Went for an early scan - showed no pregnancy - but I've had 8 positive tests?!?

[mrsf1204]

Hi all. I'm desperate for some advice and have been searching through every forum ever today in the hope of getting answers...

I found out last week (11/09) that I was pregnant. I took 5 tests over 3 days all of them were positive. However this last weekend I started to get some dull cramps in my pelvis, almost like stitch. I phoned my midwife and she advised I go to EPAU (early pregnancy assessment) just to rule out anything scary. I went this morning, doctors took two more tests - again positive, then referred me for an internal scan.

The scan showed nothing. And I mean nothing. My womb is empty. The lining is not as they would expect for a pregnancy. They told me two things - one could be that I'm too early to see anything, or, the pregnancy isn't viable, meaning it hasn't taken to my womb (a type of miscarriage). They have ruled out that a miscarriage has already happened or an eptopic so that's good.

Going by my last period (which have been irregular since coming off the pill) I'm 6 weeks. However I believe I'm anywhere between 2.5 - 5 weeks. (Clear blue digital says 1-2) I took a test 5 days prior to that first collection of positives (first day of my missed period - although unreliable) and it was negative, so this to means says its more likely to be earlier in the pregnancy.

The doctor told me take another one in a week and 'go from there' - so unhelpful. And I've been pulling my hair out and falling apart all afternoon. I managed to get my bloods taken this afternoon to have something else to measure this all by so will find out the results of that soon... but in the meantime I wanted to ask any mums / mums to be if they have experienced this and if so what your thoughts are? I took another test this evening and the line is so clear!!!! So strong compared to last week. Attached photos with dates for ref.

Also my boobs hurt and I have no appetite....

I don't know what to think or feel. I can't grieve but I can't be excited??? Any advice appreciated!

@PrimroseH the LMP thing is SO ridiculous to go by when you have cycle problems! I had mine at the end of July early Aug too and I know I ovulated late and think conception was either the 20th or 28th which makes me a lot less weeks than my LMP like you! My scan they didn't even see a sac - but I could have been less than 3 weeks at that point!!! They called me back today and want me to go for bloods and another scan tomorrow - I don't want another scan yet! I'm so scared it will be Monday all over again more than happy to watch my bloods. I want the blood test first to be honest as if the levels have dropped I know I'm on to something sad, but if they've gone up as much as they should and the levels are scan worthy then fine, then if nothing shows still we all know other investigations need to happen. I'm surprised they are calling me back already but from what the nurse said earlier they want to make up for the treatment I received Monday...

Fingers crossed for you. But just to be aware that the Dr can't do anything except wait. They can't either stop a misscarriage. During my first mc I held out false hope that they could do miracles.

@mrsf1204
Good luck for tomorrow. Really hope it's reassuring. I know what you mean and it's tough because the dates and the scan don't match to what I was expecting to see. But i think it does need time to confirm these things and although I know 2 weeks will be agonising I need to give it time to develop.
I found this article helpful:

utswmed.org/medblog/patience-key-understanding-timing-early-ultrasounds/

But also we have to remember that stress has a big impact and the more we stay calm the better. Fingers crossed for some good news!

@mrsf1204 all the best for tomorrow x

THEY FOUND A SACK!!!!! God I'm so relieved. A sign of the pregnancy! Dr was so so lovely, so much better than the one from Monday. Was so apologetic about what happened and said all my pains are normal, ovaries are clear, there's a nice little sack there measuring perfectly for 3 weeks post conception so 5+5 in total.

Obviously there is still risk as there always is but I feel so much better just knowing I'm not going insane and that there is definitely a pregnancy!

@mrsf1204
I'm so happy for you!!! That's wonderful news and so reassuring. Will you just have regular follow up then? Have they adjusted your dates?

I still have to wait another 2 weeks I'm hoping I get reassuring results too and baby has grown!

Great news op x

I have a other scan next week which she said wasnt compulsory at all as everything is on track so there is no need to come back unless I get strong pain / bleeding obviously, however she wanted to offer me another one just for my own mental health and to reassure me that they were taking my journey seriously and want to look after me following on my Mondays drama. She was very lovely.

After that (providing everything's is ok) normal routine booking in appointment and scans. Fingers crossed.

Google symptoms of early pregnancy as with i was first pregnant with DD (about 4-5 weeks) I had period like pains but also weird pains nothing like a period. I described them as a pulling or stitch in my pelvis which apparently is the uterus starting to increase?

What a great outcome, you must be so relieved.

So pleased for you op👍🏻

Another update for those still following this thread...

I had another scan this morning. The good news is my empty sack is now filled with a yolk and fetal pole measuring 4mm. Bad news is no heartbeat could be found. They are dating me at 6+1, 4 weeks from conception. So it could be that's it's too early, or it could be that it won't develop, 50/50 chance at the moment and I won't know until we have another scan in a week.

I feel absolutely drained. I thought it would all be ok this morning but I've fallen apart. I feel like something is just going so wrong. My husband is still positive though and saying it's still just too early.

