Interpreting 12 week scan images (loss at 11 weeks)

[MrsR84]

Hi all,

We lost 'Pea' at some point during the past week and a bit, but only found out at our 12 week scan on Tuesday. I picked up an image disk from the US department yesterday and think I can see a large pocket of nuchal fluid behind the neck. The sonographer did say that 'these things' are usually due to a choromosomal abnomalies at the point where sperm and egg meet and start to divide, but we didn't get as far as doing the nuchal fold part of the scan we had been expecting to have. 'Material' has been sent for histology, but at the time I was clearly told that it wouldn't give us any clues as to what was wrong.

Obviously, I know this is all completely academic now as our baby is gone, but I feel it would put my mind at rest to know. Is there any way I can apply for 'interpretation in idiotproof terms' online? At the scan the only things she explained to us were that there was no heartbeat and the CRL was consistent with 11 weeks at the very most. I know I could probably ask the US department, but I've spent so much time in hospitals & the GP surgery this week you can understand my hesitation.

PS. Has anyone else suffered a similar loss and found that they had absolutely no morning sickness at all, the whole way? I'm beginning to wonder if my lack of sickness was some kind of 'sign'.

[WaffleWiffle]

Hi there

I am sorry for your loss.

What you have suffered is called a missed miscarriage (known as MMC here on Mumsnet) and sadly is quite common.

I have had a MMC two years ago. Discovered at the 12 weeks scan, baby measuring just 5 weeks. During that pregnancy I can see with hindsight that I started losing all pregnancy symptoms from about 7 weeks and by the time it was my scan, I knew there was something not right. Lack of or reducing pregnancy symptoms is definitely a 'sign' of MMC. But remember that some people with perfectly healthy pregnancies have no or few symptoms.

I don't know what investigations will happen in The States. Personally, after my MMS I just wanted to put it behind me and move on, rather than dragging the pain out even longer with unnecessary tests.

By the way, I am now 32 weeks pregnant. There is light at the end of the tunnel.

[MrsPixieMoo]

I get where you're coming from. I've had recurrent miscarriages and can totally relate to wanting to know. I've also had a successful pregnancy with a now 3year old DD with no morning sickness, miscarriages with morning sickness and am 38 weeks pregnant where I had morning sickness so it doesn't seem to always be a predictor. The nuchal measurements are for screening. They won't give you a definitive answer but sending your miscarried baby for testing should give you an answer about whether this was chromosomal.

I'm so sorry for your loss OP and wish you all the best for the future.

[MrsR84]

I don't know if its normal to have a niggling 'expect the worst' hesitation before a first scan, but I did. Because I'd been feeling so well for the whole trimester I even thought the scan might show that there was no baby in there at all, despite sudden massive, sore boobs, weeks of tiredness, needing a wee a bazillion times in the night, a few isolated stretching sensations at 7-9 weeks, 3 missed periods and two positive pregnancy tests. That's not crazy at all...right?!! :-S For a minute or two I was awe-struck and relieved to see a baby shape on the screen, but something about the way he/she was lying, the complete lack of limb movement and the silence of the sonographer made me feel very uneasy. It seemed like forever had passed before she spoke, she scanned over and over before she told us she couldn't find a heartbeat and said she would get her colleague to come in and double check.

I went in for my scan at 9.30am and was in theatre at 4.30pm having the ERPC, I just couldn't face the thought of passing our baby under drug control on a ward, or in the toilet at some random point in the future, nor going through labour-type pains with no live baby to hold afterwards.

Our baby was planned and we still very much want to be parents, we met as teenagers, have been solidly together for 14 years and have always talked about having a child. We only began trying this January as we finally had the equity & financial stability to sell our 1 bedroom house, buy a 2-bed and afford a prolonged period of maternity pay & the childcare to allow me to go back to work after 9-12 months leave. So, we're going to give it two natural periods and take a test to check for a negative before we try again, mostly to take time to grieve, but also because we should be moving house soon - finding 'the house' couldn't have happened at a better time, a fresh start and a positive focus are just what we need after this horrible shock. It took us 4 months to conceive last time, but that was after having the implant removed.

[PunkAssMoFo]

Hi mrs

Think I saw you on another thread and was due the same day as you (27th jan). Had my scan yesterday & found mmc at approx 11 weeks. I am going in tomorrow for medical management tomorrow, but the wait is awful.

I too had a sense that things weren't to be this time, but was hopeful as had no spotting or obvious symptoms of miscarriage. I have a DC & didn't gave any morning sickness last time, if anything I had more this time. We will try again, but will be a lot more anxious about progression.

