HELP! Early scan showed nothing - any glimmer of hope?

[Reallyusefulengine]

Please help! I had an early scan today at 4w 6d as I had an ectopic previous to 2 healthy pregnancies. The scan showed absolutely nothing at all and my gyne says it is likely to be either an ectopic or an early miscarriage and I should come back next week. After I cried my eyes out she did add that it could turn out to be alright and be just too early to show up if I was a 'late ovulator' but I think she was just trying to make me feel better. She did a pg test which was just about positive, it seemed fainter than the ones I did myself at home. She'll be monitoring my hcg levels too - I won't find out today's results until Friday.

I ovulated on day 15 of a 27 day cycle, slightly irregular after stopping BFing 3 months ago. Had what I thought were implantation pains and v light brown spotting (TMI) on 9-12 dpo but then tested positive 3 days in a row from the day AF due.

Just left the november '11 bus, would love some advice, some hope. Feel so sad.

At 4w6d you shouldn't expect to see anything - your doctor should never have told you it would be bad news. You'd be lucky to even spot a gestational sac at 5w2d let alone before 5 weeks! Most places won't scan before 6-7 weeks for that reason.

Different tests have different amounts of dye and sensitivity, and in fact doctors tests often have less sensitivity which would account for it being fainter.

That's not to say you don't have a loss, but at this stage you have about as much chance as anyone else - there is no way to tell conclusively either way short of a pair of blood tests! Only then could anyone diagnose a pregnancy as failing.

Keep us updated and I'm so sorry you've been scared possibly unnecessarily :-(

Hmmm I have a similar history as you. With my last pregnancy I scanned at about 5 weeks and they could see the little yolk sac.. but no baby... At 7 weeks baby was visible...

Don't know if that helps or not... Sorry

I agree that the scan has been done too early to tell anything. I presume you had a vaginal scan? That would have the best chance of seeing something, but you'd not expect to see much more than a thickening of the lining of the uterus at this stage.

I wish you all the best of luck with your repeat scan. I hope it turns out to be good news for you.

Hi, i saw a well known fetal medicine specialist at 5w who told me that it doesn't make sense to do a scan so early to avoid any disappointment. he booked me for 8 weeks and we saw our little baby with a heart beat at that time. i'd say try not to worry just yet and be patient till 8 weeks or so. hope it goes well.

Thanks so much for your messages, good to hear it might not be so black and white.

Titty it was a vaginal scan. Am hoping it's just too early to tell. Does anyone know if it might be connected to a late implantation - clutching at straws here, I know.

I had an early scan at 5 weeks (thought I was a bit further than I was as I have irregular cycles) and they saw nothing, 2 days later they saw a sac, a week later there was a heartbeat and now I'm 21 weeks. I had a fertility nurse greet me with "it's not looking good is it?" at the scan where they eventually saw the heartbeat.

As others have said unfortunately there's no way to know for sure at such an early stage but all is not lost. Hope it works out for you.

High, that's amazing. Did they change your Due Date?

And a big congratulations, a lovely story and a big comfort

My due date was guess work until the dating scan (12 weeks) as my LMP was 23rd Aug 2010 and BFP 30th Oct (and I was not 9 weeks gone!), looking back at my diary the DD they've now calculated is about right, although I think I'm 2 days ahead :) The first weeks of this pregnancy were terrifying and I spent so many days waiting and worrying but everything worked out. Hope you also get a happy ending.

Reallyuseful - perhaps you could go back to the November thread for support while you wait for another scan?

I had a scan at 6 weeks - scan showed I was onlt just 4 weeks (which made no sense). A week later scan showed I was 7 weeks pg with twins. Amazing the difference a week makes! Don't give up hope yet. I still think my dd is 20 sept but scan said 27 - 12 weeks scan is the best one to really date it. My scan at what I think was 6 weeks (very regular AF) showed just and empty sac so at 4 weeks I doubt abything would have been there. They go on averages, some people are above these and some below. Good luck. x

Dirge Do you think I could/should? I don't want to be depressing everyone. I think I'll wait until the blood test results on Friday, am starting to think I've invented a big bogus pregnancy in my head. I'll be wheeling a pramful of cats down the road next.

Princess Congratulations and thanks for that. That's incredible. Okay, so I figure that perhaps there might be a glimmer of hope after all.

Lol at prams of cats reallyuseful I think we would all like it if you came back. It's a support thread afterall, through the ups and the downs. The only reason not to go back is if it makes you uncomfortable.

FWIW I emailed a scan place last night and they told me they won't scan me until 8 weeks because it is likely they won't see anything until then and it may still be best to do a vaginal scan.

I can never resist a biscuit. I'm just behind you Dirge, nibbling.

I have a similar previous history so went for early scans too. The first time, I was 5 weeks and a couple of days (I think) and they saw nothing except a thickened endometrium (which can indicate your body is preparing for pg). This was through both internal and external scans.

So, maybe a little early to see anything yet, especially if you ovulated late?

They gave me the option of blood test or going back for a scan a week later. I chose the scan, as thought it would be better than two visits for see difference in hcg levels.

But, just want to say good luck. I know it's nerve wracking playing the waiting game when you're fearing a repeat ectopic.