Experiences of early scan uncertainty and miscarriage management options

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Hi all, i guess I am just looking for others experiences here.
I am about 7 weeks. Had the tiniest pink when wiping so had an internal scan at the EPU today which showed a sac but no fetal pole. I didnt get measurements of the sac but it looked big on the screen.

LMP was 19th march and got a BFP ON 21st april after a week of negative tests. We did BD on 31st march and 1st april. It was our first month trying for DC2 so a shock it happened so quickly (especially as i am in my late 30s).

I have to go back next week for another scan but I have been told a miscarriage is likely.

I think late ovulation isnt feasible given we only BD twice. Do you think I am right there?

If there is no progress next week I understand the 3 options, wait for it to happem naturally, tablets to induce it or surgery.

Would be helpful to hear other peoples experiences of each option please if you dont mind sharing. Thanks in advance.

Hi 👋🏻
I had a mmc in February
I went for a private scan at what would have been 7 weeks, but only a sac was seen.
went to epu and they made me wait 2 weeks to rescan, which was where they saw no growth x
I tested positive a week before my period was due do I was certain on dates and kinda knew in my mind when i went for the first scan.

i have everything crossed for you 🤞

Thanks for your message. I had been feeling something was not right. I think I know in my heart that there will be an early miscarriage.

Did you wait for it to occur naturally? If you dont mind me asking of course?

We are keen to try again asap because of my age. Do you know anything about time frames to try again?

I am sorry for your loss. Even when it is early its still awful.

I was 9 weeks when it was co firmed.
I decided to take the tablets, it was quite straightforward for me. Bled for 5 days.
had a period 3 weeks after and now currently 7 weeks pregnant x

Hi, I am in a similar situation to you. LMP was 16/03. I went for an early scan for reassurance following a previous natural miscarriage, where there was no cardiac activity detected, but the growth was bang on for the dates. I was referred to the EPU and the miscarriage was confirmed on Wednesday just gone. I’m booked in for surgical management on Monday. I haven’t had any bleeding but I am cramping today. I’m hoping that I will hold out until Monday as practicality wise, and quite honestly mental health wise, I don’t want to go through another natural miscarriage. For the previous miscarriage I was told that I could try again after my cycle returned and when I felt emotionally ready.

So sorry you find yourself in this position OP. I had a miscarriage 10yrs ago under similar circumstances. I wasn’t given a choice on how it would be managed, told to go home and let nature take its course, if nothing happens in two weeks go back to the hospital. A week later I started miscarrying at work (in a school) and had to drive myself home. It was horrific.
If the worst has happened then I would strongly advise having a managed miscarriage with either tablets or surgery. Wishing you well 🤞🏼

I'm really sorry you're going through this, it's a horrible experience.

In my case I chose to pass it naturally. I was already experiencing some bleeding so suspected it was on its way anyway, plus I had annual leave booked so knew I would be at home for it. About 2 days later I woke up with what felt like very bad period cramps, and heavy bleeding. I had about 8 hours of that, changing my pad constantly and I was also throwing up from the pain. It was bad, but was largely over by the evening.

In terms of trying again, the doctor told me to wait for one normal period but that any time after that was fine.

Wishing you all the best OP x

That is heartening to hear! I hope we manage to fall pregnant again soon.

I am so sorry youre in the same boat as me. Its so shit. I really counted my chickend before theyd hatched which was so silly. I hope monday goes well for you.

Thank you for the advice. I am sorry you werent offered bettr care. The nurse said I can have whichever management I want so that is good.

Thsnk you for sharing your experience. I know it sounds odd but I wish it would just miscarry now. The waiting is awful. I knew there was something not right. My pregnancy symptoms have all gone too, which I guess is better than having them whilst not being pregnant. I have no signs of it happening at all. I guess at least I am finding out now rather than at the 12 week scan.

Sorry this is happening. I found waiting hard.

many years ago I had experiences, before the ‘medical management’ was an option and would personally have chosen that as I found ‘natural’ mmcs later (still in the first trimester) much more physically and emotionally painful than earlier.

And because of the unpredictability @LeeHarper5 mentions.

Surgical when a mc was ‘incomplete’ went well but wouldn’t otherwise have chosen that because there are some (low) risks. And had to have it on a mixed sex day ward!

It’s looking like I won’t get to wait until Monday 😢 it really is shit and like you I think I counted my chickens too. Didn’t think I would be unlucky enough to have a second miscarriage so thought it was safe enough to allow myself to think it would all be ok. I know what you mean about wanting it to be over too. It’s just all so crap.

