6 week scan no fetal pole

[Ellie1311]

Has this happened to anyone? Im bang on 6 weeks and was told today there is a yolk sac and a white ‘thickened’ line at the bottom which is indication of the fetal pole starting but I thought by 6 weeks there should be a detectable heartbeat.

I actually have a 31 day cycle so I don’t typically ovulate until day 16 or 17.
Could this be why it’s not detectable yet?

I’m all over the place and feel really rubbish.

Did the person doing the scan express any concerns beyond what you "thought there should be" by 6weeks?

6w is still very early.

No concerns at all - obviously she said she couldnt guarantee anything but she said everything looked healthy. She said if I’d had the scan with the NHS they’d discharge me as it all looked ok. But I just think the worst :(

6 weeks is the earliest you would except to see a heartbeat. DS1 didn't have a heartbeat at 6 +3. DS2 did at 6+0. Both currently doing their homework.
Why did you get an early scan? That might affect what would want to see.
DS1 was following an ectopic, so I was delighted they saw something in utero - it was a improvement on the previous scan I'd had!

Are you going back in 2 weeks?

First trimester can be exhausting with the anxious wait until the NHS 12w scan. If she said everything looks healthy, then I'd inclined to focus on that for now and try to not worry, I do appreciate it's easier said than done though! I'm also 6w and totally don't feel pregnant and worry I feel like I should.

@MaizeAmaze

6 weeks is the earliest you would except to see a heartbeat. DS1 didn't have a heartbeat at 6 +3. DS2 did at 6+0. Both currently doing their homework. Why did you get an early scan? That might affect what would want to see. DS1 was following an ectopic, so I was delighted they saw something in utero - it was a improvement on the previous scan I'd had!

Are you going back in 2 weeks?

Yes I’ve had an ectopic before so I’m booked in with nhs for just over 7 weeks but I also had miscarriages before 6 weeks last year so just wanted the reassurance with a heartbeat at this private one. She had no concerns and said it can be to do with later ovulation which I guess makes sense as I don’t have a typical 28 day cycle. I think I’ve read up too much on what to typically expect but it’s really got to me.

I’ve seen so many posts on MN about people worrying over scans at this stage, I’m not sure how much help they really are, unless recommended to have one

Happened to a friend and it turned out ok. I wouldn’t let them do internal scans unnecessarily. You can get bleeding from them and it just adds stress. With my last I waited until
They could see abdominally at 7 weeks

@Margo34

First trimester can be exhausting with the anxious wait until the NHS 12w scan. If she said everything looks healthy, then I'd inclined to focus on that for now and try to not worry, I do appreciate it's easier said than done though! I'm also 6w and totally don't feel pregnant and worry I feel like I should.

It’s truely agonising. I felt really pregnant last week in terms of symptoms and they’ve really decreased this week. The nausea is still slightly there though and I feel so wiped out. But I’m always tired regardless.

Are you having an early scan? Xx

@Ellie1311 "Are you having an early scan? Xx"

No I'm not, it won't settle my nerves but make me more anxious and will cost which I also can't justify at the moment anyway.

I kept a diary of symptoms week by week with DC1 (this is DC2) and apparently wk5 I felt pregnant but wk6 I didn't and I was worried, but by wk7/8 I was feeling it again though, so I wonder if I'm going through a similar pattern this time.

I'm always tired as DC1 still wakes multiple times a night l, not sure whether tired from that or pregnancy! Or both!

