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Miscarriage/pregnancy loss

Find support and share your experiences on our Miscarriage forum. See also legal rights and support after baby loss.

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Original poster

8 week scan shows only 6 week size embryo and no heartbeat

14 replies

amberflower · 01/07/2008 14:28

Just had a scan this morning, and it doesn't look good...had a miscarriage in Dec 07 and has taken me 18 months to conceive again so can't quite believe it is all going wrong again this time.

The sonographer has booked us in for a follow up next week to check the embryo's growth, but said it was likely it has just stopped growing. Will opt for a D & C if this is the case next week and don't bleed in between now and then (hope I don't in a way - have a birthday party for DS on Sunday!!).

Has anyone else had a similar experience and what was the outcome? She did say there is a chance the embryo implanted later but I'm fairly sure of my dates so am assuming the worst at the moment.

OP posts:

BeckyBendyLegs · 01/07/2008 18:20

Poor you, it is hard being left not quite knowing what is going on. I had a similar experience but in my case it was an MC. I had already started bleeding when I had a scan (at 11 1/2 weeks) and the embryo was about 5-6 weeks in growth as shown in the scan with no heartbeat. They did the exact same thing: booked me in for a follow up scan the next week to check again but I just knew there was no way I was 5-6 weeks pregnant. I went on to miscarry naturally the week between the scans but still had the follow-up scan to see if there were any 'retained products' in me which there were but I was still bleeding so they let me go home and continue to miscarry naturally. Is there any chance you could be less than 8 weeks pregnant?

TotalChaos · 01/07/2008 18:33

I had a similar experience (7 week scan showed 5.5 week embryo and no fetal pole or heartbeat) and all turned out well - I must have been about a week out with my dates. Did you have an internal scan?

ilovemydog · 01/07/2008 18:43

I thought I was at least 10 weeks, but baby was too small and could not have been 10 weeks. Booked in for a scan 2 weeks later, and I was 8 weeks by dating scan, so would have been only 6 weeks which is why nothing could be detected.

Is it usual to only wait a week for another scan?

Original poster

amberflower · 01/07/2008 18:55

It was an internal scan and for a 6 week embryo it looked as it should do but - I really don't think I can only be 6 weeks. I've been on Clomid and the pregnancy test showed positive on day 28 so I'm pretty sure of my dates. I've had a normal miscarriage before, but always knew that was a dodgy pregnancy as I had loads of bleeding. This time, no bleeding at all.

We are just so gutted as were getting so excited about giving our little boy his long overdue brother or sister. It's taken us 2.5 years to get to this stage as we started trying for a second when he was 18 months and now he's about to start school minus a sibling!!

It is really helpful to hear your stories though....thank you. I guess there is a chance we might see a miracle next week but my gut feel is that the baby's stopped growing....

OP posts:

fruitbowl · 01/07/2008 19:24

Amberflower Just wanted to send love and support. It must be agony not knowing for sure. Can sympathise as we recently lost one - MMC at 12 weeks and had been trying for a couple of years too. I'm keeping everything crossed for you. xx

Original poster

amberflower · 01/07/2008 20:11

thank you x

OP posts:

BumpVLump · 02/07/2008 09:54

Hi Amberflower,
My thoughts are with you.
I had a really simillar experience two days ago. My scan at 8 weeks showed an embryo 'too small for 8 weeks' and no heartbeat. I also had a scan at 5 weeks so know it had not pregressed enough, she said it was a missed miscarriage.
There are other factors that indicate MC- for example they said to me I had no 'yolk' any more and the shape of the little black sack should be round and well shaped, mine was very wonky (kind of like it was collapsing)
Did they say anything about these things?
Don't be too disheartened, it may still be good news and negative thoughts are not doing you any good.
Stay strong xx

Original poster

amberflower · 02/07/2008 10:15

Thank you BumpVLump...

Basically they said everything looked normal for a six week embryo - everything present on the scan except for the heartbeat - yolk sac, amniotic sac, embryo etc. It's just that I should be 8 weeks.

I guess there is a possibility that it could just have implanted very late...time will tell...we'll find out on Monday.

I am sorry to hear about your story - I never realised missed miscarriage was so common.

