Missed miscarriage diagnosis WRONG - ladies please get a second scan

[schnus1234]

I have to share my experience for the sake of other women who may end up in my situation.

Last week I woke up with a horrible feeling that something was wrong with my pregnancy, I was around 8 weeks. I booked for a same day private scan at a clinic on Harley St and was told that with absolute certainty my baby had died (no heartbeat and measuring too small for dates). I was offered the three options - natural, medical or surgical management. The pills were offered to me then and there.

Distraught, next day I was booked in for a private d&c. Just desperately wanted it all done with, so I could grieve and move on.

Consultant said ‘let me just check’ and scanned me again. Different place to first scan. And there was a heartbeat and our baby looked spot on for dates!

It was one of the worst experiences to go through and I cannot bear thinking about if I had taken those pills or not had a second scan to confirm.

So ladies, please PLEASE always get a second opinion!!! We saw the first scan with our own eyes, baby was not moving, was convinced that I was indeed miscarrying and even felt like I had cramps, etc. But it was not the case.

Please don’t take action for a missed miscarriage until you are completely, 100% sure. Thinking and praying for all those women going through this right now.

That is insane ! Sorry op glad your baby is healthy xx

I've had 3 missed miscarriages shown up on scans at my local bus hospital and I was always told to come back the following week for a rescan if there were no other symptoms.

Nhs not bus.

I had to have a week between two scans on the NHS to confirm my MMC, I assume for this exact reason. The MMC also had to be confirmed by two separate sonographers on the second scan.

The same thing happened to me 5 years ago at a private clinic, the only difference is that I wasn't offered management. A transvaginal scan at the NHS EPU the next day showed a heartbeat. Unfortunately it was slower than it should be and measuring smaller than dates. I did go on to lose that pregnancy but I will never forgive the private clinic for their mistake and the stress it caused.

OP if they found a sac that had no heartbeat and measured too small for the dates and another technician went on to find a healthy baby, it's entirely possible that it was originally twins and one has not continued on. My sister had the same case.

I had the exact same thing 8 years ago in a private hospital. I went to the NHS EPU to double check and they found a heartbeat. I subsequently had a healthy pregnancy and baby. I kick myself for not making a formal complaint at the time but I was too shocked and stunned.

NHS have to do 2 scans and conform to NICE guidelines, to confirm a mmc.

I'm very glad you're baby is ok

Fucking hell this is terrifying, you poor thing. Thank goodness they checked and congrats

I work for the NHS and have worked occasionally in private hospitals.
I would never go to private hospital for important things even if money were no issue. Private medicine is completely different and profit orientated. I know NHS is not perfect, but at least they don't offer you unnecessary tests and procedures and in your case pills and d&c. I had a similar experience once even though I should've known better. I am so glad your baby is ok.

I had a MMC lasy year. Despite a private scan the nhs insisted on 2 further scans.

Pleased everything is ok for you and baby.

I "miscarried" at 6 weeks, called my midwife who told me to wait 24 hours and come in to have a check up to ensure it was complete but there's nothing else they can do apart from offer sympathy - which I thought was a good approach. 36 hours later there's a heartbeat! Fast forward to birth of dd2 and she had a two vessel cord typical of twin pregnancies. I think I dodged a bullet tbh dd1 is asd diagnosed when I was pregnant at 2, having 3 under 3's would have done me in!

I’m so sorry that you experienced this.

NICE guidelines are VERY clear that “If the viability of an intrauterine pregnancy cannot be established because the fetus is of insufficient size for a heartbeat to be visualized, measurements are made and the scan repeated after a minimum of 7 days”. ONLY once a second scan confirms the miscarriage should expectant management be offered.

This is a very good example of a case where private is not necessarily better than the NHS. Please consider making a formal complaint to the clinic and informing the CQC.

I’m miscarrying.
First scan at private clinic on a Friday. Said I’d have to come back the next Friday to confirm. I read a zillion stories like this on the internet so went to my nearest walk in EPU on the Monday for a second opinion. Said the same as the clinic but wouldn’t accept their scans and insisted I went back the following Monday to confirm with them.
So overall had four scans (and nhs insisted on getting a senior staff member to triple check to sign off) before management could be discussed.

I think your clinic weren’t following NICE guidelines and you should make an official complaint.

Livid21 I am so sorry to hear that. There are no words to describe that feeling and I hope you can get things sorted quickly and start to put it past you. Well done for getting it properly confirmed, at least you know that you are following the right path, although that doesn’t take away the pain and grief. Sending prayers for peace and healing to you.

It’s standard practice for two scans sorry for your experience and glad your initial pregnancy fears have been sorted

Ladies thank you all for your replies. It’s really helpful to hear others’ experiences and clearly the clinic didn’t follow guidelines. I hope that this thread helps others.

It's frightening how common this is, I was actually at an NHS recurrent miscarriage clinic and was told no heartbeat. When I went to my local hospital for management they found a heartbeat, although it was weak and I later lost the baby anyway. They suggested it was down to them using more up to date equipment. When I mentioned this months later at the clinic they pretty much refused to believe the local hospital found a heartbeat, even though I had to go back twice for subsequent scans to confirm the baby had died and they found it once again before they could finally confirm it had gone.
It really shook my faith in the clinic, even though I know mistakes can be made.
Thank goodness you checked again, and I agree with PPs, report them.
Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy!

I’m so glad to hear of your outcome! Though must echo what others said. I had the same experience as you with a private scan but the NHS one I had susequently insisted on two scans a week apart to confirm. So a good warning to those who go only the private route I guess!

@schnus1234 do you mind if I ask which company the private scan was with? Sorry you've been through this :(

It's so wrong though. The private companies claim to have better equipment than the NHS etc and yet this seems to be surprisingly common. I thought I was the only one. I did make a formal complaint and got nowhere, not even an apology.

Thank you for sharing this @schnus1234 I'm so happy to hear all is well with your baby. I'm actually in shock at everyone saying that the guidelines for the NHS are to have two scans a week apart. I didn't know this. I have had 2 missed miscarriages and both were discovered at NHS scans and neither time was I offered a second scan, nor did any other sonographers come in to check. I was taken away into another room and offered tablets or ERPC and booked in for the procedure the next morning in both cases!

Omg! I had an mmc which showed up at my 12 week scan. It was my first pregnancy and they told me baby had died at 9 weeks. I was in absolute bits and just took the medical management. Was never offered a second scan and to this day I think she was wrong. And knowing now with a clear mind what I do (and reading your post!) There is no way I would have just accepted what I was told. It's scary isn't it...

I'm so sorry you went through such a scare like like. It's fantastic news about the scan showing healthy baby.

I hope and pray the rest of your pregnancy is fine and you have no more scares.

For those panicking about mmc - if the fetus or yolk sac is big enough, but there is no heart beat then a single scan can be enough to confirm a failed pregnancy.

A second scan comes in when the products are small and so there could be doubt about dates.