Sorry youve been through this too. Cant imagine being on a mixed sex day ward. I am still not sure what I want to do. I know nothing is confirmed yet but I am not very hopeful for good outcome at the next scan. I definitely dont want to spend weeks waiting for it to happen naturally.

I am really sorry to hear that. I hope it is quick and as painless as possible xx

My first miscarriage started naturally but my body was unable to fully pass everything. They gave me one round of medication that didn't do anything but still sent me home.
Weeks later I was still bleeding and testing positive so it was very drawn out.
The second I had surgery to remove what my body was struggling to do and it was all over with very quickly in comparison.
I would definitely recommend some kind of management, especially if you are wanting to try again asap.
I'm really sorry this is happening.

Thanks for your message. I think id prefer the surgical management, but it is a bit scarier in terms of the (low) risks. Having said that i really dont want to be waiting weeks and weeks and then bleed for ages and possibly have to have the surgery anyway. I have never miscarried so i dont know how my body will react. It does seem that blighted ovums take a long time to pass naturally though.

I’m so sorry OP.
i had three MMC including one as you describe where no fetal pole was present.
I had a surgically managed one the first time but developed a problem with my hand after the anaesthetic - it thankfully resolved but made recovery very long.
I had one naturally and the third was induced via meds.
Of all three options I would definitely opt for natural or meds. The meds made the miscarriage quite painful but it was all over within a matter of hours. I couldn’t face the waiting especially after two MMC. I gather that it is less painful if you already have a child.

I am so sorry.

I had a MMC and opted for the meds as I didn't want a procedure and the (tiny) risks associated with that as we had struggled to conceive for years and had IVF so I was paranoid about anything making it even harder and whether the clinic would say we had to wait for longer before trying again. However, I think if I went back now I would opt for the surgical option. The miscarriage itself wasn't too physically awful - was in pain for a day with cramps and had a chill as well. But I found it really traumatic passing it and then just flushing the toilet. It was nearly three years ago and it still breaks my heart a little. Sorry you're going through this too.

Thanks for your message. I am sorry youve been through this three times. It is shit. I have my son but he was an elective section so I guess it will be painful for me. I.am so grateful for him, it really is a miracle any of us are here at all.

Thank you for sharing your experience. It really helps me to hear it. I thought it was starting naturally today as I had some cramping but nothing so far. I am sorry youve been through it too.

I wanted to ask for others opinions. I booked a private scan for tomorrow before I found out about the lack of fetal pole. Should I go? For a second opinion? Or cancel it? What would you do?

I'm sorry, I know it's horrible. I would avoid medical intervention as much as possible, but that was my choice, for me. If you want to avoid the pain and choose surgery or medical management, nobody should judge you for that.
Just to say, a lot of people get pregnant first time/very easily in their late thirties and forties (personal and lots of family/friend knowledge of this), which I'm only mentioning because I used to think it would take longer for older women, and some of us make decisions on how long we wait.
A mistake some of us have talked about is not getting counselling for us and our husbands after stillbirth or miscarriage, and I hope you can access this if you would like to.

I think I would be inclined to cancel it and just wait for the follow up with EPU. And put the money towards a lovely treat for yourself ❤️ but there is no right answer- it is whatever makes you feel most comfortable. I think regardless of what the private clinic finds, the EPU will still want to stick to their current plan of rescanning you next week.

I had 2 MMC. The first I had medication for. I personally found it awful. I bled a lot, to the point I was flooding multiple pads in minutes and was advised to go to A&E (luckily didn’t need transfusion). I think mainly due to the blood loss I felt weak and dizzy for weeks afterwards. I had a full month off work because I didn’t feel physically able to do my job (lots of walking and standing). This is not a typical reaction and I don’t say it to scare you.
The second I had surgical management. I found this so much easier. They only offered it under general so a quick nap and it was over. Some light bleeding, more like a period. Some discomfort but physically I was back to myself much quicker.
Re the private scan, I think they are less accurate than NHS ones if it’s a window to the womb type one. If it’s only been a few days they may not have anything different to tell you and I would have found the environment in these places difficult to manage if you’re going at a busy time with all the other excited customers. I found out about my first MMC at a private scan after seeing a heartbeat a few weeks before (though measuring smaller than expected) so my own experience is colouring my opinion on this.
Almost exactly a year after my surgery I gave birth to my beautiful daughter. I hope everything works out for you, it’s such a shit thing to be going through with the waiting and wondering even if you do try and prepare for the worst.

ETA the EPU does not accept private scans and will make you wait as per their protocol regardless. At least in my experience.

I got it via groupon so I have a voucher valid until August. I am pretty sure there will be no fetal pole so maybe Id just be torturing myself by going. My partner is really distraught so probably best not to put him through it too. Ill cancel and hope we are pregnant again soon.