UPDATED: Fetal HB, maybe larger yolk sac, & doctor wants to schedule D&C...

dunvilles

This is my 6th pregnancy. My betas have been good, I have had many symptoms and feel like I did when I was pregnant with my son. I had an ultrasound last Tuesday and we saw the yolk sac but it was too early for a HB, all measured really well. Yesterday, I had another ultrasound and my fertility specialist said "The yolk sac looks bigger, that is normally a sign of a genetic defect. We could let you wait it out two weeks and then have a D&C, or you can come back Monday for another U/S and have the D&C on Thursday"

At this point I am sobbing. I do not understand. My baby has a heartbeat. I was 6wks 6days (as far as we could tell could be off 2-3 days). He did not measure the yolk sac or the heartbeat. I called today to get the numbers from both and the nurse said "He does not measure the heartbeat, just listens to it and he does not measure the yolk sac.."

Also, while performing the U/S he zoomed in so that he could take a closer look at the yolk sac, said it was probably a genetic deformation and then when he zoomed back out he said "hmmm, it looks normal from this perspective..."

Then he told me I should stop taking my progesterone and spoke to me about the D&C.

 After leaving and speaking with DH on the long drive home, this is what we came up with:

1. We want a 2nd opinion! There is a HB, HCG has been GREAT, no bleeding or spotting etc

2. We will NOT have a D&C while the heart is still beating and I am appalled that my doctor suggested this.

3. Why in the world does he not measure the HB... but just listen to it and then determine it is not ok?!?!?! COME ON!

 

Any insight/thoughts/stories/opinions would be greatly appreciated. I have been on the phone with insurance this morning discussing genetic testing and which MFM doctors are in my network. I have also received great advice from fellow bumpies on the pregnancy after a loss board. TIA

I went to see my regular OB. She had already spoken to my specialist and really helped me to understand his thought process and explained the parts that he completely omitted. She also did an internal ultrasound and explained everything she saw to me.. We could not measure the HB but we could see a heart beating. She said that this pregnancy does not look promising and explained why. I am so glad that I went to her. Even though the outcome will be the same, she is great with explaining things. She even gave me a huge hug, talked to me about my summer plans, and told me to keep her updated.

JulyMomma2U2

This is absurd!!! It's so early, there could be so much variation!  I mean, 2-3 days of being "off" on your O-date could mean a big difference!! Think of all the stories you hear about women being 2-3 days off and going in and not seeing a heartbeat, waiting a week, and then finding it!! It's the same thing!!

I would DEF get a second opinion.. it's sooooo early still.. I can't even imagine why he'd try adn tell you to schedule a D&C when everything else indicates a healthy pregnancy!!

I'm so sorry you're going through this.. I would call a new doctor right away.. In my early ultrasound with this pregnancy, they measured everything.. heartbeat, fetal pole, gest sac, yolk sac.. put it all together to give me my gestational age.. I'm baffled how he doesn't have any measurements.. 

Def def def get a second opinion.. (((big hugs)))

dunvilles

This is only the 3rd time I have seen this doctor. I've been with him a total of 30 minutes or so.

My regular OB is going to see me today, give me a second opinion, and take the measurements that the SPECIALIST did not. Thank the lord for my OB, she is wonderful!

JulyMomma2U2

dunvilles:

This is only the 3rd time I have seen this doctor. I've been with him a total of 30 minutes or so.

My regular OB is going to see me today, give me a second opinion, and take the measurements that the SPECIALIST did not. Thank the lord for my OB, she is wonderful!

Thank goodness for that!! Keep us posted!! Fingers crossed she draws a better, more realistic!!, conclusion!!

itsmevkb

I am sorry you are going through this.  It would be helpful to know what the heartrate was.  Like you, I would not get a D&C while there is a heartbeat.  But, I will also be honest and say that my experience with an enlarged yolk sac did end in a miscarriage and from what I read when I was going through it, an enlarged yolk sac is nearly almost always fatal for the baby.  With that pregnancy we didn't see a baby or heartbeat at my first ultrasound which was early in my sixth week.  At 7 weeks we saw a baby and a heartbeat but the baby measured a week behind.  At 8 weeks we again saw a baby, measuring a week behind, and a heartrate that was only around 115.  At 10 weeks we found out I had a missed miscarriage and that the baby had stopped developing soon after my third ultrasound. 

