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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Early scan, gestational sac and yolk sac but no fetus yet

370 replies

Coconutfeet · 14/01/2011 12:24

This is my fifth pregnancy, I have one dc.

I'm 7+5 based on my lmp, although I chart and know that I ovulated around cd 18 which would make me 7+1, I think.

Because I have a history of miscarriage I had an early scan today. They saw a gestational sac and a yolk sac but no fetus yet. They are going to rescan me in 2 weeks. They've told me to try and relax and that everything is in line with a very early pregnancy. But although I know it's early, I'm in a complete state. I'm pretty sure with ds I had a scan at around 7+6 and we saw a heartbeat.

I know no-one can tell me how my pregnancy is going to go but I'd be interested to hear from anyone who had a similar experience and to know how it turned out - good or bad.

OP posts:
jellytart · 05/02/2011 09:55

Got an appt to see my consultant through the post this morning. I guess my gp hasn't written to the hospital and told them I mc yet. Confused

artifarti · 05/02/2011 09:58

Hospital/GP systems never seem to run in synch, do they. Hope you didn't find it upsetting jellytart.

After a couple of 'up' days feel very grumpy and irritable today. Poor DP and DS...

artifarti · 06/02/2011 12:12

How is everyone today. I hope that those of you waiting for follow up scans are not going too mad.

Am tempted to POAS and see if the pregnancy hormones have gone yet but perhaps it is too early (9 days since ERPC).

jellytart · 06/02/2011 14:46

Afternoon all. artifarti you just made me do a smile. (poas,love it). I've decided that I'm going to keep a track of my monthlies and that's it. I'm hoping that being relaxed and not stressing will help me conceive again. Over the past few months,an ovulation calendar was my best friend! Hope everyone is doing ok?!

artifarti · 06/02/2011 16:28

I'm not usually so bonkers, jellytart, honestly! Anyway, it was still positive from the pg hormones so that will teach me not be impatient. I wish I could take your being relaxed and unstressful approach but fear that my bonkersness about ttc again will only increase from hereon in...

Back to work tomorrow though with a month to catch up on so I'm sure that will provide me with something to focus on...

Original poster
Coconutfeet · 06/02/2011 17:41

Artifarti - I was just coming on to tell you not to bother poas just yet, but I see that you've already done it. I poas this morning and it was still quite a dark positive (internet cheapie) but definitely lighter than a few days ago. I'm going to give it another week before I do another test and then maybe start charting again. Not sure why, as this cycle is bound to be all over the place. I suppose I just want to feel like I'm doing something.

OP posts:
belgina · 06/02/2011 18:10

I'm glad that all of you are now at the next step and starting to TTC again.

Just wanted to add that I've never done any ovulation monitoring ever. My gut instinct with that sort of thing is that these are a waste of money and that drug companies just make money out of vulnerable women with them. I just keep track of my periods and know I get very, erm... Interested in sex around the time Blush. Poor DH doesn't get left alone. It took 3-6 months to get a BFP with all of them, except for this one, who was a first time lucky sort of thing. But really, the main thing we do is just have sex often throughout the month and so far it's worked every time. :)

DH is coming to the scan with me tomorrow. First time since the whole thing started, so that's nice. I think he's got a lot of concerns & questions about ERPC as he's really worried about damage and my chances of conceiving again.

artifarti · 06/02/2011 18:45

Not really there yet belgina as I'm waiting until after my next period turns up which is probably weeks away. Just feel it will be a step forward when I know the hormones from this pg are gone. Sad

I don't necessarily think the ovulation monitoring stuff is a waste of money though - I think it's about trying to feel in control, especially when your cycle is usually all over the shop and you're too knackered to "have sex often throughout the month"! Ah, modern life, eh!? I'm not a fan of pregnancy tests where you can test days before you are due though, as I think they must cause so many broken hearts in people who have v early mc's who would never have known they were pregnant. Apparently one of the Miscarriage support charities is having a scrap with a drug company who is trying to develop a pg test that shows a positive only days after conception - so many of the pg's are likely to result in mc, maybe even 50%, at this point. Sad

Let us know how you get on at your scan. Thinking of you.

