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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

A blighted ovum or is there a chance?

18 replies

skets · 27/01/2007 20:46

hello I'm new to mumsnet! I've been reading through all the threads on early pregnancy issues and wanted to share my story in the hope that others might have similar experiences or some positive stories to inspire me. I'm 12 wks pG and had my scan on fri to find that I had an empty sack with no fetus or heartbeat. Still in shock as have had no pain/bleeding. Sonographer said that it was unusual as the sack is a perfect round shape but there was deffinately nothing in it. Size of sack is 2.5cm so they give me the benefit of doubt and have to go back next week to Early Pregnancy clinic to have another scan (v.slim possibility my dates might be wrong and pregnancy is only 7-8 wks advanced but am not sure how this could happen?)Assume I will have to have D&C or tablet to induce miscarriage. Feeling shocked and now scared that will pass the sack at any time this week. Sonographer didn't tell me what the empty sack could be but have looked on the interet and found blighted ovum so have self-diagnosed this. Am I right or is there a chance?

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stretchmarks · 28/01/2007 09:19

HI Skets,

Sorry to hear your news, I too had a missed MC in August, found at the scan with just an empty sack. I know it is a very difficult time. If you have not miscarried by the next scan the hospital will discuss with you your options, D&C, tablets or just continuing to wait. You just have to do what you feel is best.

The empty sack is what remains of this pregnancy after the baby has stopped developing and this usually happens very early and is sometimes referred to as a blighted ovum in some cases. Unfortunatey even a 7-8 week pregnancy would have seen a foetus on the scan and quite likely a heartbeat.

Look after yourself and take care during this difficult time.

Original poster

skets · 28/01/2007 09:56

thanks for your message stretchmarks. I was clinging on to the fact that something might be there, but today am feeling much more realistic about it and accept that its all over. Have realised I don't feel pregnant anymore and probably haven't done for the past few weeks. Still a bit scared of how the m/c will happen- the pain and circumstances...

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sfxmum · 28/01/2007 10:30

i am sorry skets that you are going through this.
i don't have a good news story but i did have a blighted ovum at 12 weeks a few years back before dd. it was very hard because i had only very light spotting, no pain, but the scan was conclusive and i had a D&C 2 days later.
i am very sorry it is very hard particularly this late in a pregnancy

PurpleLostPrincess · 28/01/2007 11:29

Sorry that you are going through this. I started spotting at 10 wks back in October and went for internal scan which showed empty sac and no yolk or heartbeat, such a horrible experience for you. I can't believe they haven't talked with you and explained!

The worst thing is feeling that your body has lied to you. I specifically remember saying to the sonographer that I had been getting all the symptoms and felt very pregnant and she said that as far as my body was concerned, it was pg. I'm so sorry I'm not able to offer any good news on this one but it sounds like you're coming to terms with it in your own way.

You take care and rest up xxxx

sazzybee · 28/01/2007 12:41

That's what happened to me I'm afraid. Well - I had an embryo but when I went for my 12 week scan it seemed to have died - they reckoned at about 8 weeks. They made me go back a week later to have another scan to make doubly sure before I had my D&C. In the end I didn't have a D&C but miscarried naturally while I was waiting for it.

So it was 5 weeks between when they thought it had died and when I actually miscarried. Like PurpleLostPrincess, I felt pregnant and the sonographer told me that if I'd done a test, it would still have shown a BFP as my body thought it was pregnant

Your body is a very cruel thing sometimes. I think preparing yourself for the worst is probably the best course of action.

I'm so sorry - I know how very hard it is to go for that first scan. Take care and be kind to yourself xx

Tiggerish · 28/01/2007 12:52

Hi Skets - welcome to Mumsnet It's a shame though that it is in such sad circumstances.

I also had a blighted ovum which didn't miscarry naturally. I opted for a D&C cos I wanted it all to be over as soon as poss and didn't want to wait for it to miscarry naturally.

I felt really angry for ages - I felt I had wasted so much time (12 weeks). Also sad of course, but it was a bit weird because in my case there wasn't any foetus at all, just a sac and yolk. In a way I grieved for the lost opportunity rather than the lost baby iykwim.

happy ending though - almost exactly a year later I had a beautiful dd

Be kind to yourself and take care.

Tigs.

