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1st Trimester
7 weeks no heartbeat detected. possible misdiagnosed miscarriage?
about 3 weeks ago, My husband & I discovered I was pregnant. My period is so irregular that I never really know when to test for pregnancy but something told me I should when I went a little over a month with no period.. anyways, we were really excited and were going to announce the pregnancy after my first doctors appointment, which was yesterday. My doctor did an abdominal scan in her office and couldn't detect the heartbeat but said I shouldn't worry. The baby was still so small, but she told me to go for an ultrasound today and when I did I was devastated when they told me they could not detect the heartbeat, you could clearly see a baby, but no heartbeat. I have no experience of any kind of miscarriage symptoms (even though I know it's possible to miscarry without any) and I've never experienced a known miscarriage before. I'm really nervous that I won't miscarry naturally if it comes down to and I'll have to do a D & C. Before I even consider that though I was wondering if anyone on the site has experienced something like this and went back later to detect a heartbeat? My friend who is also 7 weeks pregnant said her doctor didn't detect a heartbeat on her baby yet either. With my period so irregular I'm also worried that maybe I'm not as far along as I thought which is perhaps why no heartbeat has been detected yet. Before I just jump into the D & C i wanted to know if any of you ladies think I should hold off to see if perhaps we can pick up on a heartbeat in 2 more weeks or so? I have an appointment with my doctor on monday after we do some blood work but I'm so nervous and want to here some feedback now, she called me today after my ultrasound and said it's a possibility i'm not as far along as I thought which is why we can't find the heartbeat.. or is it just better to get the unbearable done and over with so we can move on and TTC again?
Thanks to everyone in advance! I'm new to the board but I'm excited to have some place to turn when I have questions like this!
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Re: 7 weeks no heartbeat detected. possible misdiagnosed miscarriage?
It is a possibility you aren't as far along as you think. Bloodwork should be able to show what's going on after 2-3 sets are done. Hang in there!
Can you get into your dr sooner? My OB would never make me wait until Monday to do the blood work. When I had an ectopic in Sept, they did blood work that night and then repeated it the next day. I'd call back and see if you can get in for that tomorrow so that you can know something before the weekend. You could definitely be earlier than you think, though I will say that a fetal pole should be detectable by now. We saw a blob at 5 weeks this time and there was a heartbeat. I honestly think your best bet is to get into the dr sooner, get that blood work done, and get the answers you need. There are options other than a D&C (a methotrexate shot), so keep that in mind. Hugs to you-it's hard to play the waiting game! Hopefully you are just early and there will be a heartbeat soon!
Just curious-did they do the transvaginal ultrasound?
Thanks for the responses everyone! I actually went for my first round of blood work today I guess to measure my levels and I have to go back on Friday or Saturday for them to test them again. My hopes aren't extremely high, I know a heartbeat should be detected, especially because they did all the scans and ultrasounds they can do. But still, waiting around is making me nervous.
Doe's anyone know the risks of a D & C? Is it better to get one or just wait to miscarry naturally?
An abdonial ultrasound isn't always the best at detecting a heart beat. Trasvaginal is a better option for early heart beats. We go next Wednesday for our first ultrasound. I should be just at the 7wk mark then.
I'm not sure, you think they would have considering how irregular my period is, I stressed to them I was really unsure of the date of my last period. I've never had normal 28 day cycles in my life. I've yet to speak with my actual doctor regarding the issue, she's sending me for blood work and will most likely call tomorrow, I just needed some support or opinions tonight though because the waiting game is awful.
Thanks to everyone who answered! I really do appreciate it
You still haven't told us if they measured the baby at 7w. If they did all the u/s they can, they should be able to tell you what your baby is measuring in weeks. If you don't have regular periods, its definitely possible you could have O'd later in your cycle. If you got your BFP 3 weeks ago you could have still been very early on. Like other girls said, the HB starts around the 6w so I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that you now need to consider a D&C. From everything you said, you don't have all the information from your doctor.
I know the waiting game seems impossible but please try and relax and know today you are pregnant. It'll be best to talk to your DR about everything before diagnosing yourself with a m/c.
ANDPLUSALSO, I love your wedding dress! I *almost* bought that one! Seeing you in it, makes me want to do it all over again... well almost.
Harper Grace 08.31.12 Sibling Expected 08.30.15
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Ellie from CougarTown
I'm sorry you're going through this. If you have showed progress from last weeks ultrasound to this weeks, I would push for one more ultrasound to confirm. You never know, you may see a heartbeat next week-maybe your dates are off.
As far as m/c's go, I've had 2-one natural and one d&c. I preferred the d&c route. It was quick & easy and less traumatic for me.
If I'm understanding your post correctly you had an abdominal u/s in your doctors office and they didn't detect a heart beat. You went the next day for a vaginal ultrasound and they could clearly see the baby, but no heart beat. First, I want to say that if you feel like you need to wait and get one more ultrasound to be certain then you should absolutely do that. Especially before doing a D&C. YOU should be confident (not just your doctor) that the procedure is necessary before you agree to it. With that said, if you could clearly see a baby on a vaginal ultrasound, you should be able to see a heartbeat as well. I'm so sorry that you're going through this. The best of luck to you.