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

Original poster

No yolk sac in early scan...any help?

26 replies

LunaDreams · 05/02/2021 13:30

Hi all,

I'm 6 weeks pregnant today (or so I think) with 1st child. I had some pain last night and this morning so went to my EPU where they did a scan.

They found a gestational sac to confirm it isn't ectopic but no sign of a yolk sac or fetus in there.

They said it might be that I'm just earlier on in my pregnancy than I thought so too early to see, or it is a miscarriage where the egg has gone but left the sac (can't remember the name).

I have to go back for another scan in 2 weeks which will confirm either way. I'm so scared and upset. I dont know how I will get through these next few weeks.

Has anyone else had experience of this? Any success stories?

OP posts:
Moominmiss · 05/02/2021 13:40

Hiya, I didn’t want to read and run. It’s really really common to not see much at early scans. They can be both really reassuring or add more worry.

I think unless you know (by temping) exactly when you ovulated then I wouldn’t be too worried yet. If your dates could be out by even just a few days, that really could be the difference in seeing nothing but a sac, or seeing a baby.

Even if you think you know when you ovulated, there’s no knowing exactly when you implanted some that again can add a couple of days on.

Try not to panic. I know that’s easier said than done, and I have been in that limbo that you’re currently in, and it’s torture.

How long ago was your lmp and how long ago did you get your first positive test?

Moominmiss · 05/02/2021 13:41

Also a sac where no baby grows, is called a blighted ovum.

Original poster
LunaDreams · 05/02/2021 14:16

@Moominmiss thank you for taking time to respond.

My LMP was 6 weeks to the day. I had my first positive test on 23rd Jan.

I'm really hoping it is just too early to see. I just dont have any pregnancy symptoms yet (other than cramping) which isn't helping my worry.

Keep everything crossed for me!

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Crazycatlady83 · 05/02/2021 16:02

Hi @LunaDreams I had the same thing when I went for an early scan at the EPU due to bleeding (although a little bit earlier when they scanned me 5+5) They didn’t see anything but had me back 10 days later and we saw a little heartbeat.

Try not to worry (hard I know) I’m now 19 weeks and everything has been “straightforward” despite the early bleeding.

Cramping is quite normal (your body moving about and accommodating / developing etc) so this on its own hopefully will not be a sign of anything wrong. Also In my first pregnancy with my DS I had no symptoms (apart from tiredness later on in the first trimester).

Good luck xx

nicciw87 · 05/02/2021 16:13

If first positive was 23rd January and u tested negative before then going by that u might only bt 5 weeks plus a couple days so just too early to see hope it works out for u

gypsywater · 05/02/2021 16:19

Blighted ovum is an old term, preferred medical term now is called anembryonic pregnancy and HCPs should all be using this. OP hopefully you are just too early to see the yolk sac / embryo but two more weeks is a tortuous wait so if I was in your shoes then personally I would want to know sooner so would book a private scan for a week's time.

Jangirl03 · 05/02/2021 16:20

I had this with my first pregnancy. Started bleeding at 11 weeks and had a blighted ovum when I was scanned. It’s possible it’s this but it might be that your dates are just a little bit out. Keeping everything crossed for you x

Moominmiss · 05/02/2021 16:21

I saw a heartbeat at 5+4 this time but the sonographer at the EPU said it was very early and I was lucky to see it then.

I was told it was much more normal to see a heartbeat at 6 weeks plus, sometimes not even until 7 weeks.

MimiArm · 05/02/2021 16:47

This was me a month ago. Thought I was 6+4, expected to see yolk, fetal pole and heartbeat and all they saw was sac measuring 5 week.

Went back two weeks later (horrible wait) and the sac had grown to 7 weeks (well 6+6). Yoke and fetal pole both seen but couldn't detect heartbeat yet. Apparently I have a very tilted womb which makes the scans hard. The belly scan picked up better than the internal scan (which the consultant said shouldn't really happen). He thought he could detect the start of a heartbeat.

Another 2 weeks for next scan to check for heartbeat. That scan will be this Sunday.

Overall, consultant was really happy with progress.

