Huge Scare with Happy Ending

Angelfish82

Yesterday FI and I went in for our second ultrasound. The first time we went we were advised that we weren't as far along as we thought because the doctor could only see the gestational sac. This time when we went we could see right away that the sac was bigger... but nothing appeared to be in it even though we were AT LEAST 6 weeks (we really tried to factor in all possibilities before coming up with that figure). Our doctor told us it was most likely a blighted ovum and that we should come back the next day for a d&c. He wrote us a prescription to get a final ultrasound at an imaging center just to confirm, but we would have to wait to do that the next morning (today). Before we left he said there was only a tiny, tiny chance the baby was there.

We were devestated. This was a surprise pregnancy but we had become so used to the idea of becoming parents and were already very much in love with this baby. I didn't get a wink of sleep because I was crying all night long. Completely mourning our loss. It didn't help that my symptoms were still going strong (the doctor had explained that when you have a blighted ovum your body takes awhile to catch on that it's no longer pregnant). It felt like a really cruel joke that I was still having terrible morning sickness, cramping, etc., when the baby likely wasn't there.

 So this morning we went in for the ultrasound at the imaging center. I was surprised by how much more advanced the center's equipment was. And while a transvaginal ultrasound with my doctor had lasted only a few seconds, the tech was really looking in there for awhile. At least ten minutes!

I couldn't see the screen but I was watching my FI's face. There was a moment when he looked really surprised and I thought that was good... but then he looked sort of horrified and  I began to wonder what on earth was in there! Turns out he thought he saw the baby and then the tech moved away from it, which left him concerned and desperately wanting to say something... well, she moved back to it and stayed on it for awhile before finally turning the screen towards me and saying matter-of-factly, "Well, there it is."

And yes, there it was, yolk sac, fetal pole, heartbeat and all. We couldn't believe it. We were just ecstatic!!! I am so glad we were able to get a second opinion from a center with such high grade equipment. The tech and our doctor both felt that made all the difference. I think it was that and all the thoughts and prayers we were receiving from friends and family. If anyone out there is going through something that sounds similar, my advice is to wait it out and keep looking for that baby! I've read that so many women have had misdiagnosed blighted ovums and that many women who went ahead wth a d&c now regret doing so because they didn't wait to get a second opinion or to just hang on to hope and see whether the baby was just hiding. We have our ultrasound picture now. Can't wait to post it. Such a relief. Such a roller coaster. And I'm exhausted! I have to go take a very long nap to make up for all the sleep I lost last night.

TwinCitiesGirl

Awww -- I have tears for you!  What an incredible story.  Props for your dr for making sure you got a second opinion.

Hope everything forward is a lot less dramatic for you. 

blindvictory

I am SO GLAD you got your second opinion before moving forward. What wondeful news! Congratulations! Hoping the rest of your pregnancy is normal and uneventful.

btartaroind

That is such good news! What a great surprise, I bet you are on cloud nine.

BTW, we have the same name, just wantedd to say so since there are not many Bethanys out there

Angelfish82

Thanks, everyone! It's always good to meet another Bethany. It's becoming a semi-popular baby name it seems!