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Pregnancy

Worried husband. Private scan- small baby and no heart beat seen- ? Unable to confirm viability of pregnancy

49 replies

Forclementine1 · 03/03/2018 15:00

Hello,

Probably a bit unusual for a husband to post in here. We had a private early pregnancy scan today, I think because we were both anxious to see that everything was ok.

We feel the timing is 9 weeks, but the sonographer felt that the baby was more like 6 weeks and couldn't see a heart beat. She felt that not being able to see the heart beat at 6 weeks was normal- but neither of us can work out how we could have got the timings 3 weeks out.

We have another scan now in two weeks (I'm not sure how I can wait that long) to confirm the viability of the pregnancy.

I have tried looking to see how common this is, but can't really find much. Hoping some more experienced people might be able to point me in the right direction.

It would be nice to know how often this kind of situation sees a positive outcome.

Hope someone can help

OP posts:

Report

Finefineanddandy · 03/03/2018 15:08

It may be that the dates are wrong,for example your wife ovulated later than you thought or unfortunately it may be that the pregnancy did not progress.The only thing to do really in this situation is wait and see what happens.Having been in this situation I know it’s a really difficult time and two weeks feels like a long wait.

QueenAravisOfArchenland · 03/03/2018 15:11

How long ago did she get a positive test?

Teenytinyvoice · 03/03/2018 15:13

The sonographer was right that an external scan for a six week pregnancy would not usually show a heart beat.

How was your wife tracking her dates? If it was just from her last period it could be a late ovulation, if she was using ovulation sticks, then is more likely that her dates are right and there may be bad news to come.

Are you in the uk? Does your hospital have an early pregnancy unit? If so, they may be able to tell by a blood test a few days apart if the hormone levels are rising or falling.

Take care of yourselves x

Spam88 · 03/03/2018 15:13

I see so many posts on here like this that work out ok, and the same happened to my sister in law. It must be so hard but all you can do is wait until the next scan.

Celebelly · 03/03/2018 15:18

Did they do a transvaginal scan? (that is, did they insert a scanner or did they just do an external ultrasound?).

As others have said, your wife may have ovulated later than usual. This is quite common. Could you give the details of when she got her positive, whether she was tracking ovulation in any way, etc? If you're just going off the date of her last period, the dates could be entirely wrong.

Celebelly · 03/03/2018 15:19

Edited to add, I'd contact the Early Pregnancy Unit in your area and explain what's happened. They might be able to scan sooner or offer a blood test.

Lauren83 · 03/03/2018 15:23

Could you see if your GP can do her a HCG blood test 2 days apart to see if it's showing a viable pregnancy, you can check the levels using an online calculator, if it's rising enough the pregnancy is progressing as it should. If GP won't then you will be able to get a private blood test done usually for £40-£100 each. Good luck!

Forclementine1 · 03/03/2018 16:08

Hello,

The positive test was only 4.5 weeks ago, but if we are going from last period its almost 10 and we used the ovulation test...

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Forclementine1 · 03/03/2018 16:09

Also the ultrasound was transvaginal. Its so difficult as the early pregnancy unit in our area is shut at the weekend, so going to be a long wait until Monday

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Spam88 · 03/03/2018 16:14

So did she ovulate 8 weeks ago?

Forclementine1 · 03/03/2018 16:24

Based on the test she ovulated around the 12th January. I have just read that at 6 weeks the baby is meant to be 10-14mm, but on our form it says 4mm, so its small even for 6 weeks. I think a lesson learnt here, don't get a private scan on a Saturday when there is no other maternity services available

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Forclementine1 · 03/03/2018 16:25

To be fair to the sonographer, she was very kind. It can't be easy breaking bad news, especially when it isn't expected

OP posts:

seagulltargetpractice · 03/03/2018 16:43

Honestly OP? It doesn't sound good if your DP is certain of her dates.

Waiting until Monday for EPU is tough too. Just take it easy this weekend, and look after yourselves.

