. The IM route...
Birth Control Methods
Routes of Drug Administration: Parenteral
The intravenous route (IV) of drug administration can be further categorized into two types. The bolus injection administers the entire dose rapidly, while an intravenous infusion slowly delivers smaller doses steadily.
The IV route is often...
Drug Delivery: Enteral Route