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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

An ultrasound confirmed no heartbeat 7 days ago

22 replies

johannawarlow1210 · 04/03/2020 16:06

I was looking for some advice. I went for an early private scan. The sonographer said the fetus is showing 5 weeks and 5 days with no heartbeat but my uterus is showing 6 weeks and 1 day. She basically said pregnancy is non viable and I would need a d&c if I do not miscarry naturally. I went to the gp the next day and he said they can't be 100% sure and to have a re scan in 2 weeks. It has now been 7 days and the wait is agonising. I was thinking of going to a&e for them to do a re scan today or tomorrow. Will it be too early? Surely a heartbeat would show by now if it was viable. As a side note my pregnancy hormones are kicking in even more in the last few days and already have a pregnancy bump. Any advice appreciated

OP posts:

inthemoment1990 · 04/03/2020 16:08

mine didn't show @ 5 weeks . but was very strong at 6 weeks what would A&E do ? Would they be able to do an emergency scan? x

CandleFlames · 04/03/2020 16:09

I don't have much advice for you, as I'm not sure they'll do it at A&E especially if there's no urgent reason to. You could get an early private scan, like with Window to the Womb as they are a diagnostic company with NHS trained sonographers. I just wanted to give you some hope and say that I didn't see a heartbeat until I was around 7 weeks. So I'm hoping it's good news for you. xx

KatnissMellark · 04/03/2020 16:10

That sounds quite off from a sonographer. It can be normal not to see a heartbeat at 5ish weeks. You should definitely see one by seven weeks. Of course if you've conceived naturally you could have your dates slightly wrong and have ovulated slightly earlier or later than normal.

A+E isn't the right place and cant scan you, they're also unlikely to refer you for another scan if you have one booked for next week.

Can you afford a private early scan?

BabbleBee · 04/03/2020 16:12

A&E can’t and won’t scan you. Your GP can refer you to EPAU.

moobar · 04/03/2020 16:13

Handhold OP. Very difficult. This is the dangers of early scans, was there a reason you had one so early?

I wouldn't go to a and e. You could phone early pregnancy unit and see whether they would give an appointment.

It really depends on area. Around here there are no private scans so EPU will see you if concerned.

I assume it was an internal scan at 5 plus 5? If not I would be even more wary as to its accuracy.

I suffered many multiple miscarriages and I don't think I was ever given an external scan till eight or nine weeks.

Call the local epu and see what appointments are available and when.

P1nkHeartLovesCake · 04/03/2020 16:16

A&E is for accidents and emergencies, this is neither unfortunately they won’t be able to help you with this. They will not scan you if you turn up!

The GP booked you a scan which is next week, so it’s a waiting game I am afraid

London91 · 04/03/2020 16:30

Hey OP,

I'm sorry you're going through this. I have been to A&E with cramping and bleeding, I was not scanned all they did was do a pregnancy test and told me the line was faint and it was more than likely a miscarriage, no referral to EPU or anything. You'll probably be best waiting for your scan. Unfortunately you'll be sitting around to be sent home at A&E.

Letsallscreamatthesistene · 04/03/2020 16:42

Hi OP. Im an A+E nurse and theres no way we'd give you a scan just because you want one, unless your in pain or heavily bleeding.

Also, 5/6 weeks is so early! Its not uncommon for no heartbeat to be detected at this stage. I understand that wait is awful though!

frillyfarmer · 04/03/2020 16:47

A&E won't do one - you need to have your GP refer you to EPAU, which I don't think they will do before 6 weeks. Unfortunately I think waiting is the only way based on the gestation? It might just be that you're not as far along as you think and it's too early to see a heartbeat.

Nelbert19 · 04/03/2020 19:19

I had a scan at 5+5 (to rule out ectopic) and there was no heartbeat. It can be normal this early. I had a repeat scan a week later and heartbeat was there.

I’m now 19+2 and being kicked in the belly by a very wiggly foetus.

It’s so hard in the early days - all you can do is wait. Stay positive - if there’s no cramps/bleeding, this may be a normal scan at such an early stage

NomDeDieu · 04/03/2020 19:31

Totally normal not to have a heartbeat at 5 weeks.
Discrepency between the size of the foetus and the uterus can be linked to many reasons.

I have to say, the people doing the early scan sound crap. Starting with the fact a 5 week scan is unreliable.

Hold on there. You need to wait the 2 weeks your gp suggested to know. Anything else before has the risk of being inaccurate (eg no heartbeat at 6 week is quite normal)

NomDeDieu · 04/03/2020 19:33

Btw it is also possible that you don’t see a heartbeat at 7 weeks
That’s why most ivf. Clinics wait the 8 weeks mark to do a scan and confirm the pregnancy

YessicaHaircut · 04/03/2020 19:47

Wait for your scan and try not to worry (easier said than done I know). I had a number of scans done quite early during this pregnancy due to previous losses and there was no visible heartbeat at 6 weeks but it was there at 7 weeks. 24+2 now and all fine.
Hope it works out for you

Roselilly36 · 04/03/2020 19:50

Handhold OP, hoping for good news for you.

TheVanguardSix · 04/03/2020 19:54

Enormous handhold.
My early MC is in year 1 now!
It’s entirely possible and yes, plausible that it was just too early to detect heartbeat.

Kittywampus · 04/03/2020 19:55

I've been in the same situation and it was horrible. Unfortunately there isn't anything you can do except wait for the scan. Is there a reason why you were scanned so early in the first place?

Emberfoot · 04/03/2020 21:27

Like everyone else is saying, hope all sorts itself out for you, thinking of you x

BeautyAndTheBump1 · 05/03/2020 14:00

You have two options only: book a private scan or wait for your rescan (which I assume is next week as its been 7 days?)

It's a really tough waiting game, unfortunately if you desperately want to know asap you would have to go private.

Sending you a hand hold, hoping you get good news. Heart beats normally don't show until 6+ so hopefully you were just a little too early.

GiveHerHellFromUs · 05/03/2020 14:18

Go for a private early scan if you can x

alesha01 · 05/03/2020 17:16

I had a scan at 6 weeks and there wasn't a heartbeat because baby was so small, I went back at 8 weeks and he was a lot bigger and you could see a heartbeat, can't imagine what your feeling but fingers crossed for you ❤️

HarrietM87 · 05/03/2020 17:20

As pps have said, it could be good or bad news, it’s just too early to tell. If you can’t wait until next week your options are another private scan or try to get your EPAU to see you earlier (not sure why they would if your appointment is only next week).

I’ve had 2 missed miscarriages (where the baby stops growing but your body doesn’t realise) and both times I had to wait 2 weeks between scans to confirm because a week isn’t enough to definitely show the difference at such an early stage. So a scan this week might still not be conclusive.

It is really really horrible - I do feel for you. Hope it works out.

tzeazea · 06/03/2020 14:20

I went at 6 weeks and 2 days
Told there is no embryo , just an empty sac and no heart beat
I am 13 weeks and all is going well

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