Early scan - suspected MMC

[ER1212]

Had an early scan yesterday (should be 9+4) according to due date, due to bleeding from Sunday. Have had some bleeding every day now since Sunday but not heavy, about a 2 pence piece worth each day. At the scan we were told the pregnancy only measured 6 weeks and is a suspected MMC, no mention of a heartbeat.
We were both extremely upset yesterday but today having looked at dates and when we did tests the baby could well be 6-7 weeks. I feel like I am giving myself false hope as the midwife was very negative yesterday but did say it was purely on dates. Husband is saying we should prepare for the worst but keep hope, I am all over the place.

[Cantchooseaname]

It's the hardest of times.
You will not know for sure until they rescan you- do you have a date for this?
A little bit of bleeding can be completely normal.
Just look after yourself, and each other.

[ER1212]

The rescan is next week, they said it should show reasonable growth within a week if its still a viable pregnancy.

[OuchLegoHurts]

I'm in the same position today. Have been having light bleeding once or twice so why into A and E yesterday. I'm 10 + 4 and the scanning machine was terrible (baby was only slightly bigger than a pea) but the dates showed up as only 7 + 4 and it was too small to detect a heart beat. She didn't seem too concerned and blamed the dodgy scanner but I have a proper early pregnancy scan this morning at 10.30 where we'll hopefully get some answers. My husband and I are expecting to be told that the baby died at 7 weeks as I've lost a lot of my symptoms recently and of course, the light bleeding. Heading in to hospital now, will let you know how I get on.

[Cantchooseaname]

Symptoms come and go, it doesn't really tell you anything - but that doesn't help you stop worrying.
Ouch- I hope you get good news.
ER- I'm sure it will be a really long week, but please just look after yourself. Take some time out if you need to. Be busy, if that helps.
Fingers crossed you get a good outcome.

[ER1212]

Good luck, you might end up with a rescan date like us.

[mindutopia]

I'm so sorry you're going through this. It's awful to be stuck in limbo. I was in a similar situation earlier in the year, though I was certain of my dates, so I knew after the first scan. I should have been 8 weeks, but measured only 5 with no heartbeat. This was at a private scan. I had a scan a few days later with the EPU and then a follow up with them a week later (which they have to do before they can advise you on what to do next, even though we knew already). It was awful just waiting and not knowing. There are of course always stories of dates being off and everything looking fine on the next scan, so if you genuinely think that is a possibility, then I would try to hold on to a little bit of hope. For us, I had a positive test 5 weeks before so there was no way I could have been only 5 weeks.

I only had a tiny bit of spotting though and absolutely nothing to indicate anything was amiss, except that I always sort of how this niggling sense that something wasn't right (why I booked the private scan to begin with). I waited for all to happen naturally, but it didn't so had a d&c at 11 weeks, which ultimately was the best decision for me as I was pretty worn down by then. Emotionally it was all really tough, but physically it was fine and I was back on my feet in about 6 days and back to work.

Fingers crossed for you that all turns out to be okay. But even if it doesn't, there is still hope after a mc. I got pregnant again the next month and am now 26 weeks with that baby, all gone smoothly, really straightforward, easy pregnancy. Sending you hugs. [flower]

[JoJoSM2]

I'm sorry you're going through this. Normally, there is a heartbeat at 6 weeks but the embryo is so small that I don't think all machines can detect it. Did they give you any more information about the yolk sack, gestational sack etc? Very often a combination of those measurements it's used for diagnosis.

However, if you think you might be 6 weeks as opposed to 9+4 (quite a discrepancy?), then who knows what they might find at the next scan? At 7 weeks, there's definitely a detectable heartbeat and the embryo tends to be 7-9mm long. You'll find out for sure then.

I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you.

[ER1212]

Thanks everyone, the 9+4 is from the NHS dating system which works from the first day of your last period so it definitely wasn't till at least 10days/2 weeks after that.
I know it's likely bad news but need some hope to get through the long week I think.

[JoJoSM2]

Yes, gestational age is calculated from the last menstrual period and based on the assumption that you ovulate on CD14. If you are certain as to when your period was, then you'd need to have ovulated 5.5 weeks after it for you to be 6w now. Are your periods that irregular?

[ER1212]

I thought the 6 weeks they are saying would be from fertilisation and when the baby starts growing?

[JoJoSM2]

From fertilisation, that's embryonic age. But that isn't how pregnancy is dated. It's dated from LMP or fertilisation + 2 weeks. So 6 weeks after fertilisation, you're 8 weeks pregnant.

[OuchLegoHurts]

Just said I'd come back to update you...i had internal scan and it showed baby to be just 7 weeks 4 days again and no heartbeat. A second doctor confirmed it. So I'm now waiting for things to either naturally happen or else I have scan and d+c booked for one weeks time. Bleeding has stopped completely now so I'm taking a week off work to see what happens. I'm ok...it was an unplanned pregnancy,but my dh is really devastated. But we'll be fine. Fingers crossed for you too x

[ER1212]

I'm sorry to hear that, it's all very sad. My bleeding has continued and probably got heavier tbh so I'm getting less positive with every day. Still no major cramping or clots which is when they said to phone the ward so just resting at home.