Slow heartbeat / growth at 6 weeks

[DCmum95]

Hi. Does anyone have any experience with a slow fetal heartbeat at around 6.5 weeks?
I had a scan three weeks ago with a suspectic ectopic but they couldn’t see anything. Went back a week later and they saw a gestational sac and fetal pole in the correct place measuring 5.5 weeks (no heartbeat). Asked to come back 10-14 days later. Went back 12 days later and fetal pole with slow heartbeat was found, only measuring 6.5 weeks when they would expect 7.5 weeks at this stage after the second scan. I was told to expect the worst, scan again on Friday to confirm.
does anyone have any experience with this? I feel like I know it’s over, this will be my second miscarriage in 4 months. I don’t know what’s going wrong.

Hi, I didn’t want to read and run.

Sorry you’re going through this. Pregnancy is very stressful. Unfortunately I’ve seen enough posts on here that would indicate the worst.. as you are measuring behind aswell as a slow heart beat. There is always hope but sometimes it’s easier for you to just expect the worst.

I’ve had friends who had back to back MC so I’ve seen the effect its had on them.

I presume the pregnancies are planned? Both of my friends who experienced recurring MC did a complete diet overhaul (their husbands included!!) cut out caffeine and alcohol, slept better and ate better generally. They both had healthy baby girls in 2024.

wishing you all the best x

Unfortunately I went through the exact same with my second miscarriage before I had a successful third pregnancy

Thank you for being so kind. Yes both pregnancies were planned, we have a 2.5 year old and if anything I am healthier now than I was when I conceived her. I have maybe 1 coffee a day, however I will be cutting this out when we try to conceive again.
its so cruel as I know my body can do it but twice now its failing. X

thank you, I know deep down that this is what is happening, i almost just want it to be over now.
it sounds awful but my worries seem more centered now around having to take more time off work, telling close family and the admin side of things, which feels so wrong and sure it’s some kind of coping mechanism. I wish I could just say ok it hasn’t worked this time, let’s move on but I know we now have lots of hurdles to go through before getting to that point!
im so glad pregnancy number 3 was successful for you xx

I can’t imagine what it’s like going through it. I’m so sorry. I did ask my friend how she coped with her three losses. She said she reframed her mind to think of it as the fetus was not viable and it’s better that it happens early on as opposed to health issues later on down the line.. and that nothing is ever really lost and will come when its ready. Wishing you the best of luck and I hope you get your rainbow baby soon x