Anglaise1 · 28/01/2007 14:33

Hi Skets,
I'm so sorry for what has happened. In my first preganacy I had exactly the same thing, it wasn't until the 12 wk scan they found an empty sac and a second scan a week later confirmed it. I had a D & C and 6 weeks later found myself pregnant again (having had no period in between even). There was no physical pain at all in the miscarriage and with the second preganacy I ended up with a lovely DD.
Take care of yourself.

Original poster

skets · 28/01/2007 14:49

thanks for all the messages of support it is good to know that there are others out there who understand what you are going through. It was great to hear about the positive outcomes for Anglaise and Tiggerish. I'm focusing on the next scan on Friday and hope that I can move on from this now. I will keep you all posted, thanks once again for your kindness in responding.

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sazzybee · 28/01/2007 14:51

I should add then that I'm 34 weeks pg with my LO now - had no trouble conceiving after so just tell myself that last one wasn't meant to be.

(didn't want to seem smug in my earlier post )

stretchmarks · 28/01/2007 21:30

HI Skets,

Like Sazzybee I didn't mention earlier but I am curently 13 weeks pregnant again, have had one good scan so far and back again for another in a weeks time. So even though your loss is a horrid thing to go through there is hope for a healthy pregnancy after.

Original poster

skets · 29/01/2007 10:43

thanks sazzybee and stretchmarks. Felt much better yesterday but a bit tearful again today, very up and down. Suppose its the grief...

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Anglaise1 · 29/01/2007 13:33

Hi Skets,
It is normal to feel like that and it will take time to get over it, so give yourself time. One of the worst things is that you discover it so late, there is no bleeding as with many miscarriages do you don't even think there may be a problem. The thing to concentrate on is that having a blighted ovum is just one of those things not meant to be and doesn't mean that you will problems conceiving in the future. I'm sure I conceived so quickly after because I'd had 3 months of healthy living (stopped smoking, no alcohol etc.) so I was in pretty good shape to get pregnant again!

Original poster

skets · 31/01/2007 19:41

have been bleeding a bit these past two days. feeling as this really must be the end but it seems very slow and is going to take forever at this rate... perhaps it will suddenly get more. am nervous about going out and about incase I get a sudden rush. have been busy with work which helps me not to think about it but if anyone asks me i get very emotional. hope it will be all over by the time i have the scan on friday.

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sfxmum · 31/01/2007 19:51

i am so sorry
some of the feelings you describe are very familiar in part that is why i opted for a D&C just could not handle the slow process

Original poster

skets · 10/02/2007 10:30

sorry for disappearing for such a long time. I'm not sure if anyone is watching this thread still but thought I would give an update if you are. I went back to the clinic after a week and the sack was still there, I decided to wait another week to see if it would miscarry naturally. Started bleeding during that week, but when I went back it was still there! Must have been hanging in tight. Anyway decided I couldn't handle the not knowing and opted for a ERPC. Had the op yesterday and am feeling much better already today. Still slight bleeding but no major pain, am told it will stop in the next ten days. Am hoping to conceive again fairly quickly- should I wait for a natural cycle or just get on with it?

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Erybobber · 10/02/2007 10:49

Hi i am so sorry about your mc. I had two- one before each of my dds. After 1st one it took 6 months to get pregnant with dd1. Mainly cos i got my ovulation dates way out. With dd2 i got pregnant very quickly after about 5 weeks with no period in between. For me personally i needed to be pregnant when the due dates would have been so that i wouldn't have to grief for lost children but just be sad about the experience. Sounds kind of weird written down but if i hadn't had those mcs i wouldn't have my wonderful dds so can't wish that the mcs hadn't happened. The only thing i would say about getting pregnant so quickly is that it meant i was pretty much pregnant for 51 weeks out of 52 (with a 5 week break) which was trying to say the least! Especially as dd1 was a week late. Good luck with everything.

stretchmarks · 10/02/2007 13:17

HI Skets,

So sorry about the mc. I too had the ERPC and my body returned to normal quickly. As long as everything is ok after the ERPC i.e no infection there is no reason why you cannot start trying again straight away. Take care and look after yourself, the emotional rollercoaster of a mc takes time to work through. Good luck.

Original poster

skets · 16/02/2007 09:06

thanks stretchmarks and erybobber , bleeding has stopped and I feel fairly normal now. I really appreciate all the comments as they have helped me get through a difficult time. I've only told a few friends and family so it has been a bit lonely sometimes. Anyway we're off on holiday next week so hopefully that will mark the start of a new era!

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