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Conception

When's the best time to get pregnant? Use our interactive ovulation calculator to work out when you're most fertile and most likely to conceive.

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Original poster

5 week scan no baby

27 replies

leigh223 · 03/05/2022 17:31

Went for a early scan today and they couldn't find the baby. I'm only 5 weeks pregnant anyone had this experience thanks

OP posts:

PeanuttyButter · 03/05/2022 17:50

5 weeks is still incredibly early. Most EPUs won't scan you before 6 weeks unless they do HCG blood tests before showing the level is over 1500. Try not to worry, only time will help here x

Original poster

leigh223 · 03/05/2022 18:10

Thankyou :) kinda freaked me out when the scan didn't show anything when all my tests are positive

OP posts:

curliegirlie · 03/05/2022 18:13

Have you had a bleed at all @leigh223? Such an unsettling time, but as @PeanuttyButter says it could just be too early…

Money4icecream · 03/05/2022 18:14

I had scans at 5, 6 and 7 weeks when I was pregnant with twins. At five weeks the scan didn't pick up anything. At 6 weeks they could see a sac but couldn't confirm if anything was in it. At 7 weeks they could see both babies and heartbeats so I wouldn't worry about it it is just too early.

Regenbogen22 · 03/05/2022 18:15

@leigh223 why did you go for such an early scan? Previous loss?

Original poster

leigh223 · 03/05/2022 18:15

Thankyou, that makes me feel a lot better. I'm just a natural worrier lol

OP posts:

Original poster

leigh223 · 03/05/2022 18:15

And yes I suffered a miscarriage with my last pregnancy and I just was anxious about this one

OP posts:

Regenbogen22 · 03/05/2022 18:30

Definitely better to leave it until 7/8 weeks and then you'll definitely see something!

anywhichwaytoo · 03/05/2022 18:32

What exactly did they say at the scan?

At 5 weeks my sonographer was able to say that they can see the sac forming and the pregnancy is "in the right place". Of course no baby or even fetal pole, but definitely a nice healthy sac forming at least.

Original poster

leigh223 · 03/05/2022 18:33

They said they couldn't see anything but my womb lining had thickened. They said they think it's too early and to rescan in couple weeks time

OP posts:

speakout · 03/05/2022 18:36

It would be surprising to see a foetus at 5 weeks-
"At 5 weeks, a baby measures approximately 1/17th of an inch or 1.5 mm. 1 That's about the size of a strawberry seed. The baby is growing rapidly, and the major organ systems of their body are beginning are to form, specifically the brain and the heart."

Basically the size of a dot at the end of a sentence,

toddlingabout · 03/05/2022 18:38

It could depend on the machine as well, some scans I have had were way more sensitive and able to see a lot more than others.

Whatelsecouldibecalled · 03/05/2022 18:41

My ivf clinic wouldn't scan unless 7weeks plus and that's on accurate dates. Natural
Conception are not as accurate. It's just so hard to see so early on

VanillaIce1 · 03/05/2022 18:49

I've been for early scans twice at 5 weeks both times they could only see a thickened womb lining. Ones now 5 the others 3. I'm also the same time now as you Op 5 weeks today I think? Not sure exactly but due date is 4.1.23 basically a Christmas baby!

Original poster

leigh223 · 03/05/2022 19:00

My estimated due date is 3/1/23 :)

OP posts:

HolyMoly22 · 03/05/2022 19:07

IVF'r here and my clinic don't do them until 7 weeks.
I did however have one at 5 weeks due to a bleed and I couldn't see anything either other than a tiny tiny blob.
That little blob is tucked up in bed.

Wait a couple of weeks, ideally over 7.

USaYwHatNow · 03/05/2022 19:14

Hmmm. It's tricky. I had a scan at 5+4 with my 1st pregnancy and they couldn't see anything. My HCG levels were low-ish and I was told to repeat the blood test in 48hrs. By 48hrs the HCG had dropped considerably and I started to miscarry the next day. They did also say that my Womb lining had thickened nicely.

With my current pregnancy, they scanned me at the same gestation and although they didn't see a baby, they did see 'something' and could confirm it was in the right place. However, I hadn't had my HCG levels tested as I chose not to, so it may have been that my HCG levels were over the 1500 in order to see something that early.

I would be cautiously optimistic, and definitely go for a re-scan in a couple of weeks. If you don't feel you can wait, they could do serial HCG levels.

