Scan at what I thought was 6+3, no HB

[Yikes38]

As the title says really 😕

Unplanned pregnancy. 100% sure of my period dates as I track on an app (just something I’ve always done) but didn’t track ovulation as this wasn’t planned, so I mean my dates could be out slightly due to ovulation but I had an early scan at 6+3 by LMP as I just felt something wasn’t right but also could’ve been my brain playing stupid tricks on me.

Anyways, transvaginal scan. The sonographer said “I can see a gestational sac and a yolk sac but unfortunately no heartbeat. It could be what we call a missed miscarriage or it could just be too early”. She didn’t really say anything reassuring that’s pretty much all she said, I don’t know if it was her tone or just the words she used but it just felt like she was swaying more towards mmc.

I now have the long ass 2 week wait whilst my mind swirls with different scenarios and thoughts. I’m fairly calm though. Looking at the notes she gave me, the measurement was 7.5mm.

Just wondering if anyone knows if this is a typical size where you wouldn’t see a heartbeat? Is this the size of a 5 weeker or should you definitely see something by 7.5mm? This woman has worried me and I’m not sure where my head is at

I'm not sure of sizes so cannot comment on that, but I went for a scan due to bleeding at 6+6 with my second child and they couldn't confirm a hb. I was adamant of my dates. I had to go back two weeks later and all was well. He is now 3 years old. I hope all is positive for you too!

It's just too early to call it unfortunately.

Hello , i just went through my notes to see if I can help with size , and at 5 weeks + 5 days measurement was 9mm and there was a tiny flicker of heartbeat I remember her saying .
That pregnancy unfortunately ended with miscarriage at 10 weeks , but those were the measurements at that stage and were similar size for my daughter who was a healthy pregnancy 5 years ago .

Wishing you all the best xxx

Scans so early can cause a lot of anxiety.

I wouldn't recommend a private early scan at all tbh, if you have trouble then epau is a good idea. I've had early scans in 2 pregnancies. The 1st was a failed coil pregnancy so scanned at epau, I was around 8wk but they found twins with heartbeats measuring 6 days behind lmp. They caught up on growth by their dating scan and I carried them to 38wk, 6yr now. 2nd I had a private reassurance scan at 8+3, baby measured 7+4 with hb. 4 days later I started spotting and then passed baby in it's sac at 9+3 by lmp. It can go either way when they measure behind even if you do see a hb.o
All you can do is hope that your dates are out and you ovulated/implanted a little later than expected. Good luck

Yeah, I know more than anyone what a silly idea it is to book a private scan so early and just be patient 🤦🏻‍♀️ but I still bloody did it. Nightmare. Just couldn’t work out if the sizing was something to hold onto Hope for or if I just slyly assume the worst. Sigh

I think I had a private scan at 7 weeks 4 days and they said it looked 7 weeks and had a heartbeat. My dates were changed at the NHS 12 week scan slightly.

So a scan at 8 weeks would be perfect .. is it a private scan you are going for again?

If she just saw a gestational sac with those measurements and a yolk sac then it probbaky matches your dates more or less (might be late ovulation like me).
However if she mentioned fetal pole (?) With no heartbeat that's different...

Before 6 weeks (which you might be) they cannot always see an embryo (fetal pole) yet. Let alone a HB..

It's very possible that you ovulated a few days late and it was just too early to see a heartbeat.

My local private scan place won't scan until you're at least 7 weeks to try to avoid the worry of not seeing a heartbeat because your dates are out. Try not to worry, 6 weeks is usually the earliest you'll see a heartbeat.

Does it say what the measurement is for? Sac size, CRL?

@zzzebra

It's very possible that you ovulated a few days late and it was just too early to see a heartbeat.

My local private scan place won't scan until you're at least 7 weeks to try to avoid the worry of not seeing a heartbeat because your dates are out. Try not to worry, 6 weeks is usually the earliest you'll see a heartbeat.

Does it say what the measurement is for? Sac size, CRL?

It says “yolk sac: present Embryo: absent Fetal heartbeat: absent 2d measurements GS gest sac - 7.4mm”

Meh. Absent embryo doesn’t fill me with joooyyyy

@Yikes38 actually it is quite positive IMO. The fact that there is a GS that size and a yolk sac suggests a healthy start of a pregnancy. You are probably around 5.5 weeks.
Anything could obviously happen but i think it's good so far. Just too early gestation for a conclusive scan. Don't know why the sonographer talked about MMC at this stage.

Ahhhh ok so if it's sac size then to me that sounds more hopeful.

7.5mm sac, yolk present but no embryo or fetal pole would be completely normal if you were around 5.5weeks. That isnt hugely far off your dates.

With both my pregnancies my scan/measurement due dates have been around a week off of my 'last period' due date. My scan at the EPU last week at 8+5 past LMP put me at 7+5 with a heartbeat and embryo present. I wasn't too worried as the same happened in my first pregnancy, and based on my discharge (sorry TMI) I think I ovulated late.

Hi OP I had an early scan at 5+5 after a bleed and the measurements were 9mm and 10mm (twins) but I don't know exactly what those measurements were, I can't remember. There was a suggestion that the 9mm twin might have stopped growing and I was miscarrying but had to wait 2 weeks (They saw 2 heartbeats at 7+5).