The saddest part of all this is I had to tell my mum today as she had to come get me from the hospital, this was the first she had heard our news. I was so hoping to announce it to her and my dad on holiday next week providing everything looked well today. So I had to tell her through tears which was horrendous. She's been amazing though and keeps staying positive. Anyone else had this and have any positive stories? I'm only looking for positive stories at the moment just to get me through the next week on our holiday, then if the worst happens I will deal with it on the day.

Grateful to anyone who can shed some hope. Xx

I had no heartbeat, pole measuring 3.7mm, then they found one a week later and I'm currently 12 weeks. I did loads of research in medical journals, and concluded there was around a 1% chance of everything being ok. I was in the 1%. They've never found a heartbeat once they reach 5.3mm, so you're not at that size yet. There is still hope x

I had no evidence of fetal pole or yolk at 6 weeks and a day (IVF so knew dates) and had to wait and see which was awful especially as not seeing at heartbeat at 6 weeks is pretty common but to not even see a yolk sac was not. A week later all was well and the little heart was beating away but I know it could have gone either way. As hard as it is, try to stay positive. There's no reason why it shouldn't all progress as expected and the odds are in your favour even at this early stage. Dr said its perfectly normal not to see a heartbeat at your stage. for you. I know it's a tough wait.

@Sorbfsiabs @Thecaravan thank you ladies, that's the kind of positive response I need. My nerves are shot to bits. I've been lead in bed all day just sobbing.

I went for an early scan when I thought I was 8 weeks they found a sac and a yolk but nothing else and I was heartbroken and imagining the worst. They told me to come back and be rescanned because they weren't sure if dates were out or as they nicely put it "the pregnancy was non viable" I am now nearly 32 weeks pregnant and at my dating scan my due date was put back by two weeks to what I had estimated it to be based on my LMP. I had just had a really long ovulation cycle. I know how hard it is I was a wreck and read all the stories online and convinced myself it had all gone wrong. I know exactly how you feel to you and I hope you get positive news at your next scan XXX

I found a lot of misinformation on the internet and forums, your better reading the actual research in the medial journals, which you can access for free. Google something like "under 5mm fetal pole no cardiac activity."

People often confuse no fetal pole/egg sac/yolk (which has a much higher success rate), with fetal pole with no cardiac activity, which I concluded for my self based on about 7 really good studies of approx 8000 women, that the chance was about 1% of a good outcome. Some studies had no positive outcomes, others had about 5%, but those women had no bleeding, which I did. Bleeding seems to impact the chance quite a bit.

But there is still a chance - I have everything crossed for you

I've had no bleeding at all and no pain for weeks, and my boobs are killing and I've started to get really nauseous in the last few days

That sounds really positive!

My best friend had this! Went back two weeks later strong heartbeat measuring 8 weeks. Sometimes it can just show up a little later.

Try not to lose hope

6 weeks is way too early to see a heartbeat. So that’s basically normal :)
I’d say wait at least 1.5 weeks before another scan and hope to see a heartbeat
In the mean time, you have nausea, no period, being tired. I’d say you are pg!

6 weeks is very much on the borderline for seeing a heartbeat. It does sound as if growth may have slowed since the last scan, but dating is not a very exact science, particularly when cycles have been irregular.

Saying it as gently as I can, I don't think you're helping yourself by having frequent scans at this stage in the proceedings. I've been at both ends of this (have had 6 miscarriages and also have three children) and it's hell, I know that, but there's a stage at the beginning of things where they really will be what they will be and driving yourself mad trying to second-guess the outcome only adds to the misery of it. Very much easier said than done, but it would be better for your MH now to try and let things take their course, whichever way this ends up. And if you do have a mc, which I very much hope you don't, rest assured (from my story perhaps) that they are very frequent occurrences and happy outcomes are very much possible in the future. Take care of yourself.

Hey OP just wanted to say with DD1 I had an early scan at 6 weeks due to a small amount of bleeding (doctor sent me, so no 'wasting NHS time' ) and they couldn't detect a heartbeat. Apparently 6 weeks is v early to find a heartbeat and when I was rescanned 2 weeks later, the heartbeat was there. Shes 4 now and I'm 7 weeks with DC2. I think all sounds positive for you and I will keep my fingers crossed for you!

With my ds, due to OHSS (IVF pregnancy) I had an NHS scan at 7+1 and they really struggled to see the heartbeat. They were scanning me for ages and taking measurements of the sac and fetal pole. After about 5 minutes she said "yep found a heartbeat" and told me that she'd really struggled to see one. She also measured the pregnancy at 6+4 which concerned me as I knew exact dates because it was an IVF pregnancy. I went for my routine IVF clinic scan the following day at 7+2 and I measured exactly 7+2 and the heartbeat was obvious straight away. So what I'm saying is that I don't think the NHS equipment is perhaps as sensitive or accurate as is needed in very early pregnancy. There may be a heartbeat but it's just too soon to see. Hang tight.

Thank you everyone, you're giving me some hope this evening.

Just for clarity I haven't requested these scans, if you read back earlier in my thread you will see I've been told to go to them. I've not wanted to go to any and refused today's time and time again but they kept saying it would help my mental health - yeah right...