Try not to worry (easier said than done). There's every chance things will be ok ☺️

Original poster
LunaDreams · 05/02/2021 17:03

Thank you all for your replies, it has really helped me feel calmer ❤

@MimiArm I'm glad things are progressing as they should be. You must be so relieved. Please let us know how Sunday's scan goes

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Original poster
LunaDreams · 05/02/2021 17:05

@gypsywater I had booked a private scan for next week to see if it was twins as they run in my family. I cancelled it after today though as the EPU felt it would be pointless and unlikely to show anything which would cause more distress

It's very hard to know what to do for he best. This limbo is torture

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Original poster
LunaDreams · 05/02/2021 17:08

@Crazycatlady83 I'm glad your pregnancy was healthy Smile

I am confused about my dates now as I put my dates into Ovia app which said 6 weeks so just took that at face value but nhs website today says 5 weeks 4 days. I checked a few other sites and had a mixture of these 2 timescales. Any idea why they are different?

OP posts:
gypsywater · 05/02/2021 17:31

I have everything crossed OP that your dates are a little out and it was just too early to see much at your scan. Whatever happens, you will cope Flowers Wishing you lots of luck.

Crazylemon86 · 05/02/2021 17:34

@LunaDreams hi, I had a similar thing with dates. I had a MMC at 16 weeks in July since then my cycle shortened to 25 days, I based my dates on that but the nhs and private scan place dated it based on a 28 day cycle so that changed it slightly. Could it be that?

Crazycatlady83 · 05/02/2021 17:49

@Crazylemon86 I would agree with this. Some websites just give you the date using the “standard” 28 day cycle but your due date will be different if you have a shorter or longer cycle (because you would have ovulated earlier or later than the “normal” 14 days)

If you are actually only 5+4 this is too early to see anything (and at a private scan if you wanted to go next week)

I found it helped to think that “no news is good news” when I had my first scan. They couldn’t rule pregnancy “in” but couldn’t rule it “out” either so I was still “pregnancy until proved otherwise”!

SirVixofVixHall · 05/02/2021 17:52

Yes, I had this. I’d had some spotting so had an early scan . Too early to tell viability, but around a week/ten days later there was the tiny flicker of a heartbeat.

BadgerFace · 05/02/2021 17:53

This was me with my youngest. A horrible wait but we were just a week too early to see the fetal pole and heartbeat. They were there a week later (and are now a cheeky 5 year old). Wishing you a quick wait and good luck. In our case it was a surprise natural pregnancy between IVF cycles so you never know!!

Original poster
LunaDreams · 05/02/2021 19:08

Thanks all. I'm only guessing when I ovulated so nothing is certain and they said even 2 or 3 days out can make a huge difference.

I think I will just have to try and adopt your "no news is good news" approach @Crazycatlady83

I will update once I've had my next scan in 2 weeks

OP posts:
Colacrisp · 05/02/2021 19:27

Did they do blood tests at all to get your HCG level? They have done this every time I went into EPU which gives a better quicker understanding as to how your pregnancy is developing. If they haven't maybe request if you could have bloods done first?

Original poster
LunaDreams · 05/02/2021 20:25

@Colacrisp no they didnt do bloods which I was surprised with. I did ask but the nurse said there would be no point as hcg would still show up even if it is a miscarriage.

I was too upset to ask if they could do it to see if levels were still rising- I will ring my GP on Monday and ask.

The staff said there was 'no way of telling which way it would go' atm yet said that to me and said i could look on miscarriage association website if I needed more information which felt very definitive and unfair

OP posts:
Colacrisp · 05/02/2021 20:30

@LunaDreams
Yeah that's what they did with my MC, blood tests 48 hours apart, my first one was 470 at 6 weeks so I knew at that point I was more than likely miscarrying but I still came back the 48 hours after they had fallen to 105. Although it was upsetting it gave me closure knowing it was definitely a miscarriage

I hope you get answers soon 🖤

Original poster
LunaDreams · 18/02/2021 08:10

So I just wanted to give an update..

Had some brown spotting and cramping yesterday so went for an early scan.
Saw my little bean with a nice strong heartbeat ❤.

They dated me as 7+5 so I must have been around 5+5 at time of the last scan, and it simply must have been too early to see anything. Dangers of the early scan!!!

That was some of the most difficult weeks of my life and I'm fortunate it all turned out well ❤

OP posts:
Crazylemon86 · 18/02/2021 08:34

@LunaDreams congratulations that's great news!! Xx

BadgerFace · 18/02/2021 17:26

So lovely to hear! Congrats @LunaDreams Smile

Original poster
LunaDreams · 18/02/2021 19:36

@Crazylemon86 @BadgerFace thank you xx

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