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

Original poster

Empty gestational sac at 5+3

51 replies

mazarif · 09/02/2016 12:48

I haven't posted much here but wondered if anyone has some experience of this. We're TTC no2 (already have a 2 year old daughter born after 3 MCs and a very scary pregnancy/birth). I finally plucked up the courage to try again and got pregnant this January but started spotting a week later. A scan at 5wks+3 revealed just a 4mm gestational sac with no yolk. The sonographer said I should be further along and the nurse also looked through my notes and said that looked too small for how far along I was but that they would do bloods and schedule a rescan in 10 days. They didn't seem particularly positive.

Well that scan is tomorrow morning and I am absolutely terrified, I'm actually shaking thinking about it. We had come away from the hospital accepting that it was all over but since then they've told me my HCG levels are continuing to double, I'm having pronounced pregnancy symptoms and the spotting reduced and eventually stopped yesterday. According to the dates I should be 6+4 tomorrow.

Does anyone have any knowledge of anything like this? It has been very difficult to feel pregnant and know that it may all be for nothing.

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nehagarg · 09/02/2016 12:57

So sorry you are going through this worry mazarif .. Having been through a mmc and spotting around the same time as you, its a horrendous worry to have to go through.

How far along are you by your LMP? I am wondering why the sonographer and nurse think you should be further along than you are. It could just be that you ovulated late in your cycle so even if you are more than 5+3 by your LMP, the baby will still measure smaller since you ovulated late.

That said, I had the same thing as you. Couple of days of brown blood at 5 weeks pregnant. Went in for a scan at 5+4 to be told that they can only see an empty sac. No yolk, no fetal pole. But that's normal for 5-6 weeks. Went back in at 7 weeks and they saw a baby and a heartbeat. I am 24 weeks now and he is kicking my ribs to pieces at the moment.

Try not to worry (difficult I know) but empty sac at 5+3 is absolutely normal and to have a bit of spotting that early on is also very common.

Everything crossed for you for tomorrow. Flowers

Sophia1984 · 09/02/2016 13:10

5+4 is so, so early for a scan. Bloods doubling is really positive, and the fact the sac is in the womb means it isn't ectopic, so it sounds like you have reason to hope for me. When I had a miscarriage at 7 weeks, I had nothing showing on the ultrasound and my HcG was going up but not doubling. Good luck for tomorrow!

Original poster
mazarif · 09/02/2016 13:26

Oh wow, thank you both, this does give me hope although with so many failed attempts in my history and given my age (38) I am very apprehensive. I keep trying to be logical about it and not get too carried away with what I don't know/can't do anything about but it's hard. I also keep remembering that my daughter grew much faster than expected in 1st trimester which just increases the stress.

Re: dates neharag, I was having blood tests to check for ovulation so I'm pretty sure I ovulated on time. LMP was Christmas Day (yeah how annoying) so I think that makes me 6+4 tomorrow. I tend to have a 25/26 day cycle so I don't know how that affects things. By the way, huge congrats. I miss that stage when you can feel them dancing around.

Sophia I'm sorry about your loss. Even though I've been through it multiple times, I think each one equally horrible and tough to deal with.

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Original poster
mazarif · 09/02/2016 13:27

I will post what happens on here regardless of the outcome.

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Southy84 · 09/02/2016 13:44

Hi mazarif i know everyone's different but wanted to offer reassurance too, I had stomach pains (suspected ectopic) had bloods done which looked promising and repeat bloods 2 days after, as my hcg levels were high I got offered a scan for the following day I'm sure I was about 4/5 weeks but the hospital were convinced I was further along due to my blood results. They saw the fetal sac and nothing in it, they said they were a little concerned as they thought that I was further along. Fast forward ten days and there was a heartbeat and a tiny tiny baby approx 6 weeks old. So I was more correct with my dates. I'm now 26 weeks pregnant. i really hope everything goes well tomorrow, sending you Flowers it's good news your hcg is still doubling and I spotted up until 10 weeks (also bled at 24 weeks). It's such an emotional rollercoaster isn't it, I have everything crossed for you x

Original poster
mazarif · 09/02/2016 14:48

Thanks southy84 & congratulations on such a lovely outcome.

I will keep my fingers crossed and try to get through the next 18 hours without going bonkers.

x

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Sophia1984 · 09/02/2016 15:39

Thank you mazarif Happy news is I am now almost 15 weeks pregnant :)

Original poster
mazarif · 09/02/2016 15:44

Oh fantastic Sophia, congratulations - what lovely news xx

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Southy84 · 10/02/2016 08:46

Hope everything goes well this morning mazarif x

Original poster
mazarif · 10/02/2016 11:15

Hi southy84 and thank you for thinking of me. Incredibly this morning we saw a live foetus with a heartbeat, something that came as a bit of a shock since the staff didn't seem too positive last time. It had caught up loads, sonographer said it looked about right and was unconcerned by my dates. I am feeling weirdly numb about the whole thing as I have spent the last 10 days assuming I would mc any day. Obviously not out of the woods yet as it is still early days but for today, at least, things are ok...

