It worth getting a scan now?

[Hedgehead]

Sorry if this is incredibly boring, but I had a MMC in December and got preg again and am now:

7 weeks since LMP
4 weeks since conception

I am not feeling many symptoms. A bit of breast tenderness, tiredness, I had nausea for one day a week ago. I am taking a high dose of progesterone suppositories, so even if I had MC-d I would not have bled yet.

I am just feeling fed up and like I cannot deal with this suspense any longer. The gynaecologist I saw told me that I should have a scan tomorrow and if there is no heartbeat, we conclude that it is a miscarriage and I should have a D&C and try again.

Am I going to see a heartrate at 4 weeks post conception?

That seems a little premature? Have you had lots of miscarriages or just the one? At 6 weeks pregnant, and that's assuming you really can pinpoint ovulation, you may or may not see a hb. I didn't, and he's asleep upstairs now so all was fine.

I think because it was so long and drawn out last time (embryo died at 7/8 weeks but didn't find out til 14 weeks) the gynae wants it to be a swift process this time. I think he is thinking of my mental state. But I don't want to go tomorrow and them not to be able to find a heartbeat, then not know for sure and feel like I am in the twilight zone again...

Sorry to hear about your mmc Hedgehead. I had a scan at 8 weeks and found it very reassuring. The clinic I went to won't do them before 7 weeks as you can't always see a heartbeat that early. As we were 8 weeks we saw a clear heartbeat and it even, looked vaguely like a baby! I found the first few weeks really hard too (long term ttc). Be warned though, that it doesn't completely reassure you for long! It did break up the long wait for the 12 week scan though and I'm glad we did it. If it's only 4 weeks since conception, I'd probably try to hold out for another week at least though.

Hx

Are you in the UK?

This sounds incredibly interventive to me. Without in any way dismissing what you went through with your miscarriage, it is incredibly common to have an early miscarriage and after one, the expectation very much is that you will conceive and go on to have live births. Early scans and immediate ERPCs just aren't on the radar. Of course you will be frightened this time but I have no idea why this gynae is setting you up to expect a mc, or giving you progesterone for that matter, unless there is another reason for that. I would be really worried that this doctor is scooping healthy pregnancies out of women if their criteria for ERPC is not seeing a hb at 6 weeks.

In your shoes, I wouldn't attend the scan. I had loads of early scans with my last pregnancy, didn't see a hb until 7 weeks though. I would hate to be fending off someone who wants to do an ERPC at 6 weeks. I would feel very vulnerable about that. Incidentally, I would find a new gynae too who understand pregnancy as a natural process and isn't trying to pathologise everything.

Good luck. Xx

Harder, so you saw a heartbeat at 7 weeks LMP? I will not go tomorrow. What has been tempting me is the idea of some conclusion rather than continue waiting.

I agree that instead of dispelling my anxiety, the gynae has joined me in it

He literally took the calculator thing on his desk and said "I want to see you in ten days for a scan and if there isn't a heartbeat then, we'll know what we have to do."

Seriously give it another week. When I had spotting my epu made we wait a week from 5 + 5 to 6+ 5 as they wouldn't do them before that as it's likely a heart beat could be missed. Ask to have a scan in a week or two when your more likely to be certain that no heart beat is conclusive. It may be he is looking at your lmp putting you at 7 weeks.

Go. I was a nervous wreck at 7 weeks for the same reasons as you (previous mmc and no symptoms/loss of symptoms). Everything was fine, I saw a heartbeat straight away. It really relaxed me which I think helps ALOT which is why your dr has recommended it. I went back a week later because I felt "fine" and there was still a hb I started feeling rubbish after that so then waited until 12 week scan. I'm currently 19 weeks.

I had a scan at 7 weeks (because I was bleeding) and the hb was spotted easily using standard ultrasound. If it hadn't they would have used internal scanning which is more sensitive. I am feeding her now :-)

Fwiw I had no symptoms of sickness, fatigue etc in any of my pregnancies and had no bump for many weeks. I have also had a mc but none of the interventions/consultant care etc. Good luck!

I had an internal scan at 7+3 and saw a heart beat after having spotting, but I think anything before 7 weeks is hit and miss as to whether you'll see anything.

Also - before 7 weeks I had very few symptoms. At 7 weeks I started to feel pregnant (tiredness, nausea, aching boobs) then at 8 weeks I felt so so so rough and that continued till about week 15. So please don't think no symptoms means no pregnancy, there's still time yet.

I hope this ends well for you and good luck if you decide to go ahead with the scan.

I agree that it's better to wait till you're 7 weeks, or 5 after conception. I had a scan at 6+3 and did see a heartbeat, but sometimes it's too early to tell.

I had a scan at 7+4 dc 2, saw a heartbeat and felt much much better. I would have a another scan in a week to make sure before going through a procedure if there isn't a hb. Also not having many symptoms at this point is normal!

I had a scan at 6+1 (4+1 past conception) - this was standard at my IVF clinic - and saw a heartbeat, but it is right on the borderline for it. I'd wait a little longer if you can. I also think your gynae is being unusually interventionist. Most women who have an mc go on to have normal pregnancies afterwards.

I had some early bleeding and so had a scan at 6 weeks and saw a heartbeat. I was lucky though as sonographer said a lot of people don't see a heartbeat until about 7 weeks. I'd give it another week or so if you can as there is a high risk you won't get any conclusive answers this early on. I know it's frustrating and difficult. xxx

Sorry to hear about your mc hegdehead.

I had a private scan at 6+1 (4+1 past conception) because I feared I'd suffered an MMC. This is an IVF pregnancy so I'm also on progesterone support, and at 5 weeks by symptoms just disappeared.

I was convinced I'd had an MMC but my FC refused to scan until 7 weeks as heartbeat isn't always seen before then. We were lucky and we did see the heartbeat at 6+1 but if you do have an early scan and done see one, it doesn't definitely mean a failed pregnancy.

Can have the scan and if there is no Hb refuse any intervention and get them to scan again at 7 weeks? I guess you need to decide how you will feel if there is no HB at 6 weeks and you're left waiting/ worrying for another week.

For me i was going totally insane with worry and figured the sonographer could at least measure and date, even without a HB, to give me some idea if things were okay.

I really hope you get good news.

I'm 8 weeks today but was booked on a early scan due to blood loss, normal scan showed the heartbeat so put my mind at rest. I'm in the uk but it might be worth asking your midwife to out your mind at ease x