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Pregnancy

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

Original poster

No heartbeat

39 replies

zaratelford101 · 20/06/2023 17:22

I went for an early scan at 6 weeks today and the baby had no heartbeat. I was told I’m going to miscarry and was given option to let it happen naturally or else go in for the tablet to let it happen in hospital. When I read up on this it says online that 6 weeks can be too early for this? I don’t want to make any decisions as I’m holding onto that bit of hope they’re wrong. Can anyone put my mind at ease or have similar stories?

thanks

Zara x

OP posts:
notes1 · 20/06/2023 17:28

I'm so sorry Op.

I have been through this and, unfortunately, more than once.

At 6 weeks I understood that it is borderline on whether there would be a heartbeat or not. When I had no heartbeat at 6 weeks I had to go back for a 7 week scan to see if a heartbeat was visible. Unfortunately the second scan confirmed that there was still no heartbeat (in my case the baby had grown since the 6 week scan but there was no heart beat and they could see other signs of miscarriage such as the gestational sac being smaller and the pregnancy had moved to the bottom of the uterus). From this point it took about 1.5 weeks for the miscarriage to pass naturally.

I don't want to give you any false hopes as there may have been other reasons for them to confirm that the pregnancy wasn't viable. Could you ask for a second scan in a weeks time?

Original poster
zaratelford101 · 20/06/2023 17:44

I’m so sorry to hear you’ve been through this multiple times. There is honestly no pain like it. I’m just so confused because when I went last week to the day, they told me that I was 6 weeks 4 days even though the dates didn’t really add up to me, I believed I was 5 weeks exactly. However when I went today the scan says 6 weeks 1 day so regardless the dates they have provided don’t add up. Just wish I could know what’s actually going on 😭

Zara x

OP posts:
Rtmhwales · 20/06/2023 17:51

Did they tell you the crown rump length or is it located on the scan picture if you got one? They're able to diagnose a miscarriage if they CRL is above 7mm (I believe) and no heartbeat at that length.

Unfortunately I speak from bitter experience. I had a D&C for mine that were at 7 weeks because I was afraid to miscarry whilst working at a school. I'm not sure which option is better honestly between natural and the pills.

Original poster
zaratelford101 · 20/06/2023 18:03

I’m grateful to just be talking to an actual human about this rather than googling and driving myself mad. I don’t see where it says CRL on my scan unfortunately. I also work in a school and afraid of this however it just feels so final and can’t help but hang onto this tiny bit of hope even though I probably shouldn’t

OP posts:
Lottie917 · 20/06/2023 18:06

I'm so sorry you're going through this OP. I have had 2 miscarriages myself a few years ago and my thoughts are with you. It's such a waiting game and it hurts not knowing what's happening exactly.

Baby's heart usually starts beating 5-6 weeks I believe, so I would have thought that with it being borderline, I'd agree with previous poster and ask for another scan in a week before you make any sort of decision.

Was this scan at an NHS clinic with your local trust or was it at a clinic that offers scans privately? If it was a private one where you pay for one off scans, I'd go to your local EPU for further advice x

Original poster
zaratelford101 · 20/06/2023 18:15

thank you so much for replying and I’m so sorry you’ve been through this. I just can’t believe the pain and hurt that comes with it. I’m so confused with my dates and the conflicting information I read online and with what the nurse has told me. I think I’m going to see what the week brings and see if I miscarry. I’ve definitely ruled out the tablet as it’s just too final with how I’m feeling. My scans have been done through NHS however considering paying at a clinic for a more in depth run down.

OP posts:
kkneat · 20/06/2023 18:21

This was a few years ago so maybe scans have improved but I was 6 weeks plus a few days had some very light bleeding and was sent to EPU. Had scan was told not viable no heartbeat i was offered a D&C there and then or let things happen naturally. I chose the natural way. After 9 days nothing happened, EPU told me to come back in and I had another scan & there was a heartbeat & everything went well with the pregnancy. I researched afterwards and found that guidance said wait till 7-8 weeks for a heartbeat. Someone at my work told me this also happened to her friend. Can’t believe I nearly had a D&C.

Original poster
zaratelford101 · 20/06/2023 18:24

Thank you for replying. This is why I’m terrified to take the tablet as it just feels like I’m diminishing any hope at all when I’m so conflicted. I’ll just see what the week brings and hope and pray for the best. The nurse recommended I wait and go naturally however the tablet was offered to gain control over the situation but from what I have read, and your experience too, I just feel waiting is the better option on the off chance my baby makes it. Thank you, you’ve solidified my choice.

zara

OP posts:
Sunny388 · 20/06/2023 18:25

I think it would be worth having another scan in a week's time. Sometimes 6 weeks can be too soon to see a heartbeat.

Original poster
zaratelford101 · 20/06/2023 18:26

After everyone sharing their experience I feel I want to get a second opinion as 6 weeks exactly feels too boarderline to make such a huge decision.

