Wrong about miscarriage?

[Fingerscrossed87]

Hello,

I am very confused about my miscarriage diagnosis and was wondering whether anyone might be able to share their experiences or give some advice?

I had some light spotting and cramping from around the time of implantation for around a week. My Dr referred me to the EPU and at this time I was 5 weeks 4 days pregnant (although I ovulate very late in my cycle). The EPU conducted an ultrasound but could not find the baby. The nurse then also conducted a pregnancy test which came back as a faint positive (this was very shortly after I had already had to empty my bladder in advance of the ultrasound). On the basis that they could find nothing on the ultrasound and the faint pregnancy test the nurse diagnosed a miscarriage. The rest is a bit of a blur, but she did not request any further tests.

The problem is that this was 1.5 weeks ago, and since that time I have taken further pregnancy tests (including this morning) and the lines have not at all been faint. I also still have pregnancy symptoms and in the last few days have developed new symptoms. I have not had any further spotting since.

I suppose the question is could they be wrong about the miscarriage? Could the scan have been too early? Did they do enough tests? I can’t get a GP appointment until next week and it is proving mentally very difficult not knowing what is going on - I don’t want to get my hopes up, but the symptoms and positive tests have not stopped.

Any advice or shared experiences would be much appreciated!

What did the advise will happen next?

With my first miscarriage they did blood tests 48 hours apart to see if my pregnancy hormone level was rising. The scan showed an empty sac measuring a but smaller so it was not a clear result at whatbshould have been 6.5 weeks, With my second miscarriage the sac was measuring two weeks small and no heart beat again so they waited two weeks to rescan to make sure my dates were wrong.

When you say no baby so you mean no heart beat or no sac?

Thanks for your response anotherangel2. No advise was given about what would happen next, the nurse said she would inform my GP about the miscarriage but there was nothing further to do. She said to go back to the drawing board and keep trying after my next period.

In terms of the ultrasound I think it’s both - no sac and no heartbeat. They just said they couldn’t see any sign of a baby on the scan. They checked for ectopic pregnancy too and couldn’t see anything.

Sounds like a chemical pregnancy. That is an early pregnancy that just stops very early. I was advised that is takes 10 days after bleeding is stopped for a negative test to appear. Modern pregnancy tests are so sensitive. If after 10 days of no bleeding you still have a positive test then give them a ring.

It is crap but 1/4 of women will have a miscarriage in their life time.

Thanks anotherangel2, it’s been 9 days since the spotting stopped so I will see what happens in the next few days. Thanks again for getting back to me, and sorry to hear about your previous miscarriages.

Nice recommends two ultrasounds to confirm miscarriage. I think you need to contact your gp for a referral back to epu for a second scan

“A single transvaginal ultrasound scan may not always accurately diagnose miscarriage, and so a second assessment should be offered to confirm the diagnosis in women with suspected miscarriage. Treatment for miscarriage should not start until the site and viability of the pregnancy have been confirmed by a second assessment.”

In essence without being able to see a pregnancy at all they can’t rule out eptopic, or a viable pregnancy. Another scan should be able to do this assuming it’s at least a week from your previous scan

Thanks InNeedOfALieInNow. I have an appointment with my doctor which falls 2 weeks after the last scan so will try to get a second scan then if my symptoms are still there and I am still testing positive.

I am quite disappointed that the EPU hasn’t really provided any information or support about how to cope with a miscarriage. It’s very difficult feeling pregnant and not knowing what is going on with my body - I really appreciate the responses otherwise it would be quite a lonely time!

Hi OP - I just saw your post. In most EPUs you can self refer back there once you have been before, so you might not have to wait for your GP appointment. As others have said above, a miscarriage shouldn't be diagnosed in the basis of one scan alone, especially that early. I don't want to get your hopes up but it's perfectly possible that they cant see anything that early but if you are now 1.5 weeks later, you'd be approx 7 weeks and they should see something by now. I'm surprised they haven't done a blood HCG test and repeated it 48 hours later. I'd go back and ask them to either scan or do bloods. Good luck x