Missed miscarriage, no bleeding, EPU won’t scan again before treatment

[littletandme]

I’m hoping someone might be able to share advice or a similar experience.

I had a private scan on Sunday 26th, should have been 7+3 and was measuring 7+0 and no heartbeat. So they were pretty sure of a miscarriage and referred me to the EPU at the hospital who called the next day.

Due to covid-19 they basically want people to wait for things to happen naturally for up to 3 weeks, but can have medical management if really wanted.

I asked if I wanted medical management would they scan before the treatment and they said no because of the risk of covid-19 unless I am physically admitted to the ward. I’m uncomfortable with not having a confirmation from the hospital before treatment but it’s been almost 2 weeks and I am struggling to cope with the waiting. Absolutely no bleeding or even spotting so far, I feel like I could be waiting forever if I don’t get treatment.

Has anyone else’s hospital refused to scan them? I am thinking of paying for another private scan this weekend when it will have been 2 weeks since the last one, just for that confirmation. Covid-19 is making this whole thing so complicated!

Hi, please dont have any treatment until you have been scanned again. I find it very surprising that they suggested treatment without a confirmation scan within the unit - private clinic scans are not normally 100% trusted in EPAU clinics. Wishing the best for you.

Oh my goodness, you definitely need another scan before doing anything!

Even if you think you were 7+3 based on the first day of your LMP there are so many factors that can effect the date that you actually conceived. There is a chance that it was simply too early to pick up a heartbeat. This happened to me too. I obviously don't want to get your hopes up but do insist on another scan before doing anything else.

Is there a particular reason you opted to have an early private scan? Unless it's medically necessary (e.g. suspected ectopic pregnancy) then I'd advise against them because they seem to cause more trouble than they're worth!

I had an early scan today, from the date of my last period I worked out I should be around 7+5/6 today or 8 weeks. (I have a longer cycle). they told me there was no heartbeat and I was measuring at 6+5. I feel absolutely horrendous. Please help :(

@BC11 i'm so sorry. Have they arranged to rescan you?

@stabal not there no, they told me to get in touch with my hospital as they were pretty adamant I had miscarried cause I thought I was around 8 weeks. I’m going to my Hospital on Monday

@BC11 ah sorry, I thought this was at your EPU. At least you can get reassurance of a second opinion and I pray there's a different outcome for you. I had a confirmed missed miscarriage on Wednesday, should have been 8+3 but measuring 7. It's been a surreal couple of days. I'll be thinking of you, let me know how it goes ❤️

@stabal Thank you. Hope you’re feeling a bit better, it really is horrible isn’t it. ☹️ Have you had any bleeding etc yet? X

@BC11 I'm in quite a bit of pain but the bleeding is light. I'm booked in for medical management on Monday but hoping I go naturally over the weekend. I just want it over with now as horrible as that sounds. I hate the idea of going about life just waiting to pass my baby. 😔

Terrible situation sorry and . I've been here twice - 3 weeks to miscarry naturally after finding out first time and opted for medical management 2nd time as it was 2 days before moving back up north. Yes they gave me a second scan. Such a cruel thing - look after yourself. I did go on to have dd2.

@stabal how long did it take you to get the symptoms of the miscarriage if you don’t mind me asking? Yes I fully understand that, it’s horrible. I really am sorry for your loss and fully understand how you’re feeling. If you ever need to reach out I’m available to talk x

@BC11 so I was actually already booked in for the scan I had on Wednesday because I have PCOS and endo so I was high risk. But on Sunday I started spotting brown when I wiped and by Tuesday I had some cramps that I didn't feel were normal pregnancy aches. My boobs also stopped hurting around last Friday and I think deep down I knew it had gone wrong from then. The pain and light bleeding started yesterday and pain has worsened today. But I think it's come on so quickly from being told because it's maybe my brain catching up now I know it's real? If that makes sense. I had a scan at 6 weeks also and got to see its heartbeat flickering and have a scan photo from then so I'm glad I got to experience that and I feel grateful I managed to get pregnant in the first place. Same with you, if you need to reach out on Monday I'll be here! xx

@stabal I had a tiny bit of brown discharge this morning when I wiped but I didn’t really think much of it. I also feel my boobs aren’t sore today, but I don’t know if that’s my brain telling me they’re not because of the scan today. Is this your first pregnancy? Thank you so much. Xx

@BC11 😔 it's so horrible. I will keep everything crossed for you. Yes this is my first pregnancy, been trying for 2 years 😢 is it your first?

