8wks,scan shows embryo 6 wks no heartbeat...wait 16 days for follow up?!

[mrswoz]

Hi all, I went for an emergency scan yesterday after 10 days of slight pain and brownish spotting. By dates I should have been 8+1 and I'm totally sure dates are right. I was told there was an embryo measuring 4.1mm, but everything appeared to be the size of a 6 week pregnancy. No heartbeat could be seen though I was told this could possibly be because a heartbeat is not always visible when a pregnancy is less than 7-8 weeks. Was told to prepare for the worst and they would follow up with rescan in 16 days if I didn't miscarry naturally in the meantime.

So my question is to anyone who has been through/going through a similar experience - does this seem like a rather long time to have to wait? I have got the impression from what I've read on the net that 7-10 days is appropriate for a follow up.

I have phoned the EPU today to ask about it and been told it's protocol in place to protect patients, a week is not long enough to be sure. I am not happy about it, I don't seem to be able to function properly since yesterday and cannot imagine spending 15 more days in this state.

I also have a major beef about the thought of miscarrying at home 'naturally'. OK it may be a natural process but I find the thought of being home alone (possibly during half term with 2 small children) while it is happening, really distressing. I'm aware that if the most likely outcome is surgical removal, I will have to wait until 31st October/1st November to get this done, since my follow up is on a Friday afternoon - that's a long time from here :(. If my embryo didn't develop any further than 6 weeks why has my stupid body already hung on to it for 2 weeks - and why are my bloody boobs still hurting?

I have had a funny feeling about this one from the start, this would have been my 3rd child and although I had similar bleeding with my 2nd, I didn't have pain and an early scan showed heartbeat around 7weeks ish with her. I don't feel like I have 'lost' anything (this alone makes me think the embryo got to 6 weeks and the spark just didn't fire to start its heart), I am more sad that I don't know where I stand or what to expect...

Any advice welcome! Thanks in advance :) sorry for long post, needed to get it all off my chest somewhere even if no one replies lol just can't bear talking to anyone face-to-face about it cos I get in such a state!

Sarah x

hi there, poor you, it's a horrible situation. first of all I share your reading of the situation - sadly I would be amazed if there is a positive outcome to this pregnancy, as you say you are sure of dates (first sign that something is wrong; since measuring only 6 weeks when it should be eight) and secondly because of the brownish discharge, which is no doubt the reason you went for the scan in the first place. I have been in your situation several times before, so unfortunately I speak from experience. I am not sure about the length of time they're expecting you to wait - if you're already spotting, there's a good chance your body is gearing up to do things naturally, though it can take a crazily long time. I lost two pregnancies at the same stage as you and in one case I waited two weeks for the bleeding to build up to anything more than a bit of spotting, and eventually gave in and had (yet another) D+C.
What I would say, which i hope will be a little comforting, is that there's every chance that if you do miscarry naturally, it will not be any great drama. you mention worrying about the children being around etc but really it's just like a heavy period at this stage, unless you're very unlucky. by then I think you will have accepted what is happening and it really won't be physically such a big deal. I am very sorry for what you're going through but one miscarriage is pretty normal and if you do want a third child there's every reason to think your next pregnancy will work out just fine. Wishing you all the best for these next few days and weeks - it is a horrible thing.

I'm really sorry to hear that you are going through this. I went for scan at what I thought was 6 weeks, to be told that all that could be seen was a tiny gestational scan measuring 5mm. I was dated at 5 weeks. I was told that I would have to come back in 13 days. The wait was awful, but at the next scan, an embryo was seen, with a heartbeat, measuring 6 weeks , 4 days, so my dates had been put back again. However, like you, I had brown spotting and slight pain, this has been from the start of the pregnancy. I knew something wasn't right, having had 3 children before. At 10 weeks, I was really concerned, just had a really bad feeling, despite still having pregnancy symptoms. At my 12 week scan last Friday, I was told that the embryo died at 7 +1. My stupid body had hung on to it for nearly 6 weeks!
I can't really offer a lot of advice, I'm afraid, it is a horrible situation to be in. The way I dealt with that 2 weeks between scans was to just try to carry on as normal as possible. My previous 3 spontaneous miscarriages were all between 4-6 weeks, and they were just heavier, longer periods, and I didn't see the embryo with it being so tiny. Just make sure that you have some heavy duty pads to hand and some paracetamol and ibuprofen, just in case it should happen.

satin & moomin, thanks so much for your replies & kind thoughts. I'm really grateful that you took the time to share your experiences. It helps me to hear what other ladies have been through & to know I'm not alone. It seems people don't often talk about miscarriage in real life down my way, at least not in my circle of friends and family anyway. I only know a handful of ladies who I know for sure have experienced it.

I feel a little less sorry for myself today, still nothing happening so far but I definitely am not feeling evening sickness anymore. I had stocked up on pads and painkillers in the shopping delivery this morning - it is reassuring to hear that if/when it does start on its own at least it shouldn't be too much of a problem physically.

Will update as & when. Am going to try and enjoy the weekend - I feel better when husband and both children are here, here's hoping for some sunshine!

