Can anyone help me with MMC information? Hospital refusing to give me medication.

[numberthirtytwoWindsorGardens]

I had a private scan two weeks ago which showed no heartbeat and a foetus measuring 5w6d (should have been 8w3d). I was scanned at the hospital two days later, and they agreed that it was a 5w foetus with no heartbeat, but said that because it was less than 7mm I would have to come back in a week to have another scan before they would prescribe medication to help me to miscarry.

I went back today and the foetus has grown to 5mm (6w4d). There's still no heartbeat and everyone agrees that it's a miscarriage,but the doctor says they won't give me medication until it reaches 7mm.

I don't understand how it can be growing when it isn't alive? Can anyone advise? I'm exhausted and heartsick that after two days off work and hours spent sitting in hospital, I'm still carrying a dead baby and no nearer to miscarrying than I was last week.

Sorry for the length - any information from anyone in the know would be much appreciated.

I have no advice but I'm sorry for what you are going through xxx

Thanks, @londongirl12, that's really kind. 😊

I'm so sorry too, I'm guessing if it's that small they need to be sure there is really no heartbeat as normally they wouldn't diagnose a miscarriage before 7 weeks with an ultrasound anyway as it can be unreliable at that stage. So that's why they need to wait until either it grows or you miscarry naturally. They should have explained that to you clearly though. I'm so sorry for your loss.

Pregnancy can be weird though - I had an anembryonic pregnancy diagnosed at 9 weeks and had two other scans over 9 days to confirm it before they would treat me - in that time my uterus grew and all my uterine measurements were exactly as they should be for that stage of pregnancy despite the fact there was no embryo in there. Weird...

Thank you, @notalwaysalondoner The thing is, I got a positive test on Christmas Day, so would be almost 10 weeks by now. They all agree that the embryo isn't alive, but I don't understand how it's growing if it isn't?

Sorry for your anembryonic pregnancy; all the weird things women's bodies do!

I am by no means an expert, but I think at this stage it’s too early to see a fetal pole, so it’s actually the gestational sac that they are measuring. With a missed miscarriage, the pregnancy hormones continue, and the gestational sac can keep growing even though the baby sadly isn’t developing inside.
I think this is why those measurements they use to date the pregnancy have increased even though there is no heartbeat. You should check this out with the EPU though, to be sure and give you peace of mind. Sorry it wasn’t explained more clearly at your scan. It’s horrible to be rushed out of there with questions.
I know that to qualify for surgical management the pregnancy (sac) has to measure at least 7mm. I’m not sure if this is the same for medical management but it sounds like this is what you were told.
If so, it may be that they prefer expectant management (i.e. to wait for it to pass naturally) for pregnancies of that stage.
But as it has been a while, and you are quite understandably distressed at waiting, I think you should explain this and see what they can do to help.
I hope you get some answers, and don’t be afraid to call your GP if you aren’t getting anywhere with EPU.

Thanks, @sweetpea2000, that's a really helpful and kind reply. It makes sense what you say about the hormones - I'm still getting strong positive tests, even though the baby clearly isn't developing.

Thank you again

To back up what @sweetpea2000 said, they'll be looking for sac growth. If sac reaches a certain size without a heartbeat inside, they know its unfortunately not worked out.

I'm sorry for your loss x

Having been there myself, they're measuring the gestational sac, which will keep growing until your body naturally expels the pregnancy. It's such a sad time, look after yourself

Ps I miscarried naturally in the end once I got to 10+4 so perhaps this will happen for you too, without a need for the medication.

Thank you both. So sorry to hear that so many others have gone through this too.

They've called today with another scan date in a couple of weeks, so hopefully that will be the day.

Never knew miscarrying could be such hard work!

I'm sorry this is happening ❤️ I've had 4 losses, 3 have been MMCs and I've been back and forth to the hospital to check for growth each time. My last pregnancy was similar to yours, my first scan showed the baby was measuring 5mm with no heartbeat and they said there was no hope but until they could be sure, they had to send me away. If its under 7mm they won't confirm a miscarriage / intervene. But I had a second sonographer come in and they both agreed that at 5mm, there definitely should be a heartbeat.

It's absolutely exhausting going through this. Sending you lots of love xx

Oh @VenusStarr, I'm so sorry for your losses. That's absolutely devastating. I hate that they all admit there's no hope, but still have to wait for more growth; it feels really inhumane. Wishing you all success in any future pregnancies x