Thanks everyone. It’s helpful, I like hearing different perspectives! The good bad and the ugly, it all helps. It’ll teach me for going for an early scan and pissing £60 up the wall 🥲

I’ll sit tight and update when I know anything more, in case anyone searches for something similar (like I did) and IIt’s frustrating when there isn’t an update

Hi OP. I’m really sorry that you’re going through this...

I went for an early scan at 6+3 weeks in December. They could see a gestational sack and yolk sac but no fetal pole. Suspected a MMC. I came back a week later and the yolk sac had gone. They confirmed the missed miscarriage. It was my second following one in August. I chose medical management so that I wouldn’t be in limbo for weeks waiting for my body to start to miscarry naturally.

I really hope you aren’t having a MMC. Will be thinking of you, I know how hard this is

@WantingAnother

Hi OP. I’m really sorry that you’re going through this...

I went for an early scan at 6+3 weeks in December. They could see a gestational sack and yolk sac but no fetal pole. Suspected a MMC. I came back a week later and the yolk sac had gone. They confirmed the missed miscarriage. It was my second following one in August. I chose medical management so that I wouldn’t be in limbo for weeks waiting for my body to start to miscarry naturally.

I really hope you aren’t having a MMC. Will be thinking of you, I know how hard this is

Thank you for sharing your experience. I’m sorry you had to go through that.

Like you I’d rather just know, so I’m hoping for the best but expecting the worst.

Were you measuring 6+3?

@Yikes38 hey OP. I had a scan at the EPU (due to mc history) at exactly 6 weeks (having tracked ovulation) and like you, there was no fetal pole, just a gestational and yolk sac. I was told to assume miscarriage, because I was so certain of dates.

I went back a week later and there was a teeny embryo (2.4mm) and a hb.

My own story is unlikely to have a happy ending as my dates are certain and the baby is measuring well behind, with a slow heartbeat, but that's just my own circumstances. The point is it's very possible for there to be nothing there one day and a few days later, a baby!

My fingers are crossed for you x

[quote treesall]@Yikes38 hey OP. I had a scan at the EPU (due to mc history) at exactly 6 weeks (having tracked ovulation) and like you, there was no fetal pole, just a gestational and yolk sac. I was told to assume miscarriage, because I was so certain of dates.

I went back a week later and there was a teeny embryo (2.4mm) and a hb.

My own story is unlikely to have a happy ending as my dates are certain and the baby is measuring well behind, with a slow heartbeat, but that's just my own circumstances. The point is it's very possible for there to be nothing there one day and a few days later, a baby!

My fingers are crossed for you x[/quote]
Thank you so much for your input. I really really hope you have a positive ending. I was breastfeeding at the time so god knows if I ovulated the usual time, early or late. It’s hard not knowing whether this is viable or not. Her words of “uncertain viability” just swirl around in my head 😕

I had an early scan at what I thought was 6 weeks, exactly the same - yolk sak present but absent embryo. Sonographer told me that it was very possibly "not a happy pregnancy" and to prepare for MC as a serious possibility. I was booked back in 10 days later and there was an embryo and heartbeat present! I am 31 weeks now today and he is moving and kicking away as I type so fingers crossed for you! Definitely learned my lesson with the early scan, combined with later ovulation than I thought it was a recipie for anxiety and stress.

Thought I’d just hop back on here to give an update, just in case anyone in the future decides to look up this topic. It’s sometimes really annoying when there’s no update!

So, I had another scan the other day. By LMP dates, I should’ve been 10 weeks and... baby was seen, heartbeat and all 😊 measuring 9 weeks so I must just be a week behind the assumed dates calculated by LMP. Everything is growing accordingly and it’s all positive! So, If anyone does come across this in future, hang in there. It’s a scary time but trust your body. Best wishes x

That's amazing news. X

@Yikes38 glad to read all is well.

I'm in this situation now :( had scan last week, thought I was 7 weeks and only showing around 5. There was a sac and yolk and fetal pole but no heartbeat and measuring 5 plus weeks. Lady said it looks like she would expect for 5 plus weeks but I need to wait 10 days to go back and see if there has been any change. This is my 3rd pregnancy (I already have 2 boys) and this wait is complete torture. I had a tiny bit of brown blood/discharge when I wiped day before scan but nothing since? I would never recommend early scan now to anyone as it's a form of torture not knowing

That's great to hear. Glad it's all going well and thanks for updating! Xx

[quote Val098123]@Yikes38 glad to read all is well.

I'm in this situation now :( had scan last week, thought I was 7 weeks and only showing around 5. There was a sac and yolk and fetal pole but no heartbeat and measuring 5 plus weeks. Lady said it looks like she would expect for 5 plus weeks but I need to wait 10 days to go back and see if there has been any change. This is my 3rd pregnancy (I already have 2 boys) and this wait is complete torture. I had a tiny bit of brown blood/discharge when I wiped day before scan but nothing since? I would never recommend early scan now to anyone as it's a form of torture not knowing [/quote]
I’m so sorry you’re going through this, it is mental torture yes. I am definitely not an advocate for early scans!

Just take each day as it comes. I know 10 days sounds long but it has to pass eventually, so just keep faith and I really really hope you get the good news you hope to hear. Sending lots of love, I know how tough this is so I empathise completely. Stay strong! 9 days left! X

@Yikes38 thank you, my scan was Sat so I'm half way there, next scan on Tuesday! X