Empty sac and confused as hell

[Pickle0901]

Hi,
I've decided to set up a new thread because I am in a world of despair and don't want to bring the positive tone down on my due date group (even though they are lovely and supportive).

I was 10wks yesterday. I had my midwife appointment on monday & all urine/bloods have come back normal and satisfactory. My scan will be in January some time.

As we get to 12wks a few days after Christmas we thought it would be nice news to share with family & close friends. Although nervous about telling people before a scan etc. so we booked a private one last night.

We got to the place which felt like a retail unit on an industrial estate. A couple before us came our beaming with a long sequence of scan pictures and a digital version to view and take away.

We went in & he said "have you been bleeding", I said no. He said something isn't right. He said there is a sac but no baby.... I immediately teared up and he just said "there's no need to cry". I was completed gobsmacked and devastated. I went to the toilet to compose myself as I felt like we were annoying him. He left the room and came back with a letter stating what he'd seen and a little print out of the scan. He said take it to a hospital. I left in tears not understanding. When we asked questions he didn't seem to care or know the answers. He also said the sac measured 6+2. There appeared to be a small particle, which he said himself but he dismissed it when we said is that the baby.

My OH is being really positive and suggesting that it's too early and a cowboy set up. Whereas I am feeling devastated. I sobbed myself to sleep & woke up at 3 & cried some more.

I want to be positive as I believe in a healthy mindset and I don't want to discourage the baby from growing it he/she is in there... but I also want to be realistic and I don't want to go through the shock again last night if I kid myself.

I don't know if the 4wks gap (10wks but measuring 6wks) is good because it means it's just earlier than I thought. Or if that in fact shows a stop in growth weeks ago.

I don't know what to do with the information or how to feel. I feel like I'm in a bad dream and am worried about what this means for the future.

I spoke to EPU last night and they have booked me in for Monday. But that feels like an awful long wait. I can't get through to a midwife.

Any advice or similar stories out there?

Hi OP. I'm so sorry you are going through this. The sonographer sounds very unhelpful and if you have the strength you could complain, they shouldn't get away with that sort of treatment.

On to the more pressing matter of your pregnancy. Unfortunately it doesn't sound positive, unless your dates are very wrong - is it possible you are 4 weeks less pregnant than you thought? By 8 weeks you would expect to see a fully formed baby. There is a chance of course that the scan place was a cowboy set up with very bad equipment. I hope you get some answers on Monday x

I’m really sorry, I don’t have a similar experience but didn’t want to read and run.

I hope I’m wrong but unfortunately I think you should prepare for yourself for bad news.

You mentioned the blood tests etc at your booking appointment being normal, but as far as I know these are screening for specific diseases (HIV etc) rather than confirming a pregnancy.

I’m sure it’s all you can think about but try to keep busy and distract yourself as much as possible until Monday and then you’ll know for sure. Wishing you the best of luck x

Oh you poor thing. Are you sure your dates are right?? X

If you're very certain of your dates then I'm so sorry but this is highly unlikely to have a good outcome. I had an empty sac pregnancy at start of the year- it is devastating (like any pregnancy loss). Your EPU will offer you another scan to confirm the private scan finding and then will usually want a second NHS scan done 7-10 days apart to ensure no growth is happening and then will discuss next steps.

@Thethingswedidanddidntdo

Hi OP. I'm so sorry you are going through this. The sonographer sounds very unhelpful and if you have the strength you could complain, they shouldn't get away with that sort of treatment.

On to the more pressing matter of your pregnancy. Unfortunately it doesn't sound positive, unless your dates are very wrong - is it possible you are 4 weeks less pregnant than you thought? By 8 weeks you would expect to see a fully formed baby. There is a chance of course that the scan place was a cowboy set up with very bad equipment. I hope you get some answers on Monday x

Thanks @Thethingswedidanddidntdo I phoned this morning, not really to complain but to get clarity about their medical status. I was informed that they are qualified but also got an apology for the way I was treated. They said the guy is relatively new, is over qualified but comes from another culture (he is African decent) and they have told him he needs to have more empathy.... they said they would refund and credit the account so I can go again in the future. To be honest I care little for the refund and feel more upset but who knows. I've taken a pic of the scan and zoomed in. There is a little speckle in one so I'm clinging to that for now. Although I've spoken to my mum and parter and I want to go to hospital tonight as I can't sit on this until monday or I'll go mad.