Coconutfeet - how are you feeling, you okay?

Original poster
Coconutfeet · 06/02/2011 19:12

Artifarti - I'm not too bad. Quite tired still actually which is annoying. But I'm going back to work tomorrow, which I think is a good thing. Still bleeding and a bit achy but generally OK today. How about you??

Belgina - It's good that your DH is coming with you tomorrow. I'm a bit Shock that he hasn't come with you before, tbh, or have you just agreed that.

I'm definitely not ready to TTC again yet but like Artifarti, I want to know my body's getting back to normal. I looked back at my old charts and when I had my natural MC at 10+1 the cycle was 40 days (taking the MC bleed as day one) and annuvulatory. (BTW Artifarti - I also noticed that I was still testing positive 13 days after the MC, so I guess we just need to hang on in there.) I think it takes longer to get back to normal after an ERPC.

How's everyone else doing?

OP posts:
artifarti · 06/02/2011 19:49

I'm okay. Back at work tomorrow too. It will be good to get back to normal but I also feel quite weepy about it tonight - the fact that it is back to 'normal', rather than pregnant. Bleeding practically nothing now and feel okay physically. Just got to get on with life, I think, but easier said than done sometimes! Good luck at work.

Original poster
Coconutfeet · 06/02/2011 19:55

You too Arti.

Belgina - Will be thinking about you tomorrow.

OP posts:
belgina · 06/02/2011 20:53

That DH didn't come for the 1st scan was sort of due to this being a 4th baby and TBH it does sort of become less important for him to come along. I suppose it all becomes too familiar and a bit less exciting in a way. The 2nd scan he missed because he was at work and couldn't get time off. It's due to the nature of his job and how his schedule runs, which is too complicated to explain. This week he is off, so can come along easily.

All the best everyone.

Original poster
Coconutfeet · 06/02/2011 21:27

Yes, I can imagine that it it is different once you already have several children. Good news that he'll be there for you tomorrow anyway. Let us know how you get on. Good luck.

OP posts:
belgina · 07/02/2011 14:55

Right, I've had my scan and was told by the scanner that everything looked the same. Still no fetal pole or heartbeat. However when I had a look at the scan result the gestational sac had grown by 3.3mm and the internal fluid has doubled :confused:

I asked to talk to a Dr as I didn't feel comfortable going for ERPC with this size difference. The dr offered me a rescan next week. Then when I got home I got quite a blunt phone call from the EPAU nurse to say that the consultant had a look at my scan and that I've got to accept it's a missed miscarriage and that my scan has to be moved so it's exactly 2 weeks from today. As long as the doubt is there I can't have an ERPC, so I'm now going down the expectant management route.

jellytart · 07/02/2011 16:51

I don't understand it either. Surely if there's growth then something has got to be going on? Hang in there belgina,I think you're doing the right thing. Sorry that the nurse was blunt with you,not what you need right now. Have everything crossed for you

belgina · 07/02/2011 18:26

Thanks jellytart. The dr said fluid could still build up inside a non-viable gestational sac, but from my point of view there's no knowing whether it's true growth or just fluid build-up, so I feel my only choice is to wait and see what happens. I just could not live with myself if there was even the tiniest possibility that I might have taken away life.

jellytart · 07/02/2011 18:49

Of course,I totally understand. Hope your DH is being supportive,and will help you get through the next couple of weeks x

olismum23 · 07/02/2011 19:11

Just thought i would add to this thread i went for a scan over a week ago as i had cramping on my right hand side it was a tv scan and showed a sac measuring 5-6 weeks with nothing else...

they took my blood for hcg and tested it 3 times after every 48hrs it was going up 40% every 48hrs not 100%
I was told i was having a failing pregnancy and to expect the worse 2 days later i got another scan which was feb 4th and there was a baby with a strong heartbeat measuring 5 weeksish just shows they are not always right i have had no bleeding at all but i still have a scan again a week on friday but all looks good dont think the mw could believe it! :)

Original poster
Coconutfeet · 07/02/2011 19:22

Belgina - It sounds like you've made the right choice for you. Sorry to hear that the nurse wasn't very sympathetic. How many weeks along are you now?