OP posts:

lissiepops · 17/03/2009 16:35

I'm going through a similar thing at the moment. Was TTC after an MC for 2 years had a HSG to check Fallopian Tubes and fell pregnant more or less straight after. Had a very small amount of brown discharge so saw GP had scan it was six weeks since my last period when I went for scan but only showed 4 week pregnancy, all the sonograph could see was two sacs so was asked to come back 10-14 days later. Came back 14 days later and it looks as though one sac has developed now can see yolk sac and other sac had not developed. Still have not seen a heartbeat and have to go back for next scan on 19th March 09. They say I'm 8 weeks then but it will be 11 weeks since my last period. Worry is not the word!!!

jasmaxxy · 18/03/2009 10:44

I'm panicing madly at the moment, I am an older mum (43) this is 5th pregnancy 3 children i previous mmc.I was booked in for a loop operation on 26th feb and found iwas pregnant that day,shocked then very happy.Have had light brown loss since sunday (into 3rd day) have had scan at epu and HCG test, scan showed sac but nothing in it, sonographer said she thought it was too early, i think i'm 6 wks from the 1st day of last period,they say i could theoretically be only 4 weeks??? very confused, 1st hcg 2374, which is good, get 2nd result today,my sister said they heard her babies heartbeat at 5.5 so i'm beside myself,any advice?

TotalChaos · 18/03/2009 10:52

sorry you are going through this worrying time lissiepops and jasma, and sorry that one of the sacs does not seem to have developed at all lissiepops, it's hard being in limbo and just having to wait for the next scan.

jasmaxxy - from what I recall - you would expect to see the fetal pole at 6 weeks, and a heartbeat by 8 weeks. 5.5 weeks would be very very early to see a heartbeat. I think when they date PGs, it's based on having a 4 week cycle and ovulating halfway through - if you have a long cycle - say 5 weeks, and ovulated 3 weeks in, then that could easily be a reason for dates being out. if you have an abdominal scan they don't show quite as much as an internal scan at this early stage.

best wishes ladies for the further scans.

angelzzzzz · 23/04/2009 21:56

i had my first miscarriage aged 18, had a daughter year later three years later fell pregnant again went for a scan there wasnt a heart beat, fell pregnant again lost that one to then i had another baby girl, now im 7weeks pregnant going for my first scan tomorrow fri -24th and im terrified, im prob more like 5wks so my mind wont be put to rest on the heart beat for a few weeks........meant to be a happy time but its all worry xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

8etty09 · 18/06/2009 14:34

could it be your dates are wrong???? i had to go 4 an internal i have no idea when my last period was but my case notes said i could be 10 wks gone (how on earth they worked that out i do not know) but my scan saw a sac at 4 weeks & i reacon i could be more 4 weeks then 10.. im booked back in 2 weeks for another scan so if the sac has grown it may be a good sign but ill be sure to tell them that i think the 1o weeks is a mistake jus incase they think im 1o weeks & thing my pregnancy has ended and offer me a D&C

StephyJ · 21/05/2015 21:07

I know this thread is old, but just incase anyone is researching this I thought I would share my experience.

I was exactly 8 weeks when I went for a private scan because I was so nervous and just wanted to know if everything was progressing.
However the baby was measured at only 2.3mm dating only just 6 weeks, there was a faint heartbeat that could be seen.The sonographers asked if I was sure about my dates and I definitely was, there was no way I could have been 6 weeks as this would mean I ovulated when I had already had a postive pregnancy test.

I was booked in for 2 weeks to see if there was any change.. Longest 2 weeks of my life especially because my boobs no longer hurt and went down in size so I was sure something was wrong.At 10 weeks the baby measured 3.5mm with no heartbeat, so died shortly after the first scan.
I am now in the process of a medically managed miscarriage.

I am not saying this will be the same for everyone as mistakes can be made and miracles can happen but I just knew something wasn't right.. Even when my husband was telling me to be optimistic.

I am devastated and also slightly embarrassed as I had told a few of my work mates, so now when I go back I am dreading them bringing up the pregnancy. However I am ready to start trying again as soon as I am well.

Good luck and lots of baby dust to you all x

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