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Pregnancy

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

No heartbeat at early scan

8 replies

Jennyftb · 22/02/2025 18:07

I went for a scan today because I had a small bleed last week. The lady asked my dates. I said 6+4. She said okay that’s fine it’s quite early so we may not see much but let’s have a look. She found a gestational sac, but didn’t see much else for a minute, then she saw a little fetal pole, but the heartbeat wasn’t visible. She said I was measuring 5+6. She also said she could see a very average sized sub chorionic hematoma, which is perfectly normal and not necessarily a cause for concern, and would explain the bleed I had. But she did say that if I bleed again, it could take the sac (and the baby) with it, but again, it could just as easily not cause any issues. She said it may just be too early to see a heartbeat and has booked me in for 10 days from now. She said if they don’t see a heartbeat then that it means the pregnancy with a fair amount of certainty isn’t viable. So I left feeling very anxious and wondering why I’m measuring 5+6, and sad that I didn’t see that heartbeat that I so wanted to see. Thennnn I checked when ovulated and calculated my conception date from there instead of just letting my app assume I ovulated on CD14 (it was CD17/18) making me around 6weeks on the dot. So basically I went for a scan too early🥲 and still don’t know if the pregnancy is viable. But, there’s a sac and a pole, which is positive! Has anyone else been in a similar situation? Did you go on to see a heartbeat? 💛

No heartbeat at early scan
OP posts:
User79853257976 · 22/02/2025 18:11

It’s too early. Those scans are notorious for causing more anxiety than reassurance. Go again in a couple of weeks and good luck!

sel2223 · 22/02/2025 20:10

It's too early. Personally I don't think any private clinic should be offering scans before 8 weeks as there is such a margin for error with measurements and, if you weren't physically tracking, you may not be as far on as LMP/apps would put you at which just causes more anxiety.

The only thing you can do now is wait unfortunately. Hopefully in 10 days time the embryo has developed and grown proportionately and you have a viable pregnancy.

Good luck

heroinechic · 22/02/2025 22:26

I went for a scan with DD at 6 weeks on the dot due to previous ectopic. They measured me at 5+5 and couldn't see a fetal pole so obviously no heart beat. They said that at that stage, it's so easy to measure wrong, and days make a huge difference in what can be seen.

I wasn't offered a follow up scan (I guess because I wasn't really there to see if it was viable or not, just to check it was in the right place) but everything was absolutely fine!

I often comment on these threads and it usually has a positive outcome x

CMJJ · 23/02/2025 09:14

Im in a very similar position to you. I’m finding the anxiety unbearable. I just posted a thread about it this morning.
I'm measuring earlier almost 2 weeks than I am. I’m sure of dates I had it all logged and did Lh tests for ovulation. There’s been growth in between scans from no fetal pole to now a baby but no heartbeat yet. I’m measuring 6 weeks but I’m 8 when it comes to my dates. Not knowing is killing me. Sorry you are going through this too. I hope the time passes quickly and you get the news you so rightly need. X

CMJJ · 23/02/2025 09:20

I went for an early private reassurance scan, knowing my dates I knew I was 6 weeks+4 days. I was only measuring at 5 weeks, there was a yolk sac but no fetal pole. 11 days later I had a second scan at EPU which showed I was now measuring at 6 weeks, (but my GA was now 8+2 )and there was a baby in the sac now but still no heartbeat. There was some growth but it’s still not as it should be. Leaving and not being told if it’s viable or not has been torture. I have to wait another week to see if there is a heartbeat. Babys CRL was measuring 4.7, and the NHS has a CRL guideline of baby measuring 7mm with no heartbeat before they can say it’s a miscarriage/non viable pregnancy. I’m totally prepared for a miscarriage because it seems being a week or 2 behind isn't normal. They told me to forget my GA, even thought I’m sure of dates they are now using the scan measurement to track growth. Also measuring at 6 weeks and still no heartbeat is a cause for concern so I know it’s not normal. My nausea has almost gone now too. Seeing growth in the scan but not enough growth surely leads to miscarriage doesn’t it? I’ve had no cramps and no bleeding. My mind has been racing for 2 weeks and I’m devastated and the anxiety of not knowing for another week is killing me. How do we cope when in limbo like this? Has anyone been in a similar situation to me.
thanks for taking the time to read this. Just in total despair xxx

Jennyftb · 23/02/2025 12:46

@sel2223 @heroinechic @User79853257976 thank you for your reassurance🥰 I have a good feeling that baby is absolutely fine, just too early to be seeing much.

@CMJJ I’m so sorry to hear you’re going through this. It’s so difficult to sit and wait for answers. I guess it’s helping me to remember that the measurements they’re working with are so minute that it’s going to be difficult to see anything this early. My ultrasound tech actually said yesterday after looking at the gestational sac for about 3 seconds said “I don’t see anything in there” before finding a fetal pole 5 seconds later. I hope we both get the outcome we are hoping for💛

OP posts:
Applecrumble9 · 23/02/2025 13:22

I unfortunately had a somewhat similar circumstance but not a good outcome, however everyone is so different things could be absolutely fine for you, i had read lots where the baby had caught up in size etc. I was measuring a few days behind on first scan, couldn't see fetal pole but everything looked a good size and shape I was told, there was no heartbeat but i was earlier than 6 weeks so they were not concerned, went back after 14 long days and there was a heartbeat, fetal pole but baby measuring slightly behind again...back again after 10 days of torture to find the heartbeat had stopped.
She did say only for I had an early scan I may not have found out about it until 12 weeks as it technically was a MMC, heartbeat stopped somewhere between 8-9 weeks.
I really hope you have a different outcome as I wouldn't wish this on anyone. I had the early scan due to spotting xx

sel2223 · 23/02/2025 15:29

It really can go either way, especially if you are not 100% certain of dates and your cycles are not the standard 28 days.
I had my first scan when LMP/FLO app etc put me at 8+2, I only measured 6+1.

14 days later I had a follow up scan and baby had grown proportionately and all was looking great - by my 12 week dating scan, she'd caught up slightly from 15 to 10 days behind the LMP date and she's stayed there ever since - I'm now 35 weeks pregnant.

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