KateMcCallister · 04/05/2022 19:59

Was it an internal scan? An internal only just managed to pick up something for me at 4+6, my obgyn asked me if I'd definitely had a positive test and had to really hunt. I'd not expect an abdo scan to pick anything up

Original poster

leigh223 · 04/05/2022 20:00

I had a abdo and then they did an internal but didn't really properly look.

OP posts:

Snowflakes1122 · 04/05/2022 20:09

Don’t worry - it’s far too early to see anything. Surprised they would scan you so early on. At best you’d see a yolk sac at this gestation, but this can easily be missed.

If you can, hold off until 8 weeks for the next scan.

Daisy21980 · 07/01/2023 17:20

Old thread but wondering what the outcomes were here? I went for a scan today 5weeks 5 days nhs due to previous issues and it being a totally unplanned pregnancy.

tests for last 11 days including today have all
been positive but scan showed nothing not even a sack.

they put this down as an unknown location and took bloods which showed as 577 hcg.

I have to go back Monday for more to see if the level has increased or declined.

while she said she wouldn’t expect to see anything on a scan with a level of 577. The clear blue showed 2-3 weeks 8days ago and I understand the min hcg level to show 2-3 is 150 meaning my levels have only gone from 150-577 in 8 days or they’re in decline.

Anyone else had anything like this and all been ok. Feel broken at the moment and adamant this is another miscarriage as the hcg rise should be around 1000 based on 150 8 days ago

Lmg1995 · 25/01/2023 08:23

Hello. So yesterday I went for an early scan. I was measuring 6+4 according to the Flo app which I have used to track my cycle for around a year. I have PCOS so cycles vary in length. When I had the scan they said that they could only see a gestational sac with nothing else in it. They have called it a pregnancy of an unknown location which means one of 3 things:

I am earlier than I thought due to PCOS and therefore there is no need to worry. This could be the case as I do tend to ovulate later however I had cervical mucus 2 weeks after my period had started suggesting my cycle was on track to be within the usual 28-30 days. Before this, my average cycle was between 34-39 days which, if I went off this, would measure me at 5+3 yesterday. At around this time, it would be normal to only see a gestational sac.

The pregnancy is not progressing as it should and therefore will result in MC.

It is an ectopic pregnancy. However, I also have seen online that if they have seen a gestational sac in the womb, then an ectopic is unlikely due to this being where the baby develops outside of the womb?

Of course I have spent most of my night/morning googling what this could mean.
There are so many stories out there that say people have experienced this and have gone on to have completely healthy pregnancies.

I have been referred to my hospital and waiting for them to call. They said I should be seen within a week for blood tests and potentially another scan.

I’m just looking for anyone who has been through similar and would be happy to share their experience, whether that be positive or not.

Trying to keep my hopes up but at the same time getting ready to deal with the worst.

It’s such an awful feeling. I went for reassurance and I’ve come away feeling so lost 💔😢

Diasy31980 · 25/01/2023 11:32

Firstly sorry you’re going through this and I hope yours is a positive outcome.

Mine was the post before yours. That was the Saturday, I went back the Monday more tests and levels had dropped 577 to 528 so the suspected ectopic. Started to miscarry on the Tuesday went back Wednesday and the levels had dropped to 177 and thankfully no sign of ectopic and I miscarried with no need for medication. Miscarriage lasted only 4 days I passed the sack on the first day.

I’ve literally just ovulated again. So hoping for a bfp in 2 weeks but doubtful.

it did prompt me to get my Amh levels tested as I’m 42 and they were higher than avg for my age but that can sit with pcos.

interestingly, though I was diagnosed with PCOS back in 2014 after a miscarriage. It’s all on my notes and I had surgery ovarian which then helped me conceive my son 4 months later. However, at the scan on the Wednesday where they were checking, there was no ectopic. The gynaecologist told me I did not have polycystic ovaries, that my ovaries were normal sized, that there was a normal amount of cysts I’m given my cycles were bang on regular 28/29 days every month. I didn’t have it which has now left me confused as pcos is not curable and my AMH level is being higher than average. My age is in line with PCOS as well.

I really hope yours turns out to be a positive story. Keep us updated.

SarahM1355 · 02/10/2023 08:30

Hi sorry for the late jump on this post! I’m currently going through the same thing. If you don’t mind, what was the outcome for you? Xxx

Daisy21980 · 02/10/2023 11:36

Hey, it was ‘Thankfully’ a natural miscarriage.

10 cycles on I still haven’t conceived again despite perfect times bd and all levels being checked by specialists, scans all
good to. DH SA showed good numbers but low motility and morphology.

Having tubes flushed in a couple of weeks then back to specialist for next steps

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