My anembryonic pregnancy experience (blighted ovum)

[alduin]

Hi everyone,

I'm not 100% sure why I'm writing this. If it helps someone else going through similar then that's reassuring :)

I found out I was pregnant on the 14th August. This would've been my second child, my first was born in 2020 after a textbook pregnancy.
Now I wasn't clear on dates as I'd been trying different contraceptive pills. Needed to go back to the doctors for BMI check/ BP etc but didn't get round to it!

Did a Clear Blue weeks indicator test which read 3+ weeks so I was at least 5 weeks pregnant.

Tues 6th of September I wiped after going for a wee and saw some light pink discharge on the tissue. I wasn't too concerned as I knew you could have some blood in the early days.

Nothing then for a few days, Saturday 10th September I wiped and there was a small amount of blood again. Over the weekend the bleeding got slightly worse. Called the midwife on Monday and got a scan booked in EPU on the Tuesday.

I thought I'd be around 9 weeks give or take at the time. Had an internal scan, there was a pregnancy sac and yolk sac measuring 5-6 weeks but no embryo. As I wasn't clear on dates they wanted me back in 10 days but I knew deep down that it wasn't to be.

Over the next 10 days the bleeding got progressively worse, like a heavy period with some clots. Biggest was maybe 50p sized.
23rd September I had my 2nd scan, the sac had grown slightly but still no embryo which they would've expected to see. Unfortunately they couldn't offer to 'move things along' at that stage as the sac was under 25mm (mine was 23.5mm.)
They booked another scan for 10 days time. The wait was agonising, knowing that you have miscarried but nothing is happening & the hospital aren't allowed to intervene yet :(

Bleeding seemed to ease for the next few days, however on the 29th September I had a MASSIVE gush of blood as I stood up from the sofa. It soaked straight through a pad, my knickers, my leggings & dripped all over the carpet. Ran to the loo and passed a lot more blood and clots. There was no pain and I couldn't see anything that resembled a sac so I accepted that it probably wasn't over yet.

3rd of October, time for the third scan. The pregnancy sac had grown ever so slightly but the yolk sac had gone (probably reabsorbed into my body)

It was then 100% confirmed that this was not a viable pregnancy. I opted for the surgical treatment. I'd been bleeding for a month by this point and known for 3 weeks that I wasn't going to have a baby in April :( I just wanted it over with. Filled in all the Pre-Op paperwork in EPAU. I had BP and oxygen levels taken, height & weight and bloods taken. I did also have to have an ECG due to a small heart murmur.
Surgery was booked for Wednesday 5th October.

Surgery was very straightforward. I had a bit of bleeding afterwards but no pain or soreness surprisingly.

The mental side of it was the worst. I felt like a fraud, I told myself I wasnt allowed to be sad because it was never a 'baby' just a sac and yolk sac. It was a very lonely time and to this day I've only told a few people what happened. 💔 apologies for the essay, I just needed to get it off my chest.

Thank you for posting this and so sorry for your loss. Looks like I am in the same position. Should have been 7wks 1 yesterday but just a pregnancy sac and yolk sac no embryo. Have to go back in two weeks if I don't pass it. This is my second miscarriage in a row - last one the baby's heart stopped at 8wks 2 🥲hope you are doing ok x

Thank you for your post. I hope you’re ok x

Sending you so much love, I also had a blighted ovum miscarriage around six weeks ago after ivf. I also struggled with feeling like a fraud but I've come to realise that it doesn't matter that the embryo stopped developing so early on, it our eyes we were pregnant. My husband and I spoke about names and how we would decorate the nursery. We gave the embryo a cute little name and my husband rubbed my belly and spoke to it as I slept. We went through the excitement of announcing to close friends and family. We had a loss and a trauma, just as someone who miscarried after seeing their baby on a screen would have. When I talk about what happened now, I don't tell people that I had a blighted ovum, I just say I had a miscarriage as that is exactly what it was, with all the loss of hope and grief that comes with that. X

You put that really well @clhsgirl and I am sorry you went through this too. I feel just as sad about my blighted ovum miscarriage as my one a few months ago which was further along. A loss is a loss still. Hope you are ok x

Hi thank you for replying.
I'm so sorry to hear this 😭 is there any chance that your dates are slightly out?please can you keep us updated on what happens? I'm here if you need to vent or have a cry. X

Oh man this made me cry. I'm ever so sorry to hear what you have been through.
I've started doing the same, just saying I had an early miscarriage rather than a blighted ovum. I still don't talk about it much with anyone because I know I'll just break down.
I got a teddy bear through the Aching Arms charity who support people through miscarriage/ baby loss. I put my 2 year old to bed the other night and she'd grabbed the bear from my bed on the way. She gave it loads of kisses without any prompting, made me proper sob 😭
Silly things like that set me off haha.
Hope you and your husband are ok, please feel free to message me or reply on here if you're feeling a bit shitty. X

@tulipsunday ignore me! Ive just seen further down that it was a blighted ovum. I'm so sorry ♥️ x

Thanks @alduin the doctor has predicte it is a blighted ovum but have to go in on Friday which will be two weeks since last scan to check/confirm. I know it is definitely a miscarriage as I am sure of my dates and there has been lots of bleeding. Am not sure if I have passed the sac or not (did pass something more solid when on the toilet but not sure if it was that or a clot/tissue). Guess will see what they say just want it to be over. My hips are still sore don't quite know what that is about.