Forclementine1 · 03/03/2018 16:53

Yeah, I think we have figured this probably isn't good. Horrible wait till Monday. I want her to take the day off so that she can go and speak to someone- I'm on annual leave now for a couple of weeks anyway. Thank you all though.

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Isittimeforbed · 03/03/2018 17:00

CRL of 4mm is fine for 6 weeks, wherever you read it should be more isn't correct, but obviously the discrepancy with your dates is an issue. Having to have rescans a week or two apart is standard practice as there can be errors in dating or slight differences in growth but as you say this may not have a good outcome. I hope you find somewhere to be seen soon.

Forclementine1 · 03/03/2018 17:24

I guess the one potential positive is her preg symptoms are still wrong. I think we worked out there is a diff of about a week (based on 12th Jan), so I guess there is still a nominal chance things might be ok. Thank you all.

OP posts:

Ohyesiam · 03/03/2018 17:24

UnicornsandRainbows1 · 03/03/2018 17:45

4mm for 6 weeks sounds about right to me. Of course if your partner is sure of her dates then that's where the worry lies. I've heard of some success stories with this type of thing but, and I'm sure you know this, prepare for it to go either way

Why you mention the 12th Jan, is this her ovulation date or something else?

Forclementine1 · 03/03/2018 17:50

Yeah, she was doing an ovulation test around that date. So that would be 7 weeks (only a week off), but if you take from last period its more like 9. The positive preg test was 4.5 weeks ago.

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Lifeofpies · 03/03/2018 17:51

I’m sorry you’re going through this. Just to help you prepare, the EPU will scan you on Monday (assuming you can self refer) but will also want to rescan in two weeks if they agree with the private sonographer. It’s a brutal wait but necessary.
Also, don’t loose hope just yet, unless you’re 100% on dates. the fact that the sonographer didn’t say she thought is was a missed miscarriage is a good sign.

Finefineanddandy · 03/03/2018 17:58

Be prepared that the EPU are unlikely to take action immediately as they only rely on their own scans to confirm the pregnancy hasn’t developed.In my case,we had a private scan and saw growth for smaller dates as you did,and waited for the EPU to see no growth from the private scan but had to wait two weeks for the EPU to see no growth on their own second scan for them to help me.Obvioulsy I hope this is not the case for you but I found the wait for treatment to complete the miscarriage very difficult as I just wanted it to be over.Im sorry if saying this is upsetting and as I said it may be different for you.

Teenytinyvoice · 03/03/2018 17:59

I would prepare yourself for the possibility that the EPU may not do anything further. I wasn’t offered blood tests or anything, and there will be no point re scanning for at least a week xx

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Forclementine1 · 03/03/2018 18:09

ovulation test was done and they said, she ovulated on the 12th January. She does have irregular periods so her last period was 25th December and her cycles are 35 days+. the NHS due date calculator makes her 8 weeks pregnant, but only measuring 6 weeks. Her sister also had a healthy baby who was measuring small the whole way through. I have read that the heartbeat sometimes does not show up until 7/8 weeks. Trying to stay positive and will contact EPU on Monday.

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isitwinetimeyet16 · 03/03/2018 18:14

I've had this happen twice. Once was good news, once wasn't. I wouldn't wish the waiting on anyone so if you can afford to go back to the private scan place in a week rather than two perhaps you could look at that as an option? They should definitely be able to see growth in a week if the pregnancy is viable. Good luck.

MilfordFound · 03/03/2018 18:30

If you know the ovulation dates then it is worrying. It's going to be a horrible wait for you both. I hope you get good news.

Someone in my antenatal group knew her ovulation date, and had an early positive test, but first scan showed smaller for dates and no heartbeat. Obviously thought the worst but when she went back for a rescan the baby had a heartbeat and was progressing normally. Turned out she'd ovulated twice with at least a week in between and both had resulted in fertilisation and would've been twins but the first hadn't progressed. So the positive test was a result of the first, and then the scan showed the second.

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