Cant see a baby or sac on early pregnancy scan

[EmJayg]

I went for a early pregnancy scan yesterday as I was having bad cramps. The sonographer told me that they cant see a pregnancy at all, although I have a nice thick womb lining and positive Hcg test.

I am so worried as according to the date of my last period I should be 6 weeks four days today, so why isnt there anything showing??

I have to go back tomo for blood test to see if my Hcg is increasing. I feel like a fraud, am I even pregnant?

I still have the cramps but no bleeding. Has anyone been through anything like this?

[kenobi]

I am no expert but I didn't want to read and run - could it possibly be a chemical pregnancy?

I am sorry, it sounds like an awfully confusing and disheartening scan. What did the sonographer say s/he thought was happening?

[EmJayg]

She said not to worry as it could be too early but obviously I am really worried, had a look on some sites and it seems that a sac should be visible at six weeks.
However I havent bled at all and the cramps are not as severe and I do still have morning sickness and sore boobs so am trying to stay nice and positive.
I guess only time will tell.

[kenobi]

Hm, I also think there should be something showing (again, no expert!), but was it NHS? If it was old equipment it might not pick up something as tiny as a yolk sac at this stage. The heart should start beating soon so maybe try again about 8 weeks?

I'm exactly as far along as you (no scan yet so who knows what's going on!) and I'm having cramps. They're worrying but I vaguely remember I had them last time round, on and off throughout the first trimester, and the result of that pg is now 19 months old so fingers crossed all is well for both of us.

[serendipity16]

You should be able to see a sac when you're hcg levels are over.

Could you have ovulated later than you think?

Also did they do a transvaginal scan?

If you're womb is tilted it could make see a pregnancy harder.
My is tilted backwards & off to the left..... too them ages to locate anything lol.

Lastly if they can't locate a pregnancy make sure they check your tubes if possible for an ectopic & have a repeat blood test done.

Hopefully its just a case of you not being as far along as you think.

[EmJayg]

It was a transvaginal scan wi NHS, I dont think she looked too hard to be honest. I think I may have a tilted womb, I seem to remember them saying that when I had my son but as he is six next wk I cant remember.

I am hopeful for tomo that my Hcg levels will have gone up and that it is just very early.

Will update tomo x

[serendipity16]

Fingers crossed for you x

[JimmyChoo17]

Fingers crossed for u... Are u. 100% sure of your ovulation dates? Days and weeks make such a difference in the early stages. I had a series of scans early on and think something was picked up end of week 5 but it was a tiny sac very hard to pick out but they saw it. I had to wait 2 weeks for next scan to check was progressing. I was told has heart shped uterus and scanning is hard to detect for any different to the norm uterus's. also monographers can be so different in their thoroughness! There are a few good posts on here about early scans not picking things up but thankfully it was just too early and news was good.

Good luck Hon. I hope it's a good outcome.

[piprabbit]

I hope that things work out for you, that there's been a muddle with dates or the sac was hiding behind some bubbles of wind or something.

Unfortunately, when I experienced a similar situation, it turned out that I had an ectopic pregnancy and the egg was in one of my tubes instead of my womb.

Good luck.

[EmJayg]

I could be earlier than I thought as I wasnt charting ovulation, didnt think I would be pregnant tbh. So came as a bit of a shock. Really hoping levels hav gone up and that they find a tiny sac. Fingers crossed x

[EmJayg]

Sorry to hear that piprabbit, even though its early on it is still devastating, do you have children now?

[piprabbit]

EmJayg - yes I have two children and they are lovely (but I am biased ).

Good luck with today's blood test.

[serendipity16]

Just wanted to see how you got on today EmJayg.

[serendipity81]

Hi there,
Just wanted to share my experiences of aches and pains in early pregnancy. I've been pregnant twice before and have just found out I'm pregnant again. Probably only 5 weeks or so. With both of my previous pregnancies I have had serious cramping and pain around the 5/6 week mark, mostly when lying down and had to sleep sitting up for a while.
During the first pregnancy, I visited the EPU and they couldn't tell me what it was...as it was my first pregnancy I thought I was miscarrying and was very frustrated they didn't know what it was. But after that week things seemed to progress fine. Unfortunately, this pregnancy did miscarry at 11.5 weeks.
However, exactly the same happened again with my next pregnancy. Obviously, I was freaked out and convinced I would miscarry again but this time at the EPU they said pains at this stage were quite common...cant remember exactly what she suggested...(stuff attatching etc???) Anyway, I now have a gorgeous 17 month old dd and the whole pregnancy was pretty much smooth sailing.
So now I'm pregnant again I'm just kind of waiting for it to happen again!
Anyway, hope that helps. I'm afraid I dont really know anything about scans tho. I hope all has gone well today. Fingers crossed for you :)

(serendipity16 - great name!)

