Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Pregnancy

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

Transvaginal scan - could full bladder have adversely affected findings?

16 replies

PretendNothing · 06/11/2018 15:15

Hi all,

Wondering if anyone could shed any light on my situation.

Last period was 25/9/2018 so by my calculations, I should be 6 weeks exactly today.

I had a transabdominal scan on Saturday 03/11 at 5w4d following some light bleeding, where the ultrasound technician found a gestational sac containing a yolk sac and I have a report saying all was normal. Doctors also took blood and hormones were as expected for 5-6 weeks gestation.

Today I had a follow-up with a new gynaecologist who found the gestational sac but could not see any evidence of anything inside. It was a transvaginal ultrasound this time, which I understand to be more accurate, so I'm a little confused. I did have a full bladder at the time as I thought I was going for an abdominal scan - could this have affected visibility?

The result is that I've been told the pregnancy is of uncertain viability and I have to return in two weeks for another scan. I know there's nothing I can do until then but if anyone has any information which might be relevant, I'd love to hear it. Thanks a million.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Lymphy · 06/11/2018 15:33

What's your normal cycle length x

Jsh125 · 06/11/2018 15:37

Sorry to hear you're going through all this uncertainty.

I was always under the impression that a transabdominal scan really couldn't show anything until at least 8 or more weeks and that's why they do a transvaginal.

I had a similar experience, I had some bleeding (which I assumed was a period but it never really increased as you'd normally expect which is why I tested). I had another bleed at 5 1/2 weeks so went to the doctor. This is my second pregnancy and I knew EPAC wouldn't see you until 6 weeks so just wanted to get the ball rolling really.

Anyway, they gave me an appointment to check it was in the right place due to the bleeding. I had the scan at 5+5 according to my dates and they could see a 9mm gestational sack but nothing else, right at the very end she said she could maybe see a possible very feint yolk sac but couldn't be sure and diagnosed a pregnancy of unknown viability and booked me to come back in a week, no sooner as they needed time to see what happened.

I spent that week googling to see what the usual outcome was with a sac of that size despite knowing it wouldn't affect my outcome! (I did discover the sac would have to be significantly bigger with nothing inside to diagnose it as non viable)

A week later I returned expecting them to say there had been no change and to my surprise I now had a yolk sac, fetal pole and heartbeat, baby was measuring at exactly 6 weeks size even though according to LMP I was 6+5 by that point.

My point being a HUGE amount changes in a week, especially around the 5-6 week mark. The EPAC at my hospital wouldn't even contemplate a transabdominal scan so early in pregnancy due to how little you can see.

It sounds as though things definitely could still be progressing normally, especially as all your bloodwork was as expected. Have you had any more bleeding? If not I'd take it as a good sign and hopefully in a couple of weeks things will look completely different. Using LMP is not completely accurate and a couple of days makes a huge difference so early on. Is there no way they'd see you after a week rather than two?

In terms of a full bladder I would have thought that if it was causing any issue they'd have asked you to empty it and then they'd try again.

Fingers crossed for a positive outcome, I know the waiting is horrendous, you just want to know one way or another but don't give up hope!!

PretendNothing · 06/11/2018 15:39

Thanks for replying, @Lymphy. Between 28 and 31 days, usually. The gynae did say the dates might just be a bit off.

OP posts:
PretendNothing · 06/11/2018 15:43

@Jsh125 I'm sorry you went through that too. Thank you for the reassurance - I might contact them and see if I can go back sooner.

OP posts:
mummyhaschangedhername · 06/11/2018 15:46

What was their conclusion from the scan today?

I've had several early trans abdominal scans, only one trans vaginal. Heart beat is usually about 6/7 weeks... so I'm guessing they may rescan you then and see.

Sorry you are going through this, wishing you all the best.

Lymphy · 06/11/2018 15:49

OK, so let's say you ovulated on or between the 9th-11th Oct based on a 28-30 day cycle, that would put you earlier than you think (about four weeks) , they work out from lmp because lots of ladies have no idea when they ovulateed (fair enough) so there are always a couple of weeks wiggle room, trans vaginal scans this early are not great at dating at all because it's just a sac and difficult to measure, the truth is no one knows when that heart starts beating, so as long as you have no bright red bleeding bleeding then things may still be OK, it'll be a horrid wait (I've been in your shoes) but hopefully all will be well, xx

Lymphy · 06/11/2018 15:54

@Jsh125 has explained much better than I, also like I said I was in the same boat, my pregnancy progressed as normal

Daisy2990 · 06/11/2018 17:11

Not sure if this helps, but I have always been asked to empty my bladder for a transvaginal scan.

PretendNothing · 06/11/2018 17:20

Thank you all again for the support.

I think what confused me most is that the report from Saturday's transabdominal scan very clearly states there was a yolk sac, and I thought I saw it myself, but today the gynaecologist didn't mention that at all. Very strange.

I was actually really surprised when the clinic booked my gynae appointment so early and thought about cancelling and rescheduling - wish I had now!

@mummyhaschangedhername the conclusion is that it's a pregnancy of uncertain viability and I have to go back in a fortnight for another scan. Hoping for the best but preparing for the worst...

OP posts:
PretendNothing · 20/11/2018 11:02

Hello all, I just wanted to leave an update in case anyone looks back at this in the future. I've just been back for a follow-up scan and all is well! Baby was visible, has a strong heartbeat and measuring almost spot on at 8w1d. It must just have been too early before. Thanks to all who commented for your support.

OP posts:
SlightDark · 20/11/2018 12:48

Excellent ! Congratulations!!

DannyWallace · 20/11/2018 16:34

@PretendNothing ah that's fantastic.
I've just read your thread-that must have been awful for you having to wait and being unsure. I'm so so happy for you

TokenGinger · 20/11/2018 17:46

@PretendNothing Fantastic news. I'm so pleased for you x

PaperHalo · 20/11/2018 20:23

Great news at the end of what must have felt like the longest wait!!

PretendNothing · 20/11/2018 21:23

Thank you all! It has been a long two weeks - so happy it turned out well.

OP posts:
mummyhaschangedhername · 25/11/2018 12:49

Glad all is well op.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page