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nehagarg · 10/02/2016 11:22

Thats brilliant news mazarif .. So happy for you. Smile

Southy84 · 10/02/2016 11:25

I have been checking in and so so happy to hear your news! thats incredible, I know what you mean about expecting the worst, I got through it by booking a private scan at 10 weeks to break up the time a bit, then I just had to wait until the 12 week one. Take it easy and congratulations Smile x

TheGreaterGood · 10/02/2016 11:26

Yay! So happy for you. Been following this thread although didn't want to add to your worries with my own not so positive MMC stories. Sooo chuffed for you - chances of MC drop massively once you'v got a heartbeat so do try to relax (says she who's still anxious at 18 weeks!)
Flowers

Original poster
mazarif · 10/02/2016 11:59

Thanks all, your well wishes mean a lot and I did feel much better after posting on here yesterday.

TheGreaterGood congratulations and of course I don't think it's possible to stop worrying until you've got them out and in your arms!

I doubt I will be able to wait another 6 weeks for the scan so will probably get a private one & harmony test earlier. Keeping fingers firmly crossed xx

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Mummy523 · 12/02/2016 14:24

I am going through the exact same thing & im completely petrified. I went for a scan yesterday due to pay believing to be 6+3 but all the saw was an empty sac. They took my bloods & my bloods were 3300+ the doctor said they would usual atleast see a yolk sack with those hgc results. And i am having bloods done on saturday to check if they are doubling. Im so scared. I dont know what to do with myself. Im a complete mess 😭😭

MsFiremanSam · 12/02/2016 19:50

Mazarif that is great news. Wishing you a happy and healthy pregnancy x

Original poster
mazarif · 16/02/2016 11:57

mummy523 I hope you're OK. I have been through this before and it resulted in a MC, this time it didn't. It's just so hard to know anything for certain.

Do you know the size of the sac? How many mm? That can shed some proper light on your chances? The last time I MC'd in similar circumstances, I had a 10mm empty sac around 6 wks and 3 days later it was all over. At the time the sonographer told me I would have to come back and they would check my bloods in the mean time. It was only after 3 MCs when a consultant went through my history that I discovered a 10mm sac should not be empty; he told me that by the time it gets to that size it really ought to have a yolk sac at the very least. It annoyed me that I was given false hope that day. It just had me hanging on for days until the MC started naturally.

Please keep me posted xx

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m33r · 16/02/2016 12:24

I just found this thread. So glad you had a good outcome Mazarif.

I went for a scan on Sunday at what I thought was 7+5 and there was only a sac. The sonographer gave me no hope really and since then I've bled a lot more and had some bad, though manageable pain. Is there any hope at all for me? They didn't do bloods but I've to go back on Monday to be rescanned. x

Original poster
mazarif · 16/02/2016 12:47

Oh m33r I'm so sorry to hear you're going through this and I know how long the wait to Monday will be. Did the sonographer say anything about the size of the sac or how far along it looked compared to how far along you actually are?

Waiting to find out what's happening is the hardest part. I passed the 10 days between scans by keeping a detailed online journal and making different random lists every day. I know it sounds a bit bonkers (I'm normally extremely level headed and practical) but it did help.

Best wishes and fingers crossed. Please update when you can.

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m33r · 16/02/2016 13:10

Thanks mazarif. She didn't give me a measurement but said I was measuring 4weeks. I thought I was about 8 but could be a week or so out. Saying that though, I had lots of bright red blood last night and cramps. I'm not hopeful but equally can't let go...

The red blood isn't a good sign is it? X

Mummy523 · 16/02/2016 13:51

Ive had no bleeding or pain. I had bloods done 48 hours later and they were 5367 they had double but gone up by 60% i have a scan on friday but i am worried as this will only be 8 days from my last scan and ive read online people not seeing anything until 2 weeks later. I still have pregnancy symptoms. Sore boobs increased hunger & increased discharge. Just so scared! :-(

Original poster
mazarif · 16/02/2016 14:42

m33r and Mummy523 I so feel your anxiety. I'm so worried that things might still go horribly wrong I've booked a private scan and harmony test for 10 weeks just so I have a halfway point in between now and the NHS 12 wk scan.

m33r Red blood is not a positive sign of course but you can't assume anything yet and I have read some stuff on women having heavy bleeds and going on OK. How are you today? Did the bleeding abate? Did the sonographer see any blood on your scan? They saw a small patch on mine which worked its way out over a few days then cleared up but was very light. Incidentally my first scan also indicated a 4 wk pregnancy when I should have been at nearly 6.

Mummy523 these are all really good signs and best of luck to you. 60% is 48 hours is excellent because as long as the rate shows potential to double in 72 hours, that's all that matters. I went up by 60% too and saw a world of difference in scans within 10 days. I think you will definitely see enough to confirm development.

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Mummy523 · 16/02/2016 14:52

Thank you i hope so! Fingers crossed for friday! I will keep you updated! So scared! The wait it horrible but at the same time im to scared to go!!! Xxx

mummy2Lills · 16/02/2016 18:56

Sorry to but in but can't find a suitable thread. Hope you do not mind.

mummy2Lills

Hi, I'm am roughly 6+2 and suffered mmc in July. I have been booked in for a reassurance scan on 26/2. I'll be 7+2. Any idea what I will see or what to expect. I am crapping myself. Blush

m33r · 16/02/2016 19:39

maz I've passed really painful large clots this afternoon so all hope has slipped away. I will update on Monday though.

Good luck mummy and mummy X

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