[CBear6]

Cramping is really common in early pregnancy. I was told that the uterus contracts all the way through pregnancy (it's the contracting that causes the crampy feeling) and that you feel it the most in the first and third trimesters. I've had cramps in early pregnancy with all four of mine (two mc's, one DS, and pregnant with DD).

A thickened womb lining is good, so is a positive test and no bleeding. It could be that you're not as far on as you thought, I was way out on all of my dates, and being just a few days out on dates makes a massive difference at this stage because everything is so small.

Fingers crossed everything is okay.

[PrincessScrumpy]

At 6 weeks I was told I was only 4 weeks maximum and it looked ectopic - a week later the scan showed a healthy pregnancy with two babies - now at 30 weeks with ID twin girls.

Early scans are not very accurate so don't lose hope - in the early days the changes by the hour are amazing so baby could just be well hidden. xx

[daisy2002]

serendipity81 i started reading your post & was thinking i don't remember writing this then realised it was someone with a similar name, silly me.

Hope all went well EmJayg, you've been on my mind today.

[serendipity16]

How odd, my username changed to a username i used elsewhere , got it back now.

[EmJayg]

Hi all, well hospital rang and said my Hcg levels are rising as expected and that at this stage there is nothing to worry about.

Cramps have calmed down and I think I must be even earlier than I thought as I did a clear blue digital test and that is saying 2 - 3 weeks since conception which would mean I am only 4 or 5 weeks pregnant!

So far everything is pointing to a very very early pregnancy. I get another scan in two weeks to hopefully confirm that baby (or bean lol) is in womb where he should be and growing.

I am just in shock that I have so many pregnancy symptoms so early, with DS I didnt have any for first 8 weeks at least.

Hopefully it is a sign of a good healthy pregnancy, just a game of wait and see now. Will update as soon as I have had the scan. xx

[Boosaphena]

Excellent news. I went through a v similar journey to you with both my girls... I literally felt ill from the moment of conception! And in pain, and sore had scan where nothing was there, then no hb, but it's all turned out fine... I am just very aware of every niggle in my body when carrying girls!

Congratulations... I hope you can relax soon.

[AllChange2011]

That's good news

Keep us updated & good luck xx

[serendipity16]

Thats great news :)
Did they say what your levels were?

I've had 6 children, i normally start to feel sick around 8wks & it'd last for about 2 weeks & then go away.

In my pregnancy last year i started feeling sick around 5 wks & it lasted until i was about 12 wks.

Fingers crossed for you & please let us know how you get on at your next scan x

[JimmyChoo17]

Hi!
Brilliant news! Might sound naff I am doing a pregnancy diary and Just read my early days.....I went in and they didn't scan me until a bit later at around later in 6 weeks and there was the tiniest sac which they said they rarely see anyway but said as long as levels rising also good sign... then again at 7 weeks and the difference each day is so amazing! I had previous losses and was worried when bled and cramped BUT it was all good news. Just wanted to post that these early problems aren't always bad and that I had also written that after my scans my symptoms really started to increase (and disappear for a few days each week too).

That little bean is 40 weeks today!!! So I'm pleased that you have had good news.

[piprabbit]

I am so glad that the news is so good. Made my day, .

[EmJayg]

Hi all, well I have had my second scan today and am so happy to say that the scan has shown a sac with a foetal pole and a strong heartbeat!! Really happy.
The lady who scanned me said I was really early just 6 weeks if that, so I must have found out scarily early and I have had pregnancy symptoms since before I found out!! Must have a lot of hormones to be ill so soon lol.

My next scan is at 12 weeks so fingers crossed everything will be fine.

Cant believe my baby is 3mm and has a strong beating heart. That is truely a miracle of nature.

[JoZambia]

Lovely news! So pleased for you x