@GemmaRuby

I’m really sorry, I don’t have a similar experience but didn’t want to read and run.

I hope I’m wrong but unfortunately I think you should prepare for yourself for bad news.

You mentioned the blood tests etc at your booking appointment being normal, but as far as I know these are screening for specific diseases (HIV etc) rather than confirming a pregnancy.

I’m sure it’s all you can think about but try to keep busy and distract yourself as much as possible until Monday and then you’ll know for sure. Wishing you the best of luck x

You're very kind. Thank you for responding...

@grace1991

Oh you poor thing. Are you sure your dates are right?? X

I know the date of the start of my LMP is correct. But I also know that I can be late month on month, so whether I have ovulated later than would be classed as normal I don't know.... I don't think it would be 4 weeks out but I guess who knows. I'm going to go to the hospital later as i need answers as it's torturous being in limbo. I feel that no cramps is maybe a positive and maybe it's fighting in there to keep growing but I have no experience of this, it's my first time pregnant...

Waiting is the worst bit - could you go back there and see someone else to see what is happening.
I’ve read mistakes are made.
How sure are you of your dates?
Big hugs

It's unlikely unfortunately that going to hospital tonight will help, they probably won't be able to scan you. You may get lucky but I just wanted to manage your expectations x

Didn't want to read and run, hope you don't have wait too long for any news OP

I had this OP, went for a scan they could see the sac but nothing inside. Then they did an internal ultrasound which confirmed the same.It was awful. It turned out I'd had a missed miscarriage but had thought it had been a period. I was scanned a few weeks later and was told the sac continues to grow for a few weeks until the body realises the truth. It then shrinks and is absorbed in the body. I tested positive for pregnancy hormones many weeks after.

I know how torturous it is. I remember breaking down in a shopping centre before the next scan and my OH phoned the hospital who agreed I could go in the next day for another scan which confirmed it was an empty sac.

I would say expect the worst but I'm hoping you have positive news.

It very much sounds like you had a miscarriage , I would prepare yourself for the worst . Can you go to a EPu?

OP, I'm so desperately sorry you are going through this. You really need to contact your midwife, tell them you had an early scan, tell them what happened and see what they can do. Or maybe arrange to go back to this place and see someone else who can explain things in more detail? The waiting is the absolute worst and if you are anything like me, I appreciate it will drive you absolutely mad.
I previously had a 10 week scan due to light bleeding and there was a fully formed foetus (albeit a bit disproportionate), there really was no mistaking it. Through my IVF journey, I also had early scans, earliest being at 6w+5d and that is when I saw a tiny little speckle so it was much much earlier than the 10 weeks.

Sending you so much virtual hug & love

Oh OP I just wanted to express my sympathies for both the situation and for how you were treated at the scan, which was awful.

Could you be 4 weeks out with your dates? It's possible not to see much at 6 weeks, but at 10 weeks the foetus and heartbeat would be very readily visible - there's a really big difference.

I'm glad you complained and I hope that ultrasonographer is seriously held to account for his attitude. It's really not OK.

Really sorry, OP. It's such a horrible position to be in and a lot of private scan places can be hit and miss.

Sadly it doesn't sound good. One thing to check is when you first got a positive pregnancy test - if your dates are completely out then I'd imagine you wouldn't have got a positive until much later on. If, though, you got a positive fairly early on, then it looks like a missed miscarriage.

Can you get to your EPU? Sometimes you can just call them and get an appointment.

So sorry you're going through this ☹️

@Makingnumber2

If you're very certain of your dates then I'm so sorry but this is highly unlikely to have a good outcome. I had an empty sac pregnancy at start of the year- it is devastating (like any pregnancy loss). Your EPU will offer you another scan to confirm the private scan finding and then will usually want a second NHS scan done 7-10 days apart to ensure no growth is happening and then will discuss next steps.

@Makingnumber2 thank you for sharing... I am going to find our more later in hospital. I phoned and they said they would see me, I just might have a bit of a wait on my hands and then I'll have to take it from there...

