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Miscarriage/pregnancy loss

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baby not growing but not miscarried and they won't do D & C

12 replies

bubblebath12 · 07/06/2013 10:13

I had a scan on the 8th of May and at that point they dated my pregnancy at 6 weeks although by by period dates I had previously been told I should be 9 weeks pregnant. Last week I had my 12 week scan and they dated my pregnancy at 5 weeks although I should now be about 13 weeks pregnant. At my recent scan they could only see a gestational sac and a very, very tiny ball of cells. My first scan was done at a different hospital, as I have since moved. They are telling me that they have no access to the record of my first scan. I know that the pregnancy has not progressed in the last four weeks as the recent scan has not shown any growth. Also I have been bleeding and cramping for the last 10 days but have not passed the pregnancy. The hospital told me that because they cannot access my previous records then they cannot prove that my pregnancy is not progressing and say that my dates may be out. I know that the baby is not growing and that I have been bleeding but they will not do a D & C as they say they might see something different on a further scan in 10 days time. I do not see how they can see something different when there has been no growth in a month. I am worried about having a ball of dead cells inside me that is not expelling itself and will not be treated further for another 2 weeks or so. Has anyone else had a similar experience? Am cross and confused that the 2 hospitals cannot share their records / scans and that I have been told by the midwives that they cannot take my word for it that the pregnancy stage reading has not changed between scans. Any advice at all?

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MeerkatMerkin · 07/06/2013 10:23

That is awful, I'm so sorry you're in this position.

I can't give any advice as I'm really not sure how to proceed in this situation. Would your GP have a record of the initial pregnancy, and any scans since? Could they tie it all together and pass the records onto the new hospital?

The alternative would be, if you were really desperate (and I'm sorry even suggesting this), to ask for a medical termination ASAP and see if they can do that before the two week window is up, although I couldn't advise how long this process would take either.

I hope it is sorted ASAP. All the best. Flowers

bubblebath12 · 07/06/2013 10:25

Thank you for your message, yes have thought of that myself, its just all the waiting and frustration!

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MeerkatMerkin · 07/06/2013 10:34

Have you contacted the previous hospital directly and asked them to call the new hospital, or email over your records? It seems very bizarre that they are not centrally located somewhere - surely these are all relevant medical records?

It is awful and frustrating, OP, I was lucky that my MC was dealt with very efficiently, I can't imagine the heartache and physical limbo that you're having to endure. If you're not feeling up to battling could your partner advocate for you? Non stop phoning/turning up at department until you get the result you need? I just can't think what else you could do. There is PALS and I'm sure other avenues you could go through but this would take longer than two weeks so pretty useless in the interim. :(

IfUSeekAmy · 07/06/2013 10:34

Really sorry you are going through this. I havent had this happen to me exactly but I had 12 wk scan and they said they couldn't detect heartbeat so the 'baby' must have stopped growing at six weeks. They said I could either have a D & C or wait for it to expel naturally. By that time it already been inside me for 6wks and hadn't expelled naturally so I was the same as you and didn't want to leave it indefinitely and have it come out for me to see. They didn't seem concerned though about leaving it for longer if that is what I had chosen to do so I presume it's not harmful, it's just not nice to know that it's there and not alive. I hope this all gets sorted for you.

MeerkatMerkin · 07/06/2013 10:37

In fact, I've just thought - could you go to emergency GP, explain your situation and get them to take bloods 2 days apart to prove that the hcg is not rising? From this they should be able to refer you to EPU urgently for a scan and hopefully any procedure that follows should happen more speedily?

AnnoyedByAlfieBear · 07/06/2013 11:49

Sorry you're going through this. I was in a similar situation. I started bleeding at 9 weeks but baby had stopped growing at 6. I was told to "wait to what happens". For 6 weeks. At each fortnightly appointment i had to walk through the pregnancy wards, have another scan (abdominal and internal) and have blood tests to be told the same. Eventually I saw a female dr and she booked me for a D&C straight away.

No advice, but I wanted you to know you're not alone.

bubblebath12 · 07/06/2013 11:54

Oh my goodness AnnoyedByAlfieBear that sounds terrible, I don't understand why they would leave it so long, that sounds horrible for you and it makes me feel really annoyed for you. I'm sorry you had to go through all of that. x

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Bakingtins · 07/06/2013 13:41

bubble I've just been through something similar.
Was told at an early scan (due to previous miscarriages) at 7+4 that baby measured 5.5 weeks only, then a week later it measured 6 weeks but had a weak heartbeat. A few days later I started bleeding and another scan showed it had not grown but still had weak heartbeat (by which time I should have been 9 weeks, absolutely certain of dates, only measuring 6, with several other signs that are poor prognostic indicators e.g. calcified yolk sac) I had 6 doctors or sonographers examine scans over that period, every one of them agreed it was a non-viable pregnancy and nobody would do anything about it. I was desperate to have an ERPC to get material for analysis as this is MC4 for me.
In the end I miscarried at home after a fortnight of knowing the baby wasn't going to make it. I don't think they acted in my best interests, since they knew the baby wouldn't make it I don't think they acted in it's best interests either. "Expectant management" is very hard emotionally on the women it leaves in limbo. What made me cross is that another woman at that stage of gestation would be able to have a termination of a perfectly viable embryo just because she wanted one.
I think in your situation the only thing you can do is either contact the first hospital yourself and insist on a referral letter or copy of the scan report be given to you or sent to the second hospital, or make a complaint at hospital 2 and insist that they get a copy of the previous records. How ridiculous to pretend that initial scan never happened!
It's the last thing you need when you are trying to come to terms with the diagnosis of a MMC.
I hope you can get it resolved soon. In the end I just felt overwhelming relief that the limbo was over when I actually miscarried.

RaRaZ · 07/06/2013 18:13

Don't let them leave it inside you, please! My situation is different, but I've just now come home from a third hospital stay and a second D&C in two months after they repeatedly told me that tissue would pass with my period...which never came. In that time, I've had three infections, numerous courses of drugs, more internal exams than I can count, and a hell of a lot of pain. I wouldn't recommend you leave it in case similar happens to you. That said, I've also had a MTOP and it was horrific. You're in a horrible, horrible situation, but I think you need to consider your future health and fertility and have the pregnancy removed asap. I'm really really sorry for your loss and I hope you come through it ok. I'm having a shit time with mine so I do understand - if you want to talk to someone you don't know, I'm right here. Take care x

bubblebath12 · 08/06/2013 10:56

Thank you to everyone for their support and advice. Passed sac this morning thank goodness, such a relief.

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RaRaZ · 08/06/2013 13:12

Glad you passed it - at least that worry is out of the way I suppose. How are you feeling? It's awful, I know - is someone there to take care of you today?

bubblebath12 · 08/06/2013 14:07

Feeling relieved. Yes am not on my own, thank you x

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