IVF - 6 week ultrasound and no heartbeat found

[Positivehopes]

Hi all,

I'm not sure if this is the right area to be posting this. I'm 41 y/o, and I've been TTC via IUI and IVF for 2 years now. I'm currently 6 weeks (and I think 3 days) pregnant. I went for an ultrasound yesterday and unfortunately there was no heartbeat to be found. My doctor asked me to return in 2 days (tomorrow) for another ultrasound but she didn't seem very hopeful.

This will be my 3rd miscarriage in a row (4th in my lifetime) if this current pregnancy has stopped progressing. I just feel emotionally exhausted. I really felt like this time it could be healthy and I understand that I am in a privileged position compared to some and I am grateful for that but I guess each time I just get my hopes up and then I feel devastated when things don't progress.

I have 2x questions:

1. Has anyone had an early ultrasound without a heartbeat and later the baby has developed further and a heartbeat was found?

or

1. Has anyone had recurrent miscarriages, where they explored and found a physical reason or problem of why this keeps happening?

Hoping for a miracle here!

thanks x

I’m afraid I don’t have any experience to share with you but I saw your post and I just wanted to say how sorry I am. You must be heartbroken. I would suggest seeing how the scan goes and then organising a clinic appointment to consider next steps, other investigations and or treatment. Take care x

Hi @Positivehopes, i don't have experience but i am due in for my 6 week scan tomorrow after icsi. They told me the purpose is mainly to check it is not ectopic and that a heartbeat is possible but definitely not a certainty at this point. They do another scan at 8 weeks to check heartbeat. I am secretly hoping to see a HB but they tell me it is not unusual not to.

My understanding is 7 week scans are better as heartbeats don't always show at 6 weeks. Pretty sure my clinic only scans at 7 weeks. Really hope it works out for you x

I'm sorry you're in limbo, I hope you get positive news at your follow up scan ❤️ when I had scans about 6+2/3 I was advised we might not see a heartbeat (and didn't).

I have recurrent losses and I have recently been diagnosed with aggressive nk cells, meaning my immune system is attacking my pregnancies. I've had 4 losses, 3 were MMCs where the babies stop growing at 6 weeks. I'm on an immune protocol now to help calm my immune system down.
Lots of love xx

@VenusStarr sorry to hear about your recurrent miscarriages :( do you mind me asking what your immune treatment is pls? I have autoimmune disease and my consultant wants me to take Prednisolone 20mg once a day for FET and I already take Azothiaprine (an immunosuppressant for my autoimmune disease. I’m scared about transfer due to a) my age, 41 and my embryos not being normal and b) in case my body rejects the embryo :(

Thank you @Sara279 my consultant thinks my immune system is the reason for our subfertility (we've been ttc for 3.5 years). I'm currently on hydroxychloroquine, intralipids at ovulation and 25mg of predisolone from ovulation. I also have aspirin and cyclogest support. I'm due to start ivf in May, so think my plan will change, but I think it's likely to be more timings of medication. We're ttc naturally at the moment but it's not happening (been on the plan since November). I do have an autoimmune related condition and my tests flagged up positive for ANA antibodies.

Have you done any transfers date? X

Hi @VenusStarr we're about to do our third cycle of batching and then transfer end of May. I will ask my consultant if she thinks I need aspirin too. Everything just takes so long! I wish it would all just hurry up! :( x You're on a fair whack... hopefully it gives you success xx

I had unexplained infertility, tried naturally for 3-4 years, then did 3 ivf transfers, only one took but also no heartbeat at 6 weeks. It’s devastating. I ended up also doing a lot of immune investigations, as I have autoimmune hypothyroidism, turns out I had very over active nk cells too. I did a fourth transfer with full immune protocol at FGA and am now (incredibly lucky) mum to a 9 month old. I am sure it was my immune system behind all my issues. I also read the book “is my body baby friendly”, which helped to explain a lot and got me onto the path of testing immune issues

@Bunbun81 congratulations! If you'd be willing to say a bit more about your protocol and who you were with, I'd love to know more - I've been diagnosed with immune issues too.

@Bunbun81

I had unexplained infertility, tried naturally for 3-4 years, then did 3 ivf transfers, only one took but also no heartbeat at 6 weeks. It’s devastating. I ended up also doing a lot of immune investigations, as I have autoimmune hypothyroidism, turns out I had very over active nk cells too. I did a fourth transfer with full immune protocol at FGA and am now (incredibly lucky) mum to a 9 month old. I am sure it was my immune system behind all my issues. I also read the book “is my body baby friendly”, which helped to explain a lot and got me onto the path of testing immune issues

Hi I am also with FGA for immunes. Did you have LIT?

