Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

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

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Does this scan look normal? Low resolution image

34 replies

Panoramarama · 01/01/2018 16:12

Long story short, I was abroad visiting family at Christmas and had a scan done by my sister in law after some brown spotting. I'm around 7 weeks. The ultrasound machine was seriously old (healthcare isn't same standard as NHS there.)

SIL says all looks well, but she couldn't see a heartbeat, which she wasn't worried about and said it's likely because the machine is old. Spotting has now stopped and boobs still sore, still exhausted, no pain. Still am terrified of MMC. Got a scan at my usual UK hospital booked for next week but looking for some reassurance meanwhile.

Can anyone interpret the image? Any experience with low resolution machines or not seeing hb at 7 weeks?

Thanks :)

Does this scan look normal? Low resolution image

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

AmyJessicax26 · 01/01/2018 16:17

I wouldn’t worry too much if I was you ! Scans are funny things and can sometimes not be the same however if you are panicked call your early pregnancy clinic and explain to them they may do a scan early x

AmyJessicax26 · 01/01/2018 16:18

The baby also just looks like a baby without being zoomed any further x

Original poster

Panoramarama · 01/01/2018 16:20

Thank you. So it does look like a baby? Sorry if that sounds silly. First pregnancy and no idea what I'm looking at.

OP posts:

dinosaurkisses · 01/01/2018 16:22

I had the same thing at seven weeks in Ireland after some spotting- the doctor couldn’t find the heartbeat using the old machine. They weren’t worried (although I was barely keeping a lid on my panic) and luckily they were able to do an internal scan straight away where they found a little heartbeat flickering away.

Original poster

Panoramarama · 01/01/2018 16:24

Totally understand how you felt, also barely keeping a lid on it! Thanks for sharing your experience. I'm worried as this was an internal scan :(

OP posts:

AmyJessicax26 · 01/01/2018 16:25

Yes it looks like a baby ! Don’t worry everything panicked me first time round ! Roughly 6weeks pregnant now and have my emergency appt tomorrow. ! Xx

Original poster

Panoramarama · 01/01/2018 16:26

Thanks :) I hope your appointment goes well and everything is ok xx

OP posts:

fannythrobbing · 01/01/2018 16:51

Here's my latest pregnancy at 7 weeks and 1 day (NHS early scan as I had no idea how far along I was due to breastfeeding and not having a period since before my first was born). We didn't see a heartbeat at the first scan but I'm now almost 30 weeks pregnant with a very wriggly baby so try to not fret about it. The first trimester is just one long worry though. Try to relax and enjoy.

Original poster

Panoramarama · 02/01/2018 12:24

Thank you fanny - looks much clearer than mine. What did they tell you about not seeing the heartbeat at first? Were you 7 weeks then?

I caved and booked a private scan for tonight. Can't focus at work or anything and was anxious about taking time off on Thursday to go. Fingers crossed.

OP posts:

glitterbomb13 · 02/01/2018 14:38

Good luck op

SantaBaby1 · 02/01/2018 14:39

Good luck OP, let us know how you get on!

MagicFajita · 02/01/2018 14:44

I had a scan at 8 weeks op. Myself and dp laugh at that treasured picture of our tiny smudge now that he's here!

I'm not a sonographer so don't take my word as gospel, but your pic looks like a typical early scan to me.

MagicFajita · 02/01/2018 14:45

Also op , there was a hb at 8 weeks and a day on a modern machine and I had brown spotting on and off until about week 14 of pregnancy.

TheVanguardSix · 02/01/2018 14:48

Internal scans are normal in early pregnancy, OP. It's likely your scan next week will be internal as well.

It's very common to have a bit of a bleed after an internal US because the cervix is very soft and sensitive in pregnancy. So don't let that worry you too much. Also brown spotting between 6-8 weeks is very normal.

Scan looks good to me!

Congratulations!

TheVanguardSix · 02/01/2018 14:49

Ah good on you! Good luck tonight! I'm sure your happy news will be reconfirmed.

