Blighted ovum at 7w scan - What next?

[LemonRabbit]

Hi,
I had a FET transfer, positive preg test, then at 7w scan (on Friday) there was nothing to see. No heartbeat, no fetal pole - just an empty sac. It was really sad...bit of a shock.
Clinic said I need to keep taking med and come for another scan next week to confirm.

I don’t want to wait a week and keep taking medication and I want this non-viable embie out!
I’m worried they’ll say wait to miscarry naturally. That could take weeks!
I feel a bit sick at the thought of something still growing that’s not meant to be, tricking my body. I’m still getting morning sickness and have sore boobs. It feels so cruel!

Also I have a week holiday this week coming and then start a new job. Ideally I’d get this out the way next week, rather than waiting. Maybe that sounds selfish, but surely its not strange to want a failed preg to end ASAP?

What will happen next? What can I do to get MC rolling?!
Also any advice on best options? I don’t know if I’ll get a choice but (like anyone!) I want minimum chance of complications and also for it to be over soon.
I spent all of yesterday crying (over the loss) but feel better today. It’s sad, but all I want now is it to be over. My current plan is to phone clinic on Monday, but I’m pretty sure they’ll tell me to wait til Friday. Then on Friday we can decide options for the next week (when I start new job!) Why does it have to be so drawn out?
Any advice appreciated.

Sorry to hear your news

Has your clinic referred you to your local EPU? Usually that's what they do and often you can get in same day/next day? Really it's only the EPU who can get the process started? Either via D&C (could be at least a week waiting list as they are considered non emergency) or via medical management

Have you started spotting/bleeding? Usually once I get that I know I'm around a week maximum away from it being "over".

You could come off progesterone if you are on it as this can prevent/delay a miscarriage starting and see if you start bleeding within a day or so?

Thanks for your reply @ivfdreaming
They’ve told me to keep going with progesterone etc. I don’t really want to stop that without talking to them but will be making the case for that on Monday.
That’s good info about the EPU referral though.

Not referred yet - currently waiting a week for a scan to confirm. Seems so pointless.

I remember you from the other thread. Good luck with your twins!

@LemonRabbit I had the same thing recently, all seemed to be going fine then had bad news at my 7 week scan. In my case the clinic referred me to the EPU the same day, they did the follow up scan a week later and then an MVA just under a week after that. So around two weeks from first finding out to having it removed. I also needed a couple of days of rest after the MVA.

I think it’s NHS policy that they have to scan you a week or 10 days apart before even arranging medical or surgical management so it can be a drawn out process I’m afraid.

I had a natural miscarriage last year which also dragged on for a few weeks unfortunately. But some find it happens quickly once it gets going.

@Dbrook
I’m sorry that happened to you. It’s awful.
I really appreciate your reply.
I suppose sometimes depending on the time (how many weeks), other factors too might mean one course of action is better than another.
Yes, I got the impression that was their policy. I cannot understand it. I understand it in natural pregnancy when people’s dates might be off and the scan might unknowingly be too early to tell, but I really cannot see a clinical benefit in waiting a week when the 7w ivf scan was so clearly nonviable.

Can I ask out of the natural miscarriage and MVA procedure which one you preferred? I realise I’m asking about something traumatic and I’m sorry to be so insensitive, but I’m really struggling with this myself and I’d be so grateful for your thoughts if you felt able to share. I have read up on the different options and pros and cons but it’s hard to imagine, if that makes sense? Please DM me if you’d rather not post publicly on here.

@LemonRabbit

I've always done my miscarriages at home even up to 12 weeks as I was worried about D&Cs and scarring etc. Obviously the 12 week one was pretty harrowing but the ones around 7 weeks once the sac was out it went back to a slightly heavy type period. But I can work from home and I suppose because I knew what to expect it wasn't so daunting - a few days of bleeding and then it gradually got heavier until the point I knew I was heading for the worst bit - a couple of hours of more intense pain helped by lots of hot baths to pass the sac but you need at least week to be at home/very close to home in case it starts suddenly which isn't always practical for a lot of people x

@LemonRabbit ask away, I don’t mind talking about it. Sorry you have to go through this yourself. There’s a miscarriage board under body and soul which you might find helpful too.