From what I understand, if there are any reasons to be found, they will be in the tissue. Interpretation of us is limited at this stage, which I why you go for an anomaly scan at 20wks. Perhaps you could book an appointment to discuss things when you are ready.

I myself am sad. Kind of like it's not happening to me, especially as there is nothing 'tangible' yet. There are a billion reasons why it could have happened, but it might be down to just bad luck. I will be extra cautious next time, but hopeful. I take small comfort in the fact that I wasn't any further along.

Hope to see you in the posifrickenitivity thread soon x

[BabyMarmoset]

Nothing to add except

[EhricLovesTheBhrothers]

Sorry to hear this
I also had a MMC at 17 weeks, foetus died at 12 weeks so the scan didn't show much of anything really. I had almost zero pg symptoms including no sickness to speak of. I had thought I was just lucky! Got textbook morning sickness when later pregnant with DS so I do wonder whether it was just never a viable pg and so my body never produced the right hormones. I also got mumps in the week the foetus died so it's very possible it could have been that and the lack of symptoms was a red herring.
The bottom line is that miscarriage is so extremely common that the reason is almost irrelevant.

[MrsR84]

PunkAssMoFo OMG, how awful :-( Sending you strength for your procedure, please try and remain calm if you feel panic creeping in, its really straightforward and the medical team will do all they can to avoid making things any more traumatic than they already are. For me the post-procedure pain was only mild period pains for 30-60 minutes after I woke up. All of the staff at the hospital (Watford General) were lovely to us, from the EPU/GDAU, to the surgical ward, to theatre, they even let hubby stay with me long after visiting hours had finished. I too had no spotting or bleeding to warn me before the scan, my body was apparently oblivious to the loss. I'd noticed a long while back that the clear, watery discharge I was experiencing was sometimes bordered by a 'halo' of very pale brown, but MW assured me weeks ago that this was OK and happens in a surprising number of healthy pregnancies, I would only have had to worry if it was red blood, especially if accompanied by pain.

I know what you mean about cautiousness and hope, I was uber-cautious this time, but somehow I think I'm going to be 'anal' beyond all belief if we're fortunate enough to conceive 'sprog mk2'! Going into the waiting area for that 12 week scan again is going to be absolutely horrific & frightening, even if we manage to proceed after that I think we'll have our hearts in our mouths the whole time. Personally, I can't see myself being relaxed about it all or enjoying pregnancy until I have a live screaming baby in my arms, no matter how much progress we might be able to make beyond those dreaded 11 weeks, or how many reassuring extra milestones we might hope to be lucky enough to encounter next time.

Stay strong, allow yourself time to cry and grieve as and when you feel the need and lets hope we meet again the posifrickintivity thread when we're both ready :-)

[PunkAssMoFo]

Thanks.

Taking it easy & getting stuff ready for tomorrow. Going to have a couple of weeks off work & book a spa day for when this is over.

The best we can do now is be kind to ourselves & get body & mind ready for the next time.

Been directed to the miscarriage & loss section in the body & soul topic on here. There's lots of helpful advice & support there too.

[MrsR84]

A spa day was the first thought to spring to my mind too! A new Center Parcs has opened not far from us, so we intend to spend a few hours quality relaxation time there one evening after work, we love their spas!

[MrsR84]

PS. Watch out for heavily pregnant women puffing away on cigarettes outside the hospital. My jaw hit the floor when I saw that, it wasn't just one of them either, absolutely LOADS throughout the day! Made me feel so angry to see such casual disregard, I even gave up my 'within recommended limits' one-coffee-a-day habit for Pea!

[squizita]

So very sorry to hear of your loss.

Histology may well tell you what is wrong: that is why they do it. A tiny number of causes for MMC carry risk for the mum (they are very rare indeed) so they test for this - as they are chromasomal if it's another chromasome issue it should be picked up. I cannot think why they wouldn't tell you? You have a right to know and should be able to call them to ask. If it (very unlikely) turned out to be a partial molar they'd HAVE to tell you because you'd need blood tests: they will have the results on record whatever the cause- ask for them.

Don't worry about the lack of morning sickness - it varies wildly from woman to woman and pregnancy to pregnancy and has no bearing on outcomes.

Also please be careful of going 'above and beyond' guidelines following MC. It can be a dangerous slippery slope towards grasping at reasons or becoming obsessive in future pregnancies. If you're allowed 1 coffee in future pregnancies, and you want it, have it. If it's allowed, it really won't impact on outcomes... but perenatal anxiety is awful after loss and little things like this can weirdly trigger it.