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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

6 week scan. No heartbeat

21 replies

bubbles8987 · 16/03/2011 13:00

So my LMP was 1st Feb. We dtd once all month, 14th Feb so thats the only possible date of conception.
Therefore I think i am 6 weeks pregnant. Went for scan yesterday and we were able to see pregnancy sac, yolk and beginning of fetal pole. But no heartbeat.
Doctor said I may not be as far on as 6 wks but surely I must be if I could only have conceived on 14th Feb?
I have to go back in 2 weeks for another scan. Is there any chance of seeing a heartbeat?

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FlingonTheValiant · 16/03/2011 13:03

Just because you had sex on the 14th doesn't mean you conceived then. Sperm can linger for a little while before the fertilise the egg.

Aside from that, I think it's not uncommon to not see a heartbeat at 6 weeks. When I had an early scan due to bleeding I was warned in advance that that might happen and it didn't mean I was miscarrying. Happily we saw the heartbeat.

WinterLover · 16/03/2011 14:23

I had a scan at what I thought I was 6w but could only see same as you. I had a scan at 7w4 and was told I was 6w2... Fast forward to my '12w' scan and I was 13w which was spot on with my dates and when I know we conceived.

Try not to worry too much until after your next scan. Scans up to about 10w are not reliable for dating

OrangeGloss · 16/03/2011 14:50

I agree with the others, I've read it will take sperm at least 24 hours to prepare itself when it's in your body, and can hang around for a few days after that, so your dates could well be out.

Also, it is very early to see a heartbeat, some private clinics will not scan before 7 weeks as it's so difficult to see. If you add that to the potential delay in conception it seems entirely plausible not to see a heartbeat

I had an early scan due to bleeding when I should have been 7+2 and didn't see one, 2 weeks later I saw a heartbeat and measured 7+5

I hope you can keep yourself as busy as possible, I know it'll be tough, I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you. Oh, and try not to google too much!

spilttheteaagain · 16/03/2011 18:19

It is possible for sperm to survive in you for up to about 6 days before fertilising an egg so you could be hardly anymore than 5 weeks in which case not seeing the HB is nothing to worry about. There's every chance of a good outcome, but the wait will be horrible. Good luck!

no1childminder · 16/03/2011 19:26

hi, i had a bleed at 6wks and at the scan they could only see a yolk sac. 2 weeks later the heartbeat was there :) but i measured 7wks at the scan not the 8 i thought i was. but they did say sometimes u cant see the heartbeat as early as 6wks, and sometimes you can. good luck!

Coppernoddle · 16/03/2011 19:36

I had a scan at 6 weeks due to bleeding and the sonographer said to me, "well, there are signs of a pregnancy!" thanks! Could of told you that to how sick I was feeling!! Then she said she could only see a yolk sack and a possible fetus. Scanned me a week later and there was a heartbeat.
Not only do we all conceive differently, every males sperm is different and lasts different lengths of time, our fetus's develop at different rates too! Same in life really, we all develop at our own rate! Dating scans at that early stage are useless when it comes to pinpointing a day!
Relax, you'll be fine x x x

MummyAbroad · 16/03/2011 23:37

Hi there,

Just wanted to add that as well as sperm lingering about before fertilising the egg, it does take some time days for the egg to travel down the fallopian tubes and get implanted in the uterus. Some are quicker than others which is why some people see a heartbeat at 6 weeks and some dont.

Hope you get some reassurance at your next scan.

crystalglasses · 16/03/2011 23:53

These posts are well meaning and I really hope the outcome for the op is good. I had several 'missed abortions' where there was a sac but no heartbeat. It really is dreadfully traumatic.

Original poster

bubbles8987 · 17/03/2011 09:46

Crystalglasses-did the scan show a yolk and fetal pole which then didnt develop or was it an empty sac?only asking as the only bit of hope i have is that we saw fetal pole and yolk.

OP posts:

midori1999 · 17/03/2011 10:30

Your dates can be out on early scans.

I had a scan at what should have been 5+4 in this pregnancy, to be told I was 4+3. I was worried as I had had a miscarriage previously and had concieved again immediately after my first period following the miscarriage. (I had an early scan when I had the miscarriage too and the gestational sac was mis-shapen and there was a yolk sac and gest. sac but no foetal pole) I had got my BFP on day 21 of my cycle, so really doubted I could be a week behind what I thought I was, if anything, I'd expected to be ahead.

Anyway, the next scan showed I was a little ahead of dates and a heartbeat and I am now at 24 weeks and have been put a week ahead of my original dates by LMP.

Good luck, I hope it works out for you.

crystalglasses · 17/03/2011 11:37

Bubbles - no it was always an empty sac.

Saffra · 17/03/2011 12:05

I think I only saw an empty sac at that scan, so had to go back just over a week later when I saw the heartbeat.

Good luck - pls don't worry too much in the meantime. It is very normal, I think.

Muser · 17/03/2011 14:02

I had an early scan at 6 weeks due to previous ectopic. They saw yolk sac and pregnancy sac, but no heartbeat or fetal pole. Sonographer told me not to be concerned as at 6 weeks it's really luck of the draw as to whether you see anything or not. I went back 2 weeks later and there was a baby with a heartbeat.

That baby is now 4 weeks old and happily asleep in her Moses basket. Don't worry too much and good luck for the next scan.

iWILLdothis · 17/03/2011 17:43

Bubbles....I was in your shoes two weeks ago. I was 6 wks, went for scan and was gutted not to have seen a heartbeat. All they saw for me was sac, not even a fetal pole. Had an agonising 2 week wait, went back at 8 weeks and there was the heart beating away . So I feel your pain. I just had to try and keep myself busy to stop myself fretting too much about it. Hope my story brings you hope and reassurance.... x

Original poster

bubbles8987 · 18/03/2011 10:01

crystalglasses - thanks for your reply. Im so sorry for your loss.

iWILLdothis - did you have strong symptoms at the time of your 6 wk scan? My boobs arent hurting at all and I think im only just starting to get morning sickness, def dont have strong symptoms which I dont think is a good omen? :(

OP posts:

OrangeGloss · 18/03/2011 10:25

I didn't have any symptoms apart from a bit of wind and slightly bigger boobs, my morning sickness didn't start until 8 weeks (by amended dates). I'm so sorry it is so uncertain, I really feel for you it's an awful waiting time

Muser · 18/03/2011 11:05

I didn't have symptoms until 8 weeks either. It's really not uncommon to not have symptoms right at first. It is very worrying I know.

Original poster

bubbles8987 · 18/03/2011 20:15

Thank you ladies for all your reassurance. I guess it really is just a waiting game at the minute, with lots of praying!x

OP posts:

Deadchocolate · 19/03/2011 09:55

I asked my midwife about listening to the heart beat at the 15wk meeting - she said we can try, but sometimes it's not heard yet (little baby inside a big tummy).
So being 6 wks and not hearing it should be totally fine from everything I hear.

chipmonkey · 19/03/2011 12:32

bubbles, I had a scan at 5+5 and saw no heartbeat and am like you, waiting to go back and see next week. It's hard, isn't it? Hope we both get a good outcome!

chipmonkey · 20/03/2011 21:10

bubbles, just to update, I had a big bleed last night, went to hospital today expecting to see nothing but there was my little bean and this time the heart was flickering away! Should add, that my cycles are short so my 5+5 is more like someone elses 6.

So please don't give up hope!

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