Sarah x

So sorry you are going through this.I went for an emergency scan at 8 weeks as Id had some bleeding and they saw an embryo measuring 6 weeks and no heartbeat,they told us the same as you..to prepare for the worst as I was also sure of my dates but I had to go back in 10 days to be rescanned.

Unfortunately I miscarried the day after the 1st scan but Id already bought co codamol and the pain wasn't too bad,Ive been for my follow up scan and everything has gone and we're slowly coming to terms with it.

I hope you are ok and wish you every luck in the future x

I've just had a scan at 9 weeks, to be told no heartbeat. There was a heartbeat at 7 weeks but the baby was small - maybe that should have concerned me as both my others were huge! Now I sit and wait for it all to begin, it's really helped to know your thoughts are the same as mine. And that it shouldn't be too painful as I'm quite scared and so sad.

I am updating this just in case anyone finds themselves in a similar situation and is looking for information on what may/may not happen. That's what I did and am sure many others do it too!

I had my second scan yesterday - showed no change, embryo measuring same as last time, 4.2mm (about 6 weeks) with no heartbeat. I haven't had any obvious natural miscarriage yet, just general random cramps and spotting whcih has gone on for a month now.

So it's definitely a miscarriage. The EPU have given me an appt for Monday, to go in and be 'clerked and consented' i.e. paperwork and blood tests. I had told them I wanted surgical management, there's no way I'd choose to deal with this myself it's just not for me I'm afraid. The 2 options for surgical management are under a general anaesthetic (stay in hosp most of day, not overnight, bleed 1-2wks after), or with a local into the cervix with gas and air also (go home after about an hour , bleed 3 wks after). Dunno if I am brave enough to stay awake for it, it says you will feel severe pain for 1-2 mins and that's when they use the gas and air - anyone had this? How did you find it? Also if I have the one with general anaesthetic they can do it Tuesday first thing, the one under a local may not be til later in the week...

So I have to let them know which I want to go with, when I go on Monday. Part of me feels like they are pissing around taking too long to sort anything out when I just want to move on, the rest of me feels like maybe they do it that way for a reason - does your heart and mind need that length of time to process what's happened and start dealing with it?

Thanks to all of you who have taken the time to reply so far, my thoughts are with you and I hope you are finding the support and comfort you need x

I'm sorry you lost your baby mrswoz :(. I just wanted to say that my friend is having trouble conceiving because of scar tissue after a D&C so after hearing that I would try to get the least invasive surgical management that you can.

Really sorry mrswoz.

Trouble conceiving following D&C is relatively low so please do not worry too much about that. I am the same as you, medical management is not for me (and often results in surgery anyway), so I would go with the GA option as you will physically recover a lot quicker and it will be a lot less traumatic.

Best wishes.

Get the GA. You do not want to be aware of what's going on, why would you? I didn't bleed for anything like 2 weeks after mine, btw, though everyone is different. You will (hopefully) be treated well in hospital, and get lots of drugs (which do help!).
I'm one of the many people who has conceived again following an ERPC, I know problems can occur but they are rare.

I'm so sorry you are facing this :(

I had a mmc earlier this month, at 8 weeks. I had an erpc, general anaesthetic two days later. I hadn't ever had surgery before and found it a bit daunting waiting at the hospital but actually it was fine, over quickly and very light bleeding for one week. No pain whatsoever.

The chances of complications are very small and they will explain all that on the day. As banana says, the other options can end in erpc anyway if they are incomplete. I was like you, I just couldn't face waiting for 'nature' to take it's course, I felt I may be permanently traumatised by the experience. I am happy with my decision now.

Good luck, I hope whatever happens it goes smoothly and you can start moving forward from this awful experience x

Had a ERCP after first mismissed carriage 14 years ago, now have 2 healthy kids no problem conceiving.

Had another mmc in August, I too was told to wait 10 days for second scan (there is an article in the Telegraph I think about the need for a second scan) I then had to wait another 2 weeks for the ERCP. It was a hard wait, I understand you wanting to finish the process, mourn and move on to TTC again

I Had a GA, my neighbour had gone for the gas and air and local and regretted it.

For most women the recovery from the GA etc is quick and bleeding slows by the end of the first week

Hope it al goes well

Sorry, I did not mean to scare-monger. I'm glad to hear people have had no complications.

Gosh didn't think anyone would reply, just updated it for info really in case anyone was searchin for info (as you do, when stuff like this happens!) thanks so much ladies I appreciate your posts x

perception I must admit to being worried about scar tissue after having had 2 c-sections as well. The thought that any more scar tissue might cause problems is ever present in my mind. I forgot to ask about this at my appt on Friday for the follow up scan, think I will ask on Monday cos as I said it was already a concern for me. It is a relevant point as far as I (personally with 2 section scars) am concerned.

Yes i note the BBC have recently published a news article about miscarriages and the need to leave sufficient time between scans to ensure the correct diagnosis is made. TBH reading about that gave my DH false hope, dear of him, and it really hit him hard yesterday when they confirmed that it was miscarriage.

I am veering towards the GA and will most likely choose that on Monday. Have numbed myself with wine & fags for tonight - god, and I thought I was coping well - can feel the tears in the back of my throat now! aaargh just want it over.