I am so sorry and hope you get better news at your second opinion.

Kie310

Good luck! Is that the MFM? Mine does sooo much stuff at u/s it's nuts. I would be hunting for a new one for sure.

kknapik

I was originally pregnant with twins and even though they both had heartbeats, Baby B's yolk sac was quite large. My doctor told me that it was just a matter of time and unfortunately he was right. It took a couple of weeks, but eventually Baby B's heart did stop. I personally would have waited if that was the case and I had a singleton as you just never know. I will be praying for you!

dunvilles

itsmevkb:

I am sorry you are going through this.  It would be helpful to know what the heartrate was.  Like you, I would not get a D&C while there is a heartbeat.  But, I will also be honest and say that my experience with an enlarged yolk sac did end in a miscarriage and from what I read when I was going through it, an enlarged yolk sac is nearly almost always fatal for the baby.  With that pregnancy we didn't see a baby or heartbeat at my first ultrasound which was early in my sixth week.  At 7 weeks we saw a baby and a heartbeat but the baby measured a week behind.  At 8 weeks we again saw a baby, measuring a week behind, and a heartrate that was only around 115.  At 10 weeks we found out I had a missed miscarriage and that the baby had stopped developing soon after my third ultrasound. 

I am so sorry and hope you get better news at your second opinion.

Everything I have read about an enlarged yolk sac is not hopeful. The thing is I do not know what the heart rate was (could have been great!) plus I do not know what the size of the yolk sac was... coulld have been 6.2 and 6 is normal.

My doctor said "the yolk sac looks larger than normal... hmmm from this perspective it almost looks normal...." so I have NO clue what that means. If he would have said, the heart rate is 90 bpm and the yolk sac is 12mm... obviously there are some serious issues.. just the unknown is driving me insane.

itsmevkb

dunvilles:

itsmevkb:

I am sorry you are going through this.  It would be helpful to know what the heartrate was.  Like you, I would not get a D&C while there is a heartbeat.  But, I will also be honest and say that my experience with an enlarged yolk sac did end in a miscarriage and from what I read when I was going through it, an enlarged yolk sac is nearly almost always fatal for the baby.  With that pregnancy we didn't see a baby or heartbeat at my first ultrasound which was early in my sixth week.  At 7 weeks we saw a baby and a heartbeat but the baby measured a week behind.  At 8 weeks we again saw a baby, measuring a week behind, and a heartrate that was only around 115.  At 10 weeks we found out I had a missed miscarriage and that the baby had stopped developing soon after my third ultrasound. 

I am so sorry and hope you get better news at your second opinion.

Everything I have read about an enlarged yolk sac is not hopeful. The thing is I do not know what the heart rate was (could have been great!) plus I do not know what the size of the yolk sac was... coulld have been 6.2 and 6 is normal.

My doctor said "the yolk sac looks larger than normal... hmmm from this perspective it almost looks normal...." so I have NO clue what that means. If he would have said, the heart rate is 90 bpm and the yolk sac is 12mm... obviously there are some serious issues.. just the unknown is driving me insane.

I was never given a measurement either, just a "the yolk sac looks large and the gestational sac looks squishy/oddly shaped" said by the ultrasound tech.  My doctor tried to be positive but sometimes you just know, deep down, that things aren't going to work out and that is how I felt with that pregnancy.

Obviously, you want to know for sure and sooner rather than later.  I'll be hoping that doc was just a jack*ss who was talking before his brain could catch up with him.  I'll be anxiously awaiting your update and praying hard for you and your baby.