yolk sac, but no baby!?

[beclou94]

slightly worried. had a private scan this morning, booked it due to having some spotting last weekend and wanted to make sure all is going ok in there! however, they couldn't find a fetal pole with a heartbeat, just a yolk sac. I worked out from my last period I'm about 5 weeks and 4 days along, is this normal? have another scan booked for tuesday at the hospital, so just waiting to hear what they have to say.. does this scan look ok for how far along I am? has anyone else been through a similar thing?

thanks :) x

[sebsmummy1]

These early stages are really really difficult which is why scanning clinics prefer to wait until at least 7 weeks as basically anything can happen! A yolk sac is good. Could you be earlier than you think it were you tracking ovulation? Have you had any hcg testing to check your levels are doubling?

I honestly think at this stage anything could happen. You could have your scan next week and a baby and a heart beat might be seen, or they might date you as earlier than you think and you'll have a repeat scan in a couple of weeks.

[Newtobecomingamum]

Hi, I had exactly the same thing at 5 weeks private 3d scan and only a scan was seen.... I've just had my 12 week scan and have a healthy little bubba.

I obviously can't say for def in your situation, but it could be too early like what happened with me.

I didn't book a rescan as it's my second and I had the same with my first so decided just to chill out and relax and for 12 week scan. However, you could rescan at say 8 weeks to put your mind at rest. Are you getting any other pregnancy symtoms like sickness etc? x

[Newtobecomingamum]

Meant to say only a sac was seen

[Reekypear]

Same here exactly the same timings. Next scan baby.

[beclou94]

I've had pregnancy tests getting darker and the clearblue digitals have been going up.. started off at 1-2, then 2-3 and then this morning I had a 3+. I wasn't tracking ovulation as was taking the relaxed approach to conceive this time round, so it could be possible that I ovulated slightly later than assumed. I could be 5 weeks, instead of nearly 6.. The woman who scanned me seemed to think it was just too early, but I'm panicking!

[SurlyCue]

I really wish clinics and hospitals would refuse to do scans before 7/8 weeks. They very rarely serve any purpose at all as you have seen OP, because it doesnt set your mind at rest at all when there is nothing to see. Bear in mind that being 5+4 simce LMP means any foetus has only been there for 3ish weeks. It really is going to be very tiny indeed.

[TakesTwoToTango]

I would have thought at 5+ weeks a yolk sac only is perfectly normal. Are you being rescanned in 10 days or so? As a pp says, most private clinics won't scan before 7 weeks as its only then that you are likely to see sac + baby + hb. Any earlier and it may be too early.

[beclou94]

thank you everyone. well this was private, I have a scan at the hospital on Tuesday. I imagine they'll find the same thing that the private scan has, and they'll rebook me for a few weeks time. :) just got to try and destress!

[sebsmummy1]

I can understand your worry but please try not to stress out about it xx

[SurlyCue]

What is the scan on tuesday for?

[beclou94]

the scan on tuesday is because I had some spotting when I first found out I was pregnant. GP referred me to make sure everything's okay! I think they'll just see the same thing again, but hoping maybe baby will show in a few days haha.

[SurlyCue]

So why did you book a private scan for 3 days before your hospital scan?

Im amazed the GP referred for a 6 week scan due to some perfectly normal spotting!

[Gillian1980]

I had a private scan thinking I was 8 or 9 weeks but there was nothing there - just thickened uterus and a tiny blob which the dr said might be a sac but hard to tell. He said he thought I may have only been 3-4 weeks. So stressful!

Had an nhs scan a month later and all was fine - sac and pole and could see a heartbeat.

If things are earlier than 7-8 weeks it's virtually impossible to see anything happening which leads to more stress than having a scan!

Fingers crossed for you that all is ok and that it's just too early to see x

[beclou94]

Thank you Gillian, I hope so too! :) x

Perfectly normal spotting? Actually when it turned red I started to worry quite a lot, as I've suffered a miscarriage that started that way before! My GP seemed very sympathetic with that fact. I didn't ask for rude remarks or snotty comments, I posted here for advice. Thanks.

[SurlyCue]

you havent had rude remarks or snotty comments.

[batfish]

I think that is normal at that stage - I had an early scan at 5+5 and did see the heartbeat however before they scanned they said oh you will probably just see a sac at this stage - so it must be most common to see a sac only. So I know it is easier said than done but try not to worry, I had Googled before my scan and everything seemed to be saying that there wouldn't be anything to see before 6 weeks so hopefully all is fine and you will see more at your next scan

[Raffertys]

Surly, that was unhelpful and came across as rude. Spotting in pregnancy is common but never considered 'normal'.

Bec, I had a scan at 5+4 and they saw the tiniest little fetal pole. No HB though. Went back in a few days and there was a little heartbeat. The things with early scans is that there is so, so much difficulty in measuring accurately. What my scan didn't pick up was that my bean was growing quite as it should and we sadly lost it a few weeks later. However, there are so many ladies who have very happy outcomes. The best thing to do is sit tight, try and take it easy and see what shows on your next scan. Hopefully there will be a lovely wee flickering heartbeat and all will be well. Keeping everything crossed for you.

[prestolondon]

If you haven't had a baby before ANY spotting esp in early stages might not be normal hence why epu do not mind doing them.

With me, I had a scan at 5.4 weeks and only a gestational sac was seen, had to wait what felt like a long 2 weeks, then went back and there was a embryo and heartbeat seen.

It is horrible waiting op but try not to stress.

[Bejeena]

Can you postpone the scan that is booked for Tuesday? It seems too close to you other scan to serve a purpose I would wait 10 days.

My personal experience with this is not a good one, hence I suggest the waiting for the next scan. Initially doctor told me I wasn't as far along as I thought I was but there was sac and everything seemed to be normal but another week and scan later we discovered that the pregnancy had gone wrong.

However for your dates it sounds totally normal so be confident that all is fine and good luck

[sleeponeday]

Your comment came across as rude and snotty actually, Surlycue. I appreciate it's hard to assess tone online, but given I'm the third poster to say as much, perhaps you should accept your intention was not reflected by your words, which obviously is particularly unfortunate with such a sensitive topic, and apologise to the OP?

OP, I've had implantation spotting with every pregnancy. I also remember how scary pregnancy is after a loss, too. Wishing you every reassurance at the next scan, so you have no tense wait! (And for what it's worth, in my experience a mmc or an ectopic, and the test doesn't darken - the hormones hold steady at a very low level in the second case but don't rise. Escalating colour/clearblue dating sounds very positive.)

[m0therofdragons]

I had similar. My scan was at 6 weeks and I was told the sac was empty and it wasn't a viable pg. They said to come back in 10 days for another scan and they'd check whether I'd fully miscarried by then. At the second scan we saw two very strong heart beats and my empty sac was in fact Id twins. Early scans aren't reliable. Fingers crossed for you op (although perhaps not twins)

[beclou94]

Thank you so so so much everyone, you've really reassured me! I'm so grateful :) I think I'll ring the EPU on Monday, and explain what has happened, and hopefully they'll give me a later scan date. Honestly though, you've all been so helpful (but one) and it's very much appreciated. I feel like I can relax now haha. X

[Raffertys]

Let us know how you get on, Bec. Will be thinking of you.

[beclou94]

Thank you very much!

[beclou94]

I will keep you all updated :)