Hi, I did everything that was recommended by FGA based on my full NK profile. I did LIT, I felt that changed my immune system as after I did that I got a cold sore for the first time ever. It might sound odd, but I think I had a super strong immune response to everything normally and never got ill. I did endo scratch, intralipid, prednisolone, Clexane, neupogen and then all of the normal hormone support. I also had ivig once. Prior to the successful cycle I had one cycle with intralipid at another very well regarded clinic, but that cycle failed. What I found at FGA was that the analysis into immunity was much deeper and I felt the doctor understood on a whole other level. For example, I had overactive nk cells in blood but under active in endometrium (i think it was that was round), which meant I had intralipid 2 days post transfer during the successful round, not before transfer as per standard protocol. Everything was tailored and although the doctor can be hard to follow, I put my trust in him as I thought why do I need to understand everything he’s doing? And it worked, they were an incredibly caring clinic and doctor throughout. So, if you do have immune issues I think the clinics that specialise in it are worth going to, I think there are only a couple. I did the immune protocol there, but the FET at the clinic down the road where my embryos were already stored. Both doctors were ok with that. The difference on that cycle was I also took two weeks post transfer off work and relaxed, I don’t imagine that made the difference, but I did realise that actually when I was pregnant (and as soon as I was) I had to take life much much slower than normal.
Fingers crossed for everyone, I used to wonder if success stories and miracles really existed and I can say, they do. I guess it’s a bit of luck and determination x

Hi all, thank you so much for your replies! It really helps a lot. Unfortunately though I had my second scan and it was confirmed that there was no heartbeat and I've been scheduled for a T&C. It helps a lot though to read that others have done the exploration work and found reasons for recurrent miscarriages and were able to receive medication for it. I'm feeling much more hopeful now, fingers crossed my doctor can get to the bottom of this for me too.

I'm so sorry @Positivehopes
Glad to see you're feeling hopeful. I really hope there are answers for you soon.

@Bunbun81 I just bought the book online that you recommended as well! Thanks so much for the recommendation

Sorry to hear this. It’s so hard. Look after yourself x

@Positivehopes sorry to hear it. Take it easy and be kind to yourself. I have everything crossed for you for the future x

@Bunbun81

Hi, I did everything that was recommended by FGA based on my full NK profile. I did LIT, I felt that changed my immune system as after I did that I got a cold sore for the first time ever. It might sound odd, but I think I had a super strong immune response to everything normally and never got ill. I did endo scratch, intralipid, prednisolone, Clexane, neupogen and then all of the normal hormone support. I also had ivig once. Prior to the successful cycle I had one cycle with intralipid at another very well regarded clinic, but that cycle failed. What I found at FGA was that the analysis into immunity was much deeper and I felt the doctor understood on a whole other level. For example, I had overactive nk cells in blood but under active in endometrium (i think it was that was round), which meant I had intralipid 2 days post transfer during the successful round, not before transfer as per standard protocol. Everything was tailored and although the doctor can be hard to follow, I put my trust in him as I thought why do I need to understand everything he’s doing? And it worked, they were an incredibly caring clinic and doctor throughout. So, if you do have immune issues I think the clinics that specialise in it are worth going to, I think there are only a couple. I did the immune protocol there, but the FET at the clinic down the road where my embryos were already stored. Both doctors were ok with that. The difference on that cycle was I also took two weeks post transfer off work and relaxed, I don’t imagine that made the difference, but I did realise that actually when I was pregnant (and as soon as I was) I had to take life much much slower than normal. Fingers crossed for everyone, I used to wonder if success stories and miracles really existed and I can say, they do. I guess it’s a bit of luck and determination x

Thank you for your detailed reply. I have just had my first round of LIT.

Hi @Positivehopes I'm so sorry for your loss xx

I just posted this on another m/c thread and hopefully it's of help in terms of investigations:

I really pushed my GP after miscarriage number 3 and they referred me to a specialist unit via Tommys. I saw Professor Lesley Regan (she's also wrote a very helpful miscarriage book) - who I'd absolutely recommend.
In January this year, I had a hysteroscopy via St Marys Hospital and they found that I had a uterine septum, which they removed. This could have been the cause and wasn't picked up via NHS 'normal' investigations as can't be seen on the usual scan. They also tested my blood via deeper tests than usual and found my blood clots a particular way... so also could have caused the miscarriages. They've prescribed me clexane from my next positive test up until 30 weeks pregnant.

The usual NHS tests just don't investigate deep enough and they are all to quick to say 'it must have been bad luck'. I really recommend trying to get referred to St Marys and they also do this private, if the NHS is a long wait. xx