Original poster

Panoramarama · 02/01/2018 14:54

Thank you all. It's such a boost to be able to share on here and hear your stories. Will keep you posted and hopefully I'll be a reassuring voice for someone some day too!

OP posts:

fannythrobbing · 02/01/2018 15:21

By my dates (unreliable as I had nothing to mark from but the dates we'd DTD) I was 7 weeks but the first scan measured me at 5 weeks and 4 days which just couldn't have been possible as we had sex so infrequently (baby 1 was only a few months old) so I worried and they offered the second scan. The second scan was the one I posted the pic of, there was a heartbeat present but I wouldn't have been able to tell as it was the faintest flicker so I can imagine it'd be really difficult to spot on an older machine.
I had some light brown spotting too and as I say all is well (and at my 12 week scan baby had caught up to my dates so all that worry for nothing!)
Good luck for tonight, I hope it reassures you and you get to relax a little into your pregnancy

Original poster

Panoramarama · 02/01/2018 18:51

Back from the scan. Unfortunately it looks like it is game over. No heartbeat and by their calculation, development stopped at 6 weeks. Am in pieces. Need to decide whether to let things run their course (tiny bit of hope that they might be wrong?) Or bite the bullet and go for the D&C or pill. No idea what to do now or what to do about work this week.

Thanks for your replies all and please excuse me if I'm away for a while xx

OP posts:

babyitscoldoutsideX · 02/01/2018 19:09

Ohhh I'm so sorry OP!
I've had two miscarriages, both at 12 weeks and it is utterly heartbreaking. I would chose to let nature take its course. I'm so sorry

fannythrobbing · 02/01/2018 19:47

Oh OP I'm so sorry, I've had miscarriages at a similar stage and it is heartbreaking. I hope you can take the time you need to recover

Original poster

Panoramarama · 02/01/2018 20:23

Thank you for the kind words.

Just wondering what you did about work? I work for a v large company and am planning to contact HR tomorrow, which I believe will be in confidence. I just don't have the strength to go in for the next couple of days or so. Then of course there's what happens when I miscarry, naturally or otherwise. So more time off work. What did you do?

Have been advised to keep my NHS appointment on Thursday and take things from there. I guess I'll decide whether to let nature take it course or not after that. Have been told there are no signs of it happening soon.

OP posts:

fannythrobbing · 02/01/2018 20:48

I worked through two of mine but the third was a missed miscarriage and I had the d&c option - I took annual leave for that. I never told work. In terms of practicality, physically the losses I experienced at 6 weeks were just like my normal periods so the biggest issue I had was my emotional response. I buried my reaction and found months later that it all came bubbling to the surface without warning and I was a bit of a mess. Try take the time you need to grieve and deal with this the way you need to. You can self certify as sick for the first week of an absence, would that be worth considering?

BrutusMcDogface · 03/01/2018 07:50

Oh panorama, I'm so sorry to hear this. I was signed off for two weeks after my miscarriage at about the same gestation. I went to pieces. I think it's important to allow yourself the time to grieve. Thinking of you

Brownday · 03/01/2018 07:56

I am so sorry love. My doctor signed me off for two weeks after mine. I had the surgery at 12 weeks, sac was growing but baby didn’t grow beyond 6 weeks. I was devastated. I work for a very small company and my two bosses treated me with a lot of dignity and kept my confidence. They were very sympathetic and even paid me in full for the two weeks. I hope your work is understanding. If you need more than two weeks, your doctor will sign you off. Please take care. I am so sorry.

Rikalaily · 03/01/2018 09:44

I'm so sorry Panoramarama I had the same thing happen last June, I was supposed to be nearly 9w and growth had stopped at around 7w.

The usual procedure if you have bad news at a private scan is for the NHS to scan you 7-10 days later to confirm before they offer either medical or surgical. I opted for surgical (ERPC) as is was approaching half term and I'd had no bleeding etc so didn't want to be miscarrying at home with all of the kids here. It was ok, bleeding very lightly (spotting) for around a week afterwards. Definately take some time off, even if you don't find it physically too bad, emotionally it is shattering. Be gentle with yourself.

Flip

1 2