Miscarrying even though baby is still alive at 8 weeks :'(

[socksonradiator]

By dates I'm 8 weeks pregnant today but have not felt 'pregnant' as I've had no symptoms whatsoever (unlike my previous pregnancies). I've been bleeding for the past 7 days now. I never bled or spotted with my previous pregnancies so once I began to bleed and cramp, I assumed the worst had happened. My normal periods are fast and heavy and though I was bleeding fairly heavily and passing some clots (the largest were about 20p size,) I was surprised I wasn't passing more. After day 3 bleeding has carried on but slowed down with no cramping and only tiny occasional clots.

I had already booked an early viability scan at 7+6 and so kept my appointment to see what was going on. The sonographer quickly found the sac, yolk and fetus with a heartbeat but she explained that I was miscarrying and there really was no hope for the pregnancy

The measurements are a week behind for my dates (not a big deal at this early stage,) but the gestational sac is collapsing and the fetal heart is slow. The pregnancy is in the lower uterine cavity and there is blood my uterus with the top part already clear. I'm going back in 8 days for a re-scan to check it has all come away.

I'm normally okay with accepting that nature decides what is and isn't a viable pregnancy at this early stage but I feel just awful that it is struggling to stay alive while my body is aborting it!

I wanted to post, to reach out to anyone else who is going through this or has been through it. If you don't mind sharing then I would love to hear what is happening/has happened with you.

I have a GP appointment today. I know they'll probably refer me for a scan at our local EPU and I will be offered 'management' for the situation and at this stage am unsure what I will choose to do.

Sending everyone experiencing/reeling from miscarriage healing hugs.

I'm so sorry xx

Oh gosh, that is very difficult for you.

I am so sorry The paradox of ultrasound is that it was invented to diagnose problems for which medicine has no solution.

If the pregnancy is ending naturally, then I am not sure there is any management needed, aside from a scan to check that everything has come away. You should definitely have it recorded on your medical notes, though.

Make sure you have some time off work if you need it and look after yourself.

That’s really sad. I’m so sorry. The pain and loss of your baby will always be with you. I did however come on to say I had miscarriages too, and one where I thought I’d lose the baby and I didn’t. I had a 50/50 chance and baby stayed and turned out fine. I’m adding that in case your story turns around. Thinking of you at this hard time XX

Thank you for your kind responses. Both posting and reading similar experiences is helping me to get my head around the present situation and prepare for what may come.

@KataraJean So true about scanning, it can be both a blessing and a curse.

@ItsalmostSummer I'm sorry to hear you've been through miscarriages too. It's lovely to hear your success story when the odds were stacked. I'm sure you didn't rest until that baby was safe in your arms!

I've been to the GP today and explained all of the above to her and left her with paperwork from my scan yesterday. She couldn't get through to the local EPU there and then, so called me back later with an appointment for Tuesday.

She's left some forms for me to collect before I go, including a blood form for a thyroid check. She said that after our appointment, she had checked my records and saw I took Levothyroxine for Hypothyroidism about 7 years back. I had slowly weaned myself off of it over a 2 year period with regular blood checks and agreed that I would come back if any symptoms returned. I had no idea that there was a connection between thyroid disorders and pregnancy problems (she didn't say as much but of course I read between the lines and jumped straight on the internet!) Apparently there is and it includes miscarriage. I do understand that I'll never know why this has happened but it is another possible cause and one that can be managed for next time.

Anyway, I have a couple of queries I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on:
She said they've squeezed me in on Tuesday so they can scan me later on in the week if needed (why?)
They will do a urine test at the hospital before the scan (why?)
She finished the call saying that she'll talk to me next week (why?)

To your questions, I think the follow up scan is to check how things are, as presumably they have to check if the uterus is empty. I am so sorry, that sounds so blunt, but they need to check to know the diagnosis of miscarriage is correct.

I think the urine test is routine, but I cannot remember what for. You can ask at the EPU.

She will talk to you next week because it is good pastoral care to see how you are, and to talk you through what the scan and urine test show.

I have had several miscarriages and was just left to get on with life, so I think your doctor’s actions are helpful. I think your doctor is following best practice which is to follow up your appointments with you. It sounds like she has also identified something which may be helpful for the future, so that will need followed up. So, in short, to all your questions, because she is doing her job well.

Thanks @KataraJean

Yes, I agree my GP seems to be doing a marvellous job; I guess I was a little surprised to receive such a service from the overstretched GP services!

I'm sorry to hear that you didn't receive such a service when you experienced your miscarriages. Being left to deal with such a distressing situation when you're feeling so vulnerable and then pick up the pieces afterwards must have been an awfully lonely and tough thing to do

My bleeding has stopped for now. I have brown/red discharge with red streaks and dark, thick red discharge if I push myself eg too much time on my feet, carrying heavy things.

I'll collect my forms from the GP tomorrow and get my bloods done too. Tuesday I'll have my scan and post the outcome. I might have my blood test results by Tuesday PM too.

For now I'm keeping myself busy and preparing myself for news that the baby has now died.

Love and healing hugs to everyone who is being affected or still recovering from a miscarriage

Bless you, socks. It's so hard. Be very kind to yourself. My employer gave me 2 weeks off, which was very decent. Like others, my treatment by the NHS was, however, pretty bad, so I'm glad you're getting better care. Good luck, mate.