It is my second miscarriage in a row which is a bit disheartening and confusing following a healthy pregnancy with my two year old son. How are you doing today?

*predicted

@tulipsunday the waiting is the hardest part when you know deep down that it's not going to progress. I was hoping to not need any medical intervention but my body was very insistent on keeping the sac inside!
The hip pain is something I had but it was more towards the back.
Sorry to hear this is your 2nd MC in a row 💔 it is horrible when you've had a straightforward pregnancy previously. This would've been my 2nd child (I have a 2 year old too). We were so excited for her to have a little brother or sister!
I'm doing ok now thank you. I'm just plodding along being a mummy. If it wasn't for my little girl keeping me busy I'm sure I'd be a proper mess.

I hope you and your partner/ husband are ok. It must be doubly difficult when it's this time of year, having to put on a brave face and crack a smile when you just want to curl up in a ball and cry.

Please keep me updated on everything. Take care xx

Thank you @alduin appointment confirmed today that the sac and tissue has passed so thankfully I don't have to go back in. They have agreed I can go for an early scan for next pregnancy and to prescribe progesterone if any concerns so I am pleased with that. Suggested I ask GP for a thyroid test and I may get some other bloods done so I feel a bit more clear on next stages.

How are you coping? I am glad you have your little girl as a good distraction and focus.

@tulipsunday hi thank you for taking the time to update!
Sorry to hear the news. It still hurts even though you know that was probably going to be the outcome. At least its a small consolation that you don't need any medical/ surgical management.
That's fab news about the further tests and early scan! Did you have any support after your MC's? I was just kinda sent on my way with a leaflet 🤷🏼‍♀️
When/ if I conceive again I'm going to push for an early scan. I refuse to go through that turmoil again.
I'm getting through it day-by-day, just focused on christmas at the moment and seeing family/ friends. Thank you for asking 💟
Hugs x

After the first one they explained the options then I was sent away (with the leaflets) though when I wanted to book surgery there wasn't any slots available so wasn't really much of a 'choice' but in hindsight glad it happened at home as wasn't too bad. The staff were generally lovely.

This time a nurse did come and speak to me to explain about what would happen with a further pregnancy. Still does seem like you need a third miscarriage before you are really taken seriously in terms of interventions and tests which is a little worrying but I guess positive that they feel I have a good chance of having a healthy pregnancy still. Didn't get offered an early scan after first but glad they said they will do one if pregnant again.

Hi

Just a quick update in case anyone is reading this months down the line.

I am now pregnant again, only 5 and a half weeks gone so early days.
I will keep you all updated on any progress, whether good or bad.

Wish me luck🍀🤞
X

@alduin Congratulations 👏🎉 that's great news. Please update from time to time. I wish you all the best.

I miscarried on 09/03 and still finding my way through the minefield of emotions.

Reading your last post has made me 😊 wishing you happiness, love and light. Congratulations again xxx

Wishing you lots of luck 🍀 hang in there little one! I’m at the beginning of my ivf cycle and hoping we all get the outcome we so want xx

@amoobaa good luck with your IVF xx

@nearly8 thank you so much😊

I’m so sorry you went through a miscarriage. I was in hospital with a miscarriage at the end of last year. There are so many supportive places to post on here.

Sending you lots of love and hugs, hoping you have space to heal and process everything in your own time x

@alduin fantastic news congratulations! Wishing you all the best xx

Sorry I haven't updated in a while!

Now 12 and a half weeks pregnant. Had some bleeding again at 6 weeks, turns out there were 2 pregnancy sacs. One empty and one with a fetus + heartbeat! ♥️ the bleeding was likely the other sac coming away.

My dating scan is this Friday, fingers crossed everything is still ok!

Hope you're all doing amazing. @amoobaa good luck with your IVF journey 🍀 xx

Omg congratulations!!! I am so happy for you. I had just seen your first post and was so sad for what you went through. Now I'm happy! What a beautiful soul that must be with you 🩷

Aw @alduin I'm delighted to read this update. I found out this week I'm pregnant so hopefully happier results for us both this time 😊

I lost a blighted ovum at around 10 weeks. Went in to get a scan for the bleeding and I had had a loss, there was a scar/mark where the ovum had detached. However there was also a heartbeat from a second, amazing, beautiful blob. That blob is now 11 and has it's sats next week. It also has an amazing personality and the ability to roll it's eyes 5000 times a day. I hope you are as lucky as I was.

@amoobaa thank you for your kind words and good 🤞
@alduin Congratulations 🎉🎉🎉 I'm really happy for you
@tulipsunday and the same to you it really is lovely to hear some happy news through all of this

Hi again everyone,

Thanks for your well wishes. I thought I'd give you an update after my 12 week scan.

Unfortunately my baby's bladder is very enlarged and the Nuchal measurement is nearly 5mm.
I am being referred to LGI fetal medicine unit. It doesn't look good, realistically we are looking at a TFMR sometime next week 💔