Sorry, not positive but the same happened to be earlier in the year. It was a missed misscariage unfortunately but bloods etc were all fine . I did hear some miracles though on the pregnancy board when I posted at the time

Same thing for me, 12 week scan and only a dot in the sac - missed miscarriage. I started bleeding the following week.

I was heartbroken, but eventually was able to take comfort in the fact that my body was doing its best to hold onto a pregnancy which felt like a real positive for future pregnancies, which it was. I was pregnant again before the due date of the miscarried pregnancy.

I’m so sorry you’re going through this, and that you were treated so badly by the man at the private clinic.

Unfortunately I think you need to prepare yourself for bad news. Dates being out by 4 weeks is alot, although not impossible. At 10 weeks you would certainly see a clear foetus.

I hope you get some clarity at the hospital. In my experience, if they discover you’re having a missed miscarriage, you’ll be treated with great sympathy and they will lead you through all of your next treatment options.

I hope you’re ok.

Thanks for all your kind words and for sharing your experiences.

I went this morning and had an internal scan. This time they found the yolk and the feotal pole. There was a glimmer of hope, as we had been told it was empty at the previous scan. The nurse was very nice but said she predicts that this is a missed miscarriage as for my dates it should have developed further and be much bigger by now.
She said it's 3mm and anything under 7mm they are not legally allowed to call it. And therefore I have to go for another scan in a week for progress.

Although she was extremely clear that my body will start to realise and I'll start spotting... I can't help but pray for a miracle... I've read similar stories where they have waited and then got the heartbeat and a healthy baby... I just can't help but feel that my body is holding our hope and we have better news than we did a few days ago... but I'm also trying to be realistic as it's an awful experience. And although I though I was prepared for the news at this one, it wasn't any less upsetting to see and hear...

Hi again OP, thanks for updating. It sounds like either:

1 the private scan equipment wasn't very good/for some reason didn't see what was seen today but it was there, in which case the pregnancy unfortunately is probably far too far behind to be viable if you're 10 weeks. Or,

2 you are somehow 4 weeks or so behind where you thought and this is a healthy but very early pregnancy. Did you have any bleeding around the time your period would have been due?

I'm not medically trained but sadly it sounds like it's more likely mmc. It's awful to go through, lots of us on here have had losses, lots of us have then gone onto have our hearts healed somewhat by rainbow babies, I have 2 rainbow babies. I'm not in any way trying to minimise the pain or significance of this (suspected) loss but have hope OP

Thank you @Thethingswedidanddidntdo

I know you are probably right and this is a mmc. I haven't had any bleeding or spotting at all. Even if my dates were a bit out, it's unlikely by 4wks, which she said herself. I suppose I know what's coming really, I just really don't want it to be true. And feel so helpless and responsible.

I appreciate your support and wise words and hope I have the same lined up. I'm 39 and never thought this would happen, so it felt like a miracle from the start, so it's hit me pretty sharply and Christmas and the excitement of next year, seems to be a distant memory.

But thank you, I will keep hope and work my way through it x

Thinking of you x

@Pickle0901 I am very sorry you are going through this. It reminded me of my experience back in May: abdominal scan shows no fetal pole, transvaginal scan shows a 3mm embryo and no HB. I was 9 weeks but measuring 5w6d. At first I was feeling so disappointed at myself and at my body. I could not understand why my body kept thinking I was pregnant, and I had the urge for everything to be over. I kind of reconcile with my body after the miscarriage passed, because it happened naturally and it wasnt physically painful at all and fairly quick.

I wish you all the best. Take care of yourself❤️

I am really so sorry you're going through this @Pickle0901. I've just been through similar myself and unfortunately it didn't end well. My scan dates were out compared to my own dates but, like you, I had to wait 10 days for a rescan to see if anything had changed. It didn't, and I didn't miscarry naturally either. No spotting, nothing. So I had to go back to have tablets inserted to get things started. This was only a couple of weeks ago so very fresh in my mind 😞 I really really hope you have a positive outcome though. I scoured the forums for that entire 10 days while I was waiting, and every time I saw a bad ending I felt like I lost a part of me, and every time I saw a positive story I'd have that small glimmer of hope, even though deep down I knew what was happening. And even though I knew, it didn't make it any easier hearing it. I wish you all the best. Please do let us know how you get on and know that we're here for you xx