Pregnancy Unknown Location - at 6 week scan

[JasmineZMD]

I’m just looking to hear stories from anyone who has been through something similar and to just find someone to talk to really 🥺

To start from the beginning, on November 14th my coil was removed. December 5th-9th I had a heavy bleed, I assumed this was my first period. On December 18th I felt a little off & took a pregnancy test, expecting it to be negative as my period had not long finished - to my surprise it was positive. I was over the moon! I took a HCG strip test on the 20th, it was positive but faint. By the 30th it was as dark as the control line & this has continued ever since.

On Sunday I had a private scan, this was just supposed to be for reassurance and dating. They assured me by my dates I would have to be over 6 weeks, at least. When the appointment began it was dead silence, he then removed the TVS and said there’s nothing there, your uterus is empty and gave me a letter saying pregnancy of unknown location, referring me to the EPU. The whole thing was quite traumatising. We also had our 3 year old with us.

First thing Monday I called up the EPU, the lady was lovely, but was highly concerned as based on when I received my positive I should be 7/8 weeks and a baby should be visible. I went in that afternoon for bloods, I am going back in for bloods tomorrow and will have a further scan based on the blood results / my levels.

I’m devastated, the whole thing has really taken me a back. I have had no bleeding or cramps. I just can’t concentrate, I haven’t been to work, I can’t sleep or eat, I feel like a robot just going through the motions.

Any advice on the next steps would be greatly appreciated, as would any success stories. Not that I have much hope at this point. Thank you! X

I have no advice on this am afraid but saw you hadn't had a reply yet so wanted to bump for you. Take e care

Sorry that you are going through this. My first pregnancy was ectopic/PUL. The EPU should be doing a scan to check that it's not ectopic as that can be quite dangerous.
With mine, my HCG levels were quite low and I started spotting and then bleeding within a week. They kept checking my HCG levels since they kept bouncing around a lot for weeks after, though. After a while, they were close to giving me medication to get rid of any retained products but we were flying out for my wedding that week so it didn't happen. When we came back three weeks later (and having had copious amounts of alcohol at mine and then my cousin's wedding), my pregnancy test was negative.
So, it could all start naturally and it was like a really heavy period with mine. Just be prepared that it might rake ages for your levels to go down.

If it's ectopic (and I've had 4 of those), there are different ways of resolving that. You could wait it out, use medication or have it surgically removed. Your EPU can help guide you with the decision, though. It depends on how big it is. Good luck and get lots of rest.

I’m so sorry to hear about your PUL. I was also given this label at 7 weeks just before Christmas. It’s heartbreaking 💔

They will look to rule out ectopic if they can and to monitor your HCG bloods until the miscarriage is complete. The can use expectant management (wait and let nature take its course), medical management or surgical management - which will depend on HCG and scan etc. Take it a day at a time xx