Zara

OP posts:
Emmamoo89 · 20/06/2023 18:34

Definitely get a second scan. Hope it works out for you x

Original poster
zaratelford101 · 20/06/2023 18:38

Thank you my love x

OP posts:
RedPandaFluff · 20/06/2023 18:42

Hi Zara - so sorry you're going through this. I was glad to read that you're going to hold off from taking the tablet just now, and have another scan. I wish I'd done this - I had a scan at 6 weeks, was told there was no heartbeat, so I asked for a D&C to get it over with as I struggled with the thought of going home and waiting. It's a huge regret of mine that I didn't wait a week and ask for a follow-up scan to be sure - I feel so guilty for charging ahead with the D&C, but I didn't know it just could have been too early.

So, for your own peace of mind if nothing else, I think you're doing the right thing.

Original poster
zaratelford101 · 20/06/2023 18:48

I’m so so so sorry you struggle with this. Please try not to have regrets because we trust our professionals and trust their judgement in what they tell us. I just have a little feeling it’s something I shouldn’t do however the nurse told me it was 100% an option which was very tempting to take as the idea of what’s ahead hangs over. Thank you for sharing your experience on this painful subject 🤍

zara

OP posts:
Lottie917 · 20/06/2023 19:05

I hope your scan next week brings better news 🤞

With both of mine I waited for them to happen naturally. Like you, taking a tablet or having a D&C felt too final and I still held out hope it might be okay as I heard stories of others where it had worked out. Unfortunately both of mine did happen within days after the scans.

I found the Miscarriage Association really helpful during those times. They have a stories section where others share their experiences and I feel like it helped prepare me for what was to come, if that might also be of any use for you.

I have everything crossed for you for next week OP x

Original poster
zaratelford101 · 20/06/2023 19:19

I think that little hope is just the love we have already for the little baby growing inside us so I’m going to honour the feeling. Thank you for sharing your experience. First time I’ve ever wrote in a forum and just knowing im not the only one has given me comfort today. Thank you for your well wishes 🤍

OP posts:
Blessedbethefruitz · 20/06/2023 19:33

I've not experienced miscarriage, but I've been on here long enough to read about incorrect dates due to ovulation being late etc, that many private clinics tell women to come back at 8 weeks. I had a private early scan with my first, and they weren't even seeing women before 7 weeks for this reason (in 2018 so not yonks ago). I wouldn't be taking a pill at just 6 weeks either.

purpleboy · 20/06/2023 19:36

Hang in there Zara, they can and do sometimes get things wrong. I'd get a second opinion, I'd need to know for sure. Keeping everything crossed for you Flowers

arlequin · 20/06/2023 19:49

Hi Zara, so sorry to hear you're dealing with this. With my current pregnancy I had a scan at 5 weeks 6 and there was no heartbeat yet. Often it can be 6.5 weeks. Weirdly enough my due date was then massively brought forward so that scan would have been more like 6.5 if not more!
Im 30 weeks now.
I wonder if there was another reason they were sure of miscarriage. Was there a foetal pole? Sending positive thoughts to you and sorry you're going through this hell.

Original poster
zaratelford101 · 20/06/2023 19:54

thank you for sharing this. Recently been made aware that women don’t usually get seen or scanned until that point in pregnancy and it makes me wish I hadn’t been referred for an early scan as the stress is enough to make me scream. Thank you

zara

OP posts:
Original poster
zaratelford101 · 20/06/2023 19:54

Thank you. After reading everyone experiences I’m definitely going to seek a second opinion as I would never forgive myself if I didn’t. Thank you for your well wishes 🤍

OP posts:
Original poster
zaratelford101 · 20/06/2023 19:57

Thank you for sharing your experience. The nurse seemed so adament that there should be a heartbeat by this stage and my partner and I were too caught up in emotions at the time to voice the query of it being too early which I regret now. There was no mention of fetal pole and I’m unsure if this is something I could visibly see on a scan. I may need to ring the clinic for my report to read up what they have wrote. I hope I’m right in thinking that if there was anything abnormal they would be obligated to tell me?

thanks

zara x

OP posts:
SoVerySophie · 20/06/2023 20:12

Definitely have another scan! I can't believe that you were told definitively that you're going to miscarry after just one scan that was done right on the cusp of the heart starting to beat. Unless there were other indications of a negative outcome that you weren't necessarily told about.

If I were you I'd book a private scan and see what they tell you there.

Original poster
zaratelford101 · 20/06/2023 20:23

I’ve had myself convinced all day I’m going crazy and clutching at something that’s just not there but I feel it’s way too boarderline so definitely going to take your advice and get a second opinion because I would always wonder what if. Thank you for taking time to put my mind at ease. The kindness of strangers today has been overwhelming.

zara

OP posts:
Madwife123 · 20/06/2023 20:28

I’m so sorry.

Wether or not you expect to see a heartbeat depends on the size of the fetal pole more than the gestation. Do you happen to know this?

If you have any doubt whatsoever there is no harm with asking for a repeat scan in a week or so if that would make you feel better before making decisions.