No heartbeat at 12-week dating scan

[ivyroses]

I had my 12-week ultrasound scan yesterday and the sonographer said my baby measured 8 weeks 4 days but had no heartbeat.
She then asked another sonographer to come in for a second opinion and he, too, confirmed it was a missed miscarriage.

I was devastated but I am also in denial.
My periods are very irregular so if my baby is measuring smaller than my expected 10-11 weeks, is it normal?
I also kind of am questioning whether they misdiagnosed this missed miscarriage. What if a transcaginal scan shows a healthy baby with a heartbeat?

they’ve already given me options to either have a medical miscarriage, surgical or natural.

i don’t know what to do. Should I book another scan? How common is it for sonographer to misdiagnose miscarriages?

I've been through this OP- my heart goes out to you. It's really, really hard. You could book a private scan if you want to be doubly sure? Id recommend the surgical option, i had it and i was fine whereas friends who had the medical management had a harder time. Sending hugs

Hi, I couldn't read and run. I'm so sorry this is happening to you.
Sonographers are highly trained and if there is any possibility at all that the pregnancy was viable I'm sure they'd have explored that first. But if having another scan will give you the certainty you need then of course you can have one. You could possibly request one or pay for a private one.

OP am sorry this has happened. I had a loss last month so I understand the pain.
My periods are also irregular but when you are scanned they date the pregnancy usually based on the size of the fetus, not just on period dates. I was a week out to what I was based on my period. Unfortunately if there is no heartbeat then it is highly likely the baby has gone. They are very
skilled at what they do so I can’t imagine they have got it wrong. But, if you want a second opinion could you have a private scan? Do what you need to do xxx

I'm sorry this has happened. I had two missed miscarriages so I know how devastated you must feel. Sadly, if there was any chance they were wrong, they'd have sent you home for two weeks to wait it out. Having had both the surgical and medical management, I personally found surgical preferable as it is less painful.

My heart goes out to you. I had a missed miscarriage diagnosed at a private scan and had the same doubts. I then had an NHS scan the following day where they explained it all to me and I felt much better having had it confirmed twice (three times as the sonographer brought in a midwife to check). What I do know is that 8 weeks there should be a very definite and fast heartbeat showing. If you do decide to go ahead with a second scan, I would just say I hated the high-street places, a very rushed impersonal experience and when I asked a question I was told 'I don't know- I'm not medically trained'. i would go for a private hospital instead, though it will be more expensive. So very sorry for your loss x

Am so very sorry for your loss. Been there myself and it is devastating. Sadly it is unlikely there’s been an error due to size dates and a second person attending, but if you feel you need an additional one before proceeding you should ask.

sending a hug

So sorry to hear this!

I’m currently on my second MMC now and having my second MVA tomorrow.

I lost my first at 8 weeks 5 and this one at 7 weeks 5. I had an internal scan with both to confirm lack of heartbeat, was your scan with the NHS? You could probably request this before any treatment. x

@Tinytotdriver so sorry you’re going through this too. I hope I’m not overstepping the mark at this stage, but I had two mmc’s at the same gestation to you. It’s not common, and I had testing done. Turns out I had fairly severe immune issues which are now being managed. The NHS won’t test until 3 losses unfortunately. Wishing you love and strength for tomorrow and may this be the very last time you or any of us have to go through it.

@ivyroses So sorry to hear your news. I agree with others here. Sadly, I think this is without doubt a missed miscarriage and my heart goes out to you because it is an awful and shocking experience, not least because for most people this happens to this is completely unexpected. It is a type of miscarriage that is not often spoken about but it is sadly all too common. I experienced this with a pregnancy when I went for a 12 week scan and the embryo was only 6 weeks with no heartbeat,

I had surgical management and found the experience quick and went smoothly. It is much more difficult to recover from psychologically than physically and I p, and I know the many others on these forums who have had the same experience, well be sending you a hug and will be happy to try to answer any questions you might have. We are all on here supporting each other with these situations.

@ivyroses I'm so sorry you are going through this. I had an early pregnancy scan that diagnosed MMC. I didn't trust them and got a private scan the next day that confirmed that they were right. I don't regret getting the private scan. It gave me closure. Plus the sonographer talked me through it all and it was a nicer experience.
I have a D&C tomorrow.

I’m so sorry you’re going through this. Sending a big virtual hug. I also recently had a MMC found at the 12 week scan with baby measuring 9w2. The sonographer started the scan externally but then moved to internal as things didn’t look right. Similarly to you, a second sonographer was brought in to confirm MMC. If you do decide to go for a second scan, going for transvaginal could help give you closure.
I went for surgical management as friends experienced a lot of pain with medical and one had to go for surgery later on as there were tissues remaining. Everything went smoothly and I didn’t regret my decision.

Hi lovely, I’ve gone through a similar experience this week. I had x2 transvaginal scans which confirmed no heartbeat and a lag in gestational age - I am about to go through medical management. By this point you may have already been advised to book a second scan with your early pregnancy unit - sometimes they ask to wait a week to offer avoidance of any doubt. But sadly it is very unlikely the baby is developing as expected, which I am very sorry as I know you have heard that a lot here. I appreciate the apology doesn’t change the situation or how you feel. I hope you have what you need and are coping with the physical and/or emotional pain this has brought you. If you would like to talk about your management route or any feelings you are having there is safe space for you here with whatever you may wish to share. I hope you have been given lots of support and advice from your EPU. Sending love and healing wishes 🤍

I’m sorry OP but heartbeat is clear on scans from six weeks of pregnancy. It two sonographers cannot find a heartbeat there cannot be any hope.

If you were earlier in your pregnancy it could be that a mistake is made with dates, ( this happened to me) and the pregnancy is continuing normally for this stage of pg, but not if you are 8 weeks plus pg.

You’d have to be under six weeks pregnant for them not to find a heartbeat and there still be a chance you could have a healthy pregnancy.

So sorry OP, I know it’s heartbreaking.

I went through this nearly 8 years ago OP in my first pregnancy. I was devastated, as I’d had no signs at all of a miscarriage (still had morning sickness etc). Give yourself time to grieve and process it. I didn’t, and regret that to this day. I’ve since had two healthy pregnancies (DD1 is nearly 7, and DD2 is 4). Time will make things easier, but it is hard. I’m sorry for your loss.