Wow Olismum, it does go to show that a few days can make a huge difference at that early stage. I've been reading recently that HCG isn't always a reliable test of how well a pregnancy is progressing.

Well I didn't make it back to work today as ds and I seem to have picked up another bug. He was sick this morning and I've been feeling sick and had a lousy headache all day. I really hope I feel better tomorrow as I've got to get back to work.

Artifarti - How was your first day back?

OP posts:
artifarti · 07/02/2011 19:47

belgina - definitely the right choice for you, you have to be sure of what you are doing. Unfortunately the sac can continue to grow - mine managed 12mm in the last week but it was a clear decision for me as I could see on the scan that it had collapsed. Be strong and I hope you can get through the next two weeks. We are all here for you.

Sorry you didn't make it back to work Coconutfeet. Hope you and DS are feeling better and you can make it in. My first day back was pretty awful. My team were all lovely but I'm not really happy there and going back just reminded me of what 'normal' is - and that a month ago I was sitting at my desk all excited for the future. Managed to get through the day but have been crying since I got home. I know I have to expect these down days but it's still an awful feeling when it comes over you, isn't it? Sad

Congratulations olismum. My first pg with DS had a similar start and a happy ending so there's always hope in thse situations.

hairylights · 07/02/2011 20:05

Can anyone help me? What age is a gestational sac of 7.3mm?

Original poster
Coconutfeet · 07/02/2011 20:47

Hairylights - I can't find the page that I googled when I was looking for this myself a few weeks ago, but I did find this page which if you scroll down has a table. It looks like 7.3mm would be somewhere between 5 and 6 weeks.

Belgina - Like Artifarti, I know that my sac had grown a lot between the two scans. I don't have the exact measurements on my final scan report but I could see myself on the screen how much bigger it was. There was definitely no chance of a fetus appearing in my case so it wasn't too hard to make the decision. I know if there was any doubt in my mind I wouldn't have been able to go ahead.

Artifarti - Sorry to hear you're having such a bad day. I can totally relate to how you're feeling. It's so horrible to know that we're going to be up and down for quite a while yet.

OP posts:
belgina · 07/02/2011 21:57

coconutfeet i'm still not sure of my dates TBH. I had sort of hoped that that 1st scan would have clarified it. I'm either 6 or 10 weeks Confused. If i were sure of my dates then yes i would accept that it's not the right development for 10 weeks, but 6...

olium thank you for your story. It's nice to hear about things going well against all odds.

hairylights i'm sorry i cant help you with your question. I know dr google will have the answer tobit, but what this experience has tought me is that even st tbis early stage there is quite some variety :)

artifarti so sorry that going to work has triggered all these feelings. Hopefully it's something you've got to go through and it will gey easier. Do you think a little extra time off might be what you need?

PrincessScrumpy · 07/02/2011 22:02

I just wanted to add a good news story or scan being wrong:

Thursday before last gest sac was measuring 4 weeks (not possible, would have had bfp and conceived same day!). Had bloods and hcg levels increased but not as much as they would have liked.

Today I had another scan - fearing the worse. Now I'm measuring 7 weeks (what I thought I was) and it's identical twins.

Early scans are not always accurate and just gave me a week and a half of worry and stress.

artifarti · 07/02/2011 22:04

Thanks Coconutfeet. Guess we just have to keep on keeping on. Good luck tomorrow.

belgina - have they not talked about testing your hcg levels?

MrsCLH - not sure if you're still about but fingers crossed for your scan tomorrow.

Sorry Hairy, I can't tell you anymore than Dr. Google but do keep in mind that things can vary so much around the 5/6/7 week mark.