This happens to me too 2 weeks ago: was bang on 6 weeks went for my scan, gestational sac, yolk sac seen. No fetal pole! She said my dates must be slightly off and she thinks I’m 5-6 weeks not 6 weeks. I went back today and I’m 8+3 and all was seen and was good. So was just a tad too early last time

I had a scan at 5 weeks 5 days and there was no fetal pole yet. Now 13 weeks and all fine. fingers crossed for you xx

@Nikki037297

This happens to me too 2 weeks ago: was bang on 6 weeks went for my scan, gestational sac, yolk sac seen. No fetal pole! She said my dates must be slightly off and she thinks I’m 5-6 weeks not 6 weeks. I went back today and I’m 8+3 and all was seen and was good. So was just a tad too early last time

Thank you that reassured me! I think it may be because I tend to ovulate later than standard - so I guess someone with a 28 day cycle could also be 6 weeks but they’ve ovulated earlier in their cycle and therefore further ahead. That’s what I’m trying to tell myself anyway. Did you know exactly when you ovulated?

Yes I know the exact hour as I get ovulation pain I ovulated on a Saturday evening and I had my scan on a Saturday so I was exactly 6 weeks but it was just a sac and yolk sac she said I was 5-6 weeks like between 5-6 weeks not 6 weeks but I knew I was but a few days can make all the difference at this early stage baby grows 1mm per day

I had an early scan when I was 6.5 weeks (based on last period) - I was measuring 5 weeks absolute max and all they could see was the sac. I had another scan at 9 weeks and there was a heartbeat and something resembling a baby shape! So early on it can just vary a bit, I know it’s easier said than done but try and sit tight for a few more weeks.

Hi Ellie, I just wondered if you have an update yet? I’m going through something very similar to you. Had a scan this week at 6 weeks and just a ges sac and yolk sac at this stage so I am re booked in for next Friday the 11th! Praying they can see more by then and that baby is growing as it should. I have also had 2 miscarriages so very nervous xx

@ALBXO

Hi Ellie, I just wondered if you have an update yet? I’m going through something very similar to you. Had a scan this week at 6 weeks and just a ges sac and yolk sac at this stage so I am re booked in for next Friday the 11th! Praying they can see more by then and that baby is growing as it should. I have also had 2 miscarriages so very nervous xx

Hey! I have a scan on Sunday when I’m 7 +1 so hoping there’s more there! I’m feeling really poorly this week with sickness and tiredness so hoping that’s a good sign baby is doing some growing.

Hope you’re goes well!

Oh I am so glad you have another scan so soon! Please let me know how it goes - I hope it all goes well! I have been feeling really tired this week too with sore boobs but no sickness yet! I am trying to stay hopeful for us all and hoping we all get good news this time! Xx

@Ellie1311 I have a 33 day cycle and had a private scan at (what I thought was) 7 weeks with my son, turns out I was measuring a week behind which terrified me for days until I remembered that the dates are calculated based on a 28 day cycle so I was actually five days behind their guess. By the 12 week scan he'd 'caught up' :)

@TheBirdintheCave this makes me feel so much better as I ovulated on day 17. At my scan on Monday they said I was 5+5 but based on my ovulation date I would of only been 5+2. This means I’ll be 7 weeks exactly by my next scan next Friday! X

This happened to me - thought i was 6w6days when infact I was only 5weeks 3 days - so couldnt see a fetal pole.

Went back 15 days later and saw little spud with a pounding heart! I measured at 8w1day - so got my dates completely wrong!

Gas Sac + Yolk sac at 6 weeks is as positive as you can get really, only a few are able to see heatbeat that early - and thats if your dates are 10000% correct.

hi OP, hope things were okay on Sunday. I'm in a v similar position. Hoping to have some news on Saturday at another early scan.

How was your scan x

It was good , baby and heartbeat, but I was only measuring 6 + 3 when I should have been 7 + 1 but I do ovulate quite late.
I have an NHS scan on Friday so hoping it’s progressed. I feel absolutely rotten with sickness and exhaustion so hoping baby is doing some growing!

that's good news, you must be so relieved. In my first two (successful pregnancies) my early scans were always out by at least 5 days, I gradually caught up as things progressed - I think there is quite a margin for error when everything is so tiny. Please for you OP, hope all continues to go well from here.

How was your scan @ellie1311