"Unconfirmed Viability"

[Debs3693]

Hi All, i went for an early scan this week, mainly because i got increasingly bad pains on my right side. My m/w thought i was 6 weeks pregnant but the sonographer said the embryo was so small she could not find a heartbeat and estimated actually just over 5 weeks. She has suggested i go back in 2 weeks time for another scan.
In the letter she gave me, it says "viability unconfirmed". does this simply refer to the fact the baby is too small to hear a heartbeat or does she think it has effectively stopped growing and wants to confirm? It doesn't sound very nice but i am trying not to worry!

I think it's because there's no heartbeat, yet.

Basically what they're saying is that it's too small to see if there's a heartbeat, a healthy sac, the hormones doing thier thing in what's left of the follicle etc.

This would be normal at less than 6 weeks as I understand it. So if you are only 5.5 weeks, then there's no reason to be worried yet as they wouldn't expect to be able to see everything for at least another week.

Hi sorry to hear that you're worrying about this. "Viability unconfirmed" simply means that they cannot at stage confirm whether the embryo will survive so the former.

Good luck in two weeks

As far as I know it simply means the sonographer couldn't see a heartbeat which from your post is likely to be due to size/dates.

I know it's pointless for me to say but try not to worry while waiting for your repeat scan.

Hope it all goes well for you.

Sorry that sounded very blunt. You would not expect to see a heartbeat before 6 weeks so if you are less than 6 weeks they simply cannot tell what is happening, unfortunately all you can do is wait.

Hi, thanks for your messages - that does reassure me! i really am trying not to worry and your messages really to help. In the words of Gary Barlow, i need a little bit of patience :)

Basically what everyone else said but just wanted to add that I had a similar experience, private scan at 5 weeks due to previous ectopic and there was basically a sac but no fetal pole or heartbeat but at least ectopic ruled out (still very anxious though). Went back a week later and there was a fetal pole and a thumping little heart, its amazing how much the little thing grows in a week so don't worry and good luck

Debs I had a scan at 6 weeks, all you could see was a dot on on the screen, it was the size of a full stop, and my notes also said something about "uncertain viability". It just means its too early to tell, as others have said. Had another scan two weeks later and it was a blob, not remotely baby shaped.

Im 31 weeks now, and have a long legged breech boy kicking my fanjo many many times a day.

I know the next 2 weeks are gonna drag sooooo much, but theres nothing you can do except take the folic acid and have lots of positive thoughts, and let us now how you get on.

Good luck, hope you get what you want

I had the same thing just a few weeks ago. Had terrible pains so they did an early scan at 5+2 but all they could see was embryo and yolk sack and the report had the same wording on as yours. Went back two weeks later and there was a lovely strong little heart beat. Hope you're feeling more reassured. x