@Stabal yes my first too. I just feel like it’s torturing me massively. Can’t even sleep feeling so useless ☹️

@BC11 I feel the same, it truly is horrible. I even had a little breakdown asking my fiancé why he'd want to be with someone who can't give him a child which I know it's totally irrational because he's never shown any resentment and has been nothing but amazing since Wednesday but you just can't help it 😔

@stabal try not to ask yourself them questions. I know it’s hard, it really is but you’ll have your time. It’s a lot more common than we think for this to happen, and as sad as it is we both need to grieve, and try again for a new chapter in our book. We’ll both have our time when the time is right. Always here for a chat x

@BC11 definitely, the silver lining is there's hope for the future when just a few months ago it all seemed like a lost cause. Take care of yourself xx

If your baby measured 7 weeks and had no heartbeat then there is almost certainly no mistake, but at the same time, for your own peace of mind I would not do anything to end your pregnancy without having another scan. Is it possible to get a private scan?

@peperethecat it was a private scan I attended. It measured at 6 weeks 5 days. I’ve got a hospital scan Monday but I don’t have any hope ☹️

@littletandme I'm in your Facebook group, we were due about the same time, I've unfortunately found out that I've had a MMC as well, this is my 6th loss now. How are you getting on?

I’ve still not miscarried naturally, two weeks tomorrow since finding out and I have another private scan booked.

The baby was measuring 9mm and by that point it’s pretty impossible not to have a heartbeat if alive so I’m pretty sure it is a miscarriage but I’ve booked another scan tomorrow to be 100% certain before I ask for medical management on Monday. I feel like the treatment (or lack of) from my EPU has been horrific, basically the option was to wait at least two weeks or (what seemed like they were saying) be unreasonable and ask for management before that. And they were firm when they said they would only scan again if I was admitted to the ward to have treatment there, rather than have the medical management at home.

So we will see what the outcome of the private scan is tomorrow, it’s very unlikely to be any different but at least I will have confirmation in my mind to go ahead with medical management at home.

I think I'm gonna either ask for medical management in hospital or a d&c when I go in for confirmation on Monday. Hope whatever treatment you get goes smoothly.

I'm pretty sure the NICE guidelines say that medical or surgical management should never be given on the basis of one scan alone. Apart from anything else, you haven't even had an NHS scan if I am understanding your post correctly, only a private one. It would be completely negligent of them to give you treatment to end your pregnancy without having checked that there is definitely no heartbeat. Can your partner give them a call and put pressure on them to treat you properly? This isn't right.

@Ironytheoppositeofwrinkly I was told no surgical options are available at the moment, it’s either medical at home, medical in hospital or natural. I don’t want to be admitted to hospital, I’d much rather be at home with my husband. I think if I’d had pain or bleeding they would scan me no problem but the midwife on the phone just kept saying “if you feel well in yourself we’d recommend just waiting and letting it happen naturally”

It's devastating OP I had to have an emergency D&C in October at 11 weeks as medical management didn't work, twice, and I had an infection and was bleeding excessively, so much so that I don't think I would be here now if I hadn't called an ambulance. I would think surgery would go ahead if there were complications in a natural miscarriage, because sometimes it's the only way.

I agree that you should be scanned again before any treatment which is common practice in normal times. I had 3, my private scan at 9 weeks which suggested MMC, my EPU scan 10 days later which confirmed it and then another EPU scan which confirmed the first round of medical management hadn't worked.