I preferred the MVA as it’s over and done with now and I can start to move on. That said I made the mistake of opting for local over general anaesthetic which I would definitely not recommend - it was very unpleasant and painful. Definitely take strong painkillers if you do it under local.

The natural miscarriage wasn’t painful but it took a long time to complete. It started with spotting for a few days then turned into heavy bleeding for about 10 days then light bleeding for another week or so. I don’t know if that’s typical though - I’ve read other accounts where the bleeding is heavy but over within a few days.

Hi @LemonRabbit. I'm so sorry that this has happened to you. As a previous poster has pointed out, the reason they wait before looking at the options is just to be certain that it is definitely not viable.

I had a blighted ovum identified at around 7 weeks 18 months ago followed by a MMC at 9 weeks so I understand how difficult it is.

With the blighted ovum, the blood loss started by itself fairly quickly so I didn't have to make any decisions. With the MMC, the pregnancy had stopped around two or three weeks before it was identified. Due to this, I was offered an ERPC (what used to be called D&C), some tablets which would induce the blood loss to take at home, or to just wait and let things happen themselves. Clearly, because it had been two or three weeks and nothing had happened naturally, that wasn't an option for me. I chose the ERPC because I wanted it to be over with quickly and as painlessly as possible. In saying that, I did have to wait for a few days for an appointment. I had general anaesthetic and the nurses and doctors were extremely kind.

I wish you a speedy resolution. I found it really hard to cope with the few days I had to wait, knowing I had a non-viable pregnancy still in my body. I hope you don't have to wait long, whichever option to choose.

@Dbrook
Thanks for your reply. Also for the tip - I was searching different sub topics and couldn’t work out where miscarriage thread would be!

@Glitterandunicorns @ivfdreaming
Thanks for your replies too. I can’t imagine going through this heartache more than once. I really respect the fact you’ve both overcome this and picked yourself up and tried again. I have no idea how I’m going to get over this and it’s not even happened yet.

I really wish there was a clear answer for which “option” to choose.
Thank you for the support. Although I’ve spoken to DH on the phone, he’s not home until tonight (he is on holiday in Wales) and haven’t actually seen/talked to anyone in RL since Friday, so these messages on here really do mean a lot.

Hi @LemonRabbit I am so sorry that you have to go through this .. a few weeks back i went through something similar and can totally understand how badly you would want to get rid of this non viable pregnancy and every symptom about it when at some point these symptoms gave you joy and happiness. No doubt ivf is brutal !! A day before my 7 week scan, i bleed heavily with liver size clots (sorry TMI) and later nothing was found in scan - no embie but my hcg was in 7 week range and had all textbook symptoms.. clinic asked me to stop all meds and next 10 days i bleed heavily ( thankgod i was wfh as going out was impossible). Clinic wanted me to bleed so that pregnancy clears naturally and suggested this is the best was with minimal impact to body.. i didnt require any aid and my clinic recommend it as its time taking but best for body. However my clinic has not been able to conclude if i had chemical pregnancy or early m/c.. still waiting for consultants review.

Hi @duckhouse I'm so sorry for your loss. Can I ask, what do you perceive to be the difference between a chemical pregnancy and early MC? My understanding was that say you get a positive test before your period is due, but then you have what is to all intents and purposes a slightly late period, then that is a chemical pregnancy. Or you have a positive test which doesn't get any darker then you have a period.

If you have a positive test which later results in a loss after your period would have been due, then that is an early MC.

To be fair, it perhaps makes no difference. You still have a positive test and are excited or happy and you still have hopes and dreams, no matter whether it lasts for one day or months. It's still a loss, and it's valid to grieve it, no matter what label your loss is given. I hope your consultant can help you.

@Glitterandunicorns to be honest i am so confused myself as to what is the difference between the two and neither are the fertility nurses are able to clear it.. i did get a positive test but on 12dp 5dt i didnt get a strong line on ivf clinic provided pregnancy kit (sensitivity 25 and above) but i did get strong line in FRER (sensitivity lower than 25.. guess 10) which continued to get stronger.

My 7 week showed nothing so i guess clinic will not be able to clearly confirm if it is a chemical pregnancy or early m/c.. however i bleed heavily before going for scan so might have passed the pregnancy.. as much as i want a clarity the clinic has given me indications that they will not be able to provide clarity... and part of me thinks that maybe it doesn't matter.. its a loss ultimately and i need to move on 😐