pg after mc - early scan

[ChasingButterflies]

Hi,
Last year I had a mmc at 9wks - baby had died at 8wks, they told me.
Am now pg again, just over 6 wks. The very good EPAU that looked after me before recommended I come for an early scan at around 7wks; GP agreed when confirming this pregnancy.
What are the chances of things going well if a 7wk scan is OK? Would a 7wk scan last time have seemed fine, only for the baby to die a week later?
At the moment, I'm feeling reassured by the prospect of a scan next week, but then don't want to spend the time until the 12wk scan wondering if the baby is still alive

Following a miscarriage I self-referred to my local EPU. I had a 7 week scan, a 9 week scan and an 11 week scan - they said I could have a 12 week scan before my scheduled dating scan at 13 weeks, but I decided that I just wanted to get on to normal pregnancy. You may well be able to get another scan if you ask.

If I were you, I would wait to have a scan at 8 weeks. According to the Miscarriage Association website, it you see a heartbeat when a baby is the size of an 8 week old fetus, then there is a 98% chance the baby will be OK. I'm not sure what the chances are at 7 weeks, but presumably not quite so good.

Thanks both.

That's a reassuring stat for 8wks neolara, thank you. Anyone know if it's a lot lower at 7wks?

I had the same experience as Jeee (I had a mmc at 14 weeks and then went on to have my very normal prgcy and lovely ds 2)

Just wanted to let you know there are more of us who had sucess!

Good luck x

Hi Butterflies: I really hope for a happy pregnancy for you. I will have to tell you this though - things are pretty precarious up until 12 weeks, although I have found a lot of info on what neolara said about seeing a heartbeat at 8 weeks. Before that, it's certainly more risky. My 3rd mc, we saw a heartbeat at 6 1/2 weeks but they said it was like a week too small according to ovulation. So, my guess is that if everything is fine at your 7 week scan - size, heartbeat, etc., then you should be really optimistic. I'd get another one between the 7-week and 12-week because I'd be worrying like a mad woman, not that I won't worry throughout the whole pregnancy!
Baby dust. Keep us posted.

Hi I would second the advice to wait until 8 weeks if poss. I am sure I read that the success rate at 7 weeks was 85%. So good, but I liked the sound of 98% at 8 weeks better. I am in the exact same position as you. I had a mmc at 10 weeks in November and am now preg again. I will be 8 weeks tomorrow and have a private scan booked for tomorrow afternoon. I am feeling a little stressed tonight as I am sure you can understand!

Hi girls

I'm also in a similar position and did some research on the statistics yesterday. This is what I found on the Miscarriage Association website:

"Research has shown that if you see a heartbeat at 6 weeks of pregnancy, the chances of the pregnancy continuing are 78%. A heartbeat at 8 weeks increases the chance of a continuing pregnancy to 98% and at 10 weeks to 99.4%. So things could still go wrong, but as long as there is a heartbeat, the risk of miscarriage decreases as the weeks go by."

I'm currently on 7+1 and miscarried at around 5/6 weeks last time. I'm thinking of paying for an early scan and am planning on waiting until around 9 weeks before going.

HTH and sticky baby dust to all the girls in the same situation

Thank you all!

I am very tempted to wait till 8 weeks - if I have it at 7 I think I would worry even if all was well at the scan.

Sorry to hear about your mcs. Chinook, good luck with your scan tomorrow, fingers crossed for you.

x-posted - good luck to you too, bubbaP. have you not been offered an early scan by your hospital?

I went to the GP last week and told her I was very anxious about miscarring this time. She didn't offer to refer me to the EPU at the hospital, but I know they offer early scans at a private hospital nearby for £100, and I think it would be worth it for the peace of mind.

Good luck Butterflies and Bubbap, I had two MCs before having two DSs. The early pregnancies are emotionally very difficult but waiting to have an early scan at 8 wks rather than 7 might be worth doing. Hang in there. I remember the weeks between discovering I was pregnant and my first scans were the longest of my life. Thinking of you both, good luck!

Agree to wait until at least 8 weeks is a good idea if you can last out, in my experience.

I was scanned at 6 weeks for one pregnancy, there was a strong heartbeat, then DH and I were both gutted when I then miscarried. We both agreed - even a scan so early in gestation created an emotional bond with the tiny little life inside me that made the loss harder to bear. For subsequent pregnancies we made a decision not to go for scans until 12 weeks. I realise waiting isn't for everyone, but just wanted to offer another perspective.

Good luck everyone. xxx

Bubba - just to say that our local EPAU accepts self referrals. I've called them direct and arranged for an early scan - no need to go through GP

i had sharp pains 2 weeks ago so went for a u/s scan and showed i was 4-5 weeks so they booked me back in 2 weeks later to make sure all ok and see if the sac grows etc. went back this morning and the sac had grown from 6mm to 15mm in the 2 weeks which im guessing means im about 7 weeks but could only see an empty sac,the nurses didnt think it looked good and have booked me in again for another u/s scan in 8 days to see if any change but they said prepare for the worst. i am so worried and devastated and keep thinking maybe the foetus or heartbeat was just hiding this morning and couldnt be shown and everything may be ok because they have booked me in for another scan so there must be some hope. im only 20 and this is my first pregnancy, now i am so upset as my mind was set on this baby and so was my fiances. What are my chances and is it possible not to see the foetus or heartbeat at 7 weeks?