Yes, be kind to yourself OP. You don’t fully know until you know what’s happened. Some people bleed so much and find they still have a baby (happened to me) and some bleed a tiny bit and lose baby (that happened to me). Go and have the scan and let your doctor check everything out. Go easy on yourself in the meantime.

I'm so sorry to hear this, it takes me right back to when I was in a similar situation - I'd already had a number of miscarriages before and after my son and was under treatment at a recurrent miscarriage clinic. Went for an early scan and they couldn't find a heartbeat and referred me to local hospital for an erpc. They scanned me again and this time found a h/b (this was quite a few days later) but was given the same news as you - I was utterly devastated. Despite the pregnancy not being viable they wouldn't do the erpc until it had died, I had to go back twice more before there was finally no h/b. Of all the miscarriages I've been through this was the worst as I felt exactly the same as you with this little scrap still clinging on to life.
However, throughout my son's pregnancy I had heavy bleeding/clots but he was fine - so I would always cling onto hope even if the professionals were saying there was none.
It's great that your gp is being so thorough and supportive, hopefully her bringing up the thyroid issue will help you get treatment in the future if this pregnancy does end in miscarriage.
for you.

Thank you so much for your support and for sharing your own personal experiences.

It really helps to read other peoples stories; finding comfort in knowing other people have been through this and preparing my head for what may be around the corner.

For instance, when @birdinatree says they wouldn't perform an erpc until the heartbeat was no longer detected. I hadn't thought about that but am now a little more prepared for tomorrow, if that's the case.

Big virtual bear hugs to anyone reading this thread anytime, anywhere because if you're reading this, you probably need one.

It's over. At my scan today the sonographer couldn't find anything in what she thought was the remains of the sac and most of my womb was now clear, apart from a clot sitting in my cervix.
She suggested a Dr could pull the clot from my cervix, I agreed and then had the largest chunk of bloody gunk I have ever seen extracted from me! It didn't hurt at all, it was like having a smear with a speculum and the Dr used a long, thin pair of tongs to get hold of the clot. The clot has been sent off for testing and I had blood taken to check my hormone levels.
They said I would probably bleed for a week or so but I've barely bled at all and don't think it'll last for more than a couple of days. It's very light and I have no clots, pain or cramps.

I left the hospital feeling as though the weight of the world had been lifted from my shoulders (and feeling rather guilty that I was not feeling upset!) A friend has warned me that my hormones will be all over the place for a while though and the tearful and sad times are bound to visit me too.

I received a call from the hospital later to say that the hormone levels in my blood confirmed that I had been pregnant and I could choose whether to go back in for repeat blood tests (to check my levels were falling,) or to take HPTs in 2-3 weeks to hopefully get a negative result. I have chosen the latter.

I know how lucky I am to not have had to go through the ordeal of natural miscarriage that I've read so many of you have had to endure. I can't imagine how distressing it must be physically, mentally and emotionally when you're already in such a fragile state.

Huge healing hugs to you if you are worried that you are about to have a miscarriage, are going through a miscarriage, have had a miscarriage or are still recovering mentally and emotionally from your experience months later. I hope each of you go on to have strong and healthy pregnancies in the future

I'm so sorry to hear of your ordeal @socksonradiator. I also lost my baby yesterday as an ectopic. Feel numb. Take care of yourself

I am so very sorry

I'm so sorry you're going through this. It's terrible anyway but truly heartbreaking to see the heart beating on the scan when you know what is happening.

I had a ruptured ectopic a few years ago. One thing that stays with me is having the heart beat pointed out to me on the scan that was done prior to surgery. I wish I'd never seen it.

All I can say is be kind to yourself. Pregnancy loss is so very hard

I was going to wait for the results of my thyroid autoantibodies test before I updated this but it's been over a month now!

My tsh thyroid results came back really high; over 15 when they should be between 0.27-4.2. I've started taking medication to bring it down and have read tonnes about the condition to help manage it.

I got my negative pregnancy test two weeks after my procedure which was pretty much when I stopped bleeding and have felt fine apart from one huge emotional wobble that came out of no where about 10 days after it all finished.

Me and DH feel ready try again once my thyroid levels are down which won't be before September so I've been reading loads about ttc, started living healthier, shovelling myself with vitamins and using fertility friend to track my cycle and get to know my body.

I bought some opks for the first time too but don't seem to have ovulated yet and haven't had a period yet either (probably both down to my thyroid again.)

Thank you so much for your support ladies.

Cheeseandonion and Sinkingswimmer I'm so sorry to hear you've had to go through the ordeal of having an ectopic pregnancy. It's so distressing to be pregnant and then discover that it is not going to be viable. I know how dangerous ectopic pregnancies are and am glad that yours were discovered early enough to take action I hope that you're beginning to feel yourself again cheeseandonion?

Katara you have been an absolute darling every step of the way with me through this. I love you

@socksonradiator just seen your thread. I recognise you from the Due Jan 2019 thread. I'm so sorry you have had to go through this. Sad to say I'm joining you in the mc/pregnancy loss section. Sending you hugs and hope you get another BFP soon and a viable pregnancy amd a healthy baby at the end of it x