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Original poster

really bloody confused - 3 days ago there was a heartbeat now they can't see a foetus???

114 replies

Tutter · 28/11/2006 12:30

ok, am 6 weeks pg

on saturday i had a private scan - all good - saw a foetus and heartbeat

had an nhs scan in the diary for today - had orig planned to cancel it as i'd had the private one

but had a small bleed on sunday so decided to keep today's scan for reassurance

well after waiting for bloody ages i was finlly scanned and the sonographer said "sorry i can't see a foetus - there's a yolk sac but nothing inside it"

wtf?? is it possible for the foetus to have disappeared???

am hoping to get back to harley street tonight to see them again

really freaked out

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Original poster
Tutter · 28/11/2006 12:32

of and btw i didn't tell them today i'd already had a scan - ime they aren't too impressed if you have private scans and expect nhs ones

had to literally run from the unit after the scan to get ds from a friend who had to leave, so i didn't see a midwife/doc

OP posts:
foundintranslationnothere · 28/11/2006 12:33

6 weeks is pretty much on the boundary between being able to see foetus/hb and not being able.

If the NH equipment was less sensitive, the sonographer less skilled, whatever the foetus might not show yet. But I think if you saw the foetus on Saturday you can assume things are OK - but in your position I would be going back for reassurance too.

Hope that helps

lupins71 · 28/11/2006 12:35

hope everythings ok, no advice sorry, just that my mwife said nothing wrong with still going for nhs ones even if you have had private especially if its for reassurance

best wishes, lisa x

CorrieDale · 28/11/2006 12:37

Sounds very odd Tutter. IIRC, from the research I did a couple of years ago when I had a missed mc, that when the foetus dies it shrinks at the same rate that it would have grown. I hope that it's good news tonight for you.

Original poster
Tutter · 28/11/2006 12:38

thanks all

i too find it hard to believe that there was a 3mm foetus there 3 days ago and now nothing

are there any midwives on mn i wonder...?

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katierocket · 28/11/2006 12:39

Presumably they were both internal scans? at 6 weeks it is borderline as to whether they can see it or not so it may well jsut be that the sonographer was not as skilled/experienced. You poor thing, how worrying.

Twiglett · 28/11/2006 12:39

I would go with the private scan personally .. and I would've told them too (that heartbeat had been picked up privately)

basically at 6 weeks it can be a matter of sonographer's skill over whether they pick something up .. and its the smallest littlest thing

have they offered you another scan in a couple of weeks on the NHS?

sorry you're going through this stress

fingers crossed

Original poster
Tutter · 28/11/2006 12:40

yes, they were both internal scans

but on saturday the sonographer was able to pick the hb up even just using the abdominal scan

OP posts:
LadyOfThePoinsettias · 28/11/2006 12:41

you deffo saw one on sat. though?

Original poster
Tutter · 28/11/2006 12:41

oh yes

even have a printout showing the hb

OP posts:
katierocket · 28/11/2006 12:43

Very odd. When I had a scan at 6 weeks (privately) sonographer did say how hard it can be to see a heartbeat at this stage and so not to be disappointed if she couldn't pick itup.

LadyOfThePoinsettias · 28/11/2006 12:46

if, god forbid, something had happened to it, it will still show 3 days later yes?
i would think the nhs equipment is pants. i had to have ds2 scanned twice as they told me he didnt have a heart but the midwife could hear it on her doppler!

Bramshott · 28/11/2006 12:49

How worrying - hope you get it sorted out. Assuming it's all okay (and fingers crossed it is), how that if you had not had the private scan, you would now be thinking you'd lost your baby. Surely they should offer more support / reassurance / possibility of re-checking than this?

Original poster
Tutter · 28/11/2006 12:53

twig, absolutely i would have told them i'd already seen a hb, if i'd had time to stay a moment longer

unfortunately my friend was waiting in the car park with ds - she was already late to pick her dd up, our parking tickets had expired and ds was getting really hungry
and at the whole experience

hate the epu/gynae wards there - wasn't treated brilliantly when i had my ep

OP posts:
incy · 28/11/2006 13:05

Have you tried calling the private clinic and explaining what has happened - they may let you come back for some reassurance and a quick (free) scan . With my first private scan at 5 weeks could see HB (through tumnmy) but was too small for accurate dating so I went back (no charge) 2 weeks later.

Private scans have much more sensitive equipment and so you are much more likely to have a clear view. I went to IFM a few weeks ago and it was very clear what my babies gender was (at 13 weeks !), saw individual toes and fingers- but with NHS scan 2 days later could see nothing at all - could barely make out the head !

I know it is easy for me to say but I do think the NHS equip is fairly rubbish compared to a private clinic so try not to worry. Give the private place a call - I bet them will understand and help.

Original poster
Tutter · 28/11/2006 13:11

thanks incy

have just spoken to the private clinic - am going back at 5pm

please please keep everything crossed for me

if you'd asked me 24 hours ago i'd have said i wsa pretty laid back about the outcome of this pregnancy - now i'm desperate for it to be ok

OP posts:
incy · 28/11/2006 13:16

Tutter I will be thinking of you and keeping everything crossed. Let us know how you get on.

Rubbish NHS equipment (sorry to any NHS workers).

katierocket · 28/11/2006 13:38

Good luck tutter

Miaou · 28/11/2006 13:43

oh Tutter what a time you are having!!

Fingers crossed for 5pm - what a good idea to go back to the private clinic. Hope everything goes well.

Mellowma · 28/11/2006 13:45

Message withdrawn

LadyTophamHatt · 28/11/2006 13:47

Oh blimey Tutter....what a roller coaster!!

Roll on 5pm.

FIMBO · 28/11/2006 13:50

Hope everything goes well tonight, Tutter.

Original poster
Tutter · 28/11/2006 14:33

thanks all

have spoken to the doc at the epu (where i had today's scan)

he says it is possible that the foetus is no longer there (still don't get this - how could it just disappear in 3 days?) and it is equally possible that the sonographer missed it

he says her report says "no heartbeat, no cells"

but when i said a 3mm fetal pol was measured on sat, he said "look at your ruler, 3mm is tiny"

so that's cleared that up then

sigh - well, i should know at 5pm anyway

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Original poster
Tutter · 28/11/2006 14:33

if the heartbeat is still there i shall never go for an early scan in an nhs hospital again

OP posts:
Bluebear · 28/11/2006 14:37

I would have thought it was due to the better quality equipment in the private sector. I've had private and NHS scans for my pregnancies and the private ones have always had much better equipment - and one of my NHS scans was at a specialist maternity hospital. 6 weeks is very early to see anything clearly, fingers crossed for you.