Miscarriage? Slow heart beat, no growth

Hello all.

I am making this post for questions and hopefully any shared experiences?  I am 7 weeks, 6 days pregnant.  I had an ultrasound at 6 weeks and no heartbeat was detected.  I had a repeat ultrasound done at 6w6d and there had been no growth and a low heartbeat in the 70's.  I again had another repeat ultrasound done at 7w3d and again no growth and still a low heartbeat in the 80's.  

I work in OB healthcare and according to the textbooks I know what this means.  The no growth, coupled with low heart rate and lack of symptoms all point to one direction.  I was devastated at the second ultrasound when I first saw a heartbeat and saw it was so low.  Now I have had some time to process this information.  

I was just curious if anyone else could share their experiences?  How long could this drag out (could the heartbeat continue on like this for weeks until the baby finally passes?).  I am looking for any information there is to offer- the good, bad and ugly.

I am sorry to all who have experienced a m/s.  This is not anything I would wish on anyone.  I am so lucky to have my DS who is 17 months old.  I am hoping to one day have another blessing, it just doesn't look like the timing was right.  

Thank you in advance.
Stacey

[staceybrooke]

More info:

My OB will not do a serial beta HCG which is super annoying.  

I will be going back for a repeat ultrasound on Monday or Tuesday.  Hopefully there will be either good news (unlikely) or some resolution.

[lorimc23]

Im sorry your going through this. It does sound like you will miscarry.  
I had a strong heartbeat at 9 weeks but growth already was lagging 1 week behind only showing 8 weeks. The next week when I was suppose to be 10 weeks, the heartbeat had stopped 4 days after the previous sono. I did not miscarry naturally. I had to have a D&C.
Im not to sure on how long the baby could carry on with the low heartbeat but the non-growth shows that it probally wouldnt be to far away. My growth started to lag for a 2 week period beofre heartbeat stopped.
I hope that was helpful for you, and again Im sorry.

[staceybrooke]

Sorry for.your loss.  Thank you for sharing your experience.  I am just hoping for a quick resolution. My fear is this drags out for weeks and weeks.  Hopefully the u/s on monday offers answers.

Stacey

[Howdyitsbeck]

Hi, we are going through the same thing at the moment. After 11 years of trying, IVF, accupuncture ect. We gave up. A few weeks ago I felt unwell and low and behold found out that I was pregnant. According to my LMP date, I should have been 7 weeks at my first appointment. The trans vaginal scan told us that I was 5 weeks and 6 days (too early for a heart flutter). We went back 7 days later and my baby measured only 6 weeks and one day. The fetal flutter was slow. The yolk and sac are intact, but my uterine sac is now a tear shape instead of being nice and round. My Obstrician did the scan himself both times. My blood tests are still within normal ranges.
We have been told that there is a 90% chance of miscarriage in the next two weeks. Its funny because I still have all the pregnancy symptoms (sore breasts, morning sickness and really tired!!). It is a long wait for the miscarriage. I have been waiting two weeks now for my fetal heart beat to stop and miscarry (weekly scans) .
My Ob said if it doesn't happen in the next week or so then we will probably have to do a D&C regardless.
I hope your situation is more hopeful than mine. I know how stressful this is for you at the moment.
Part of me wants to wait until the fetal heart rate has stopped, but apparently there is little hope any-way.

[staceybrooke]

Oh my gosh.  It is eery how similar our stories are.  When I was scanned the first time at 6w1d, I was measuring 5w6d.  Then the second scan at 6w5d, I was measuring 6w1d and have continued to measure 6w1d.  :(  

I am so sorry you are going through this too.  It is the most awful experience.  Being in limbo, waiting to grieve, literally just waking up everyday hoping for some sense of closure.  

At least your OB has given you more options.  Mine refuses to do beta HCG bloodwork, which boggles my mind (I will be switching practices when all this is said and done).  He also said that basically they will not do anything until there is no heartbeat.  From what I have read, that could take weeks, sadly.  

I don't think I have read but one or two miracle stories, so I am most definitely preparing for the worst.  Even if the heartrate was to improve and we make it out of the first trimester, academic studies point to a 50% increase in chromosomal / congenital anomalies.  So I am almost hoping to get closure with this pregnancy and hopefully start fresh again, as twisted as that sounds.

Anyway, thank you so much for sharing your experience.  Please, if you don't mind, can you keep me posted on how things turn out for you?  I plan on updating too.  

Good luck with everything,
Stacey

[staceybrooke]

Had another u/s today....i am 8w3d still measuring 6w1d with heartrate of 59 bpm.  Man this is dragging out.

[staceybrooke]

Howdyitsbeck....any updates for you??

[staceybrooke]

Bumping for responses

[staceybrooke]

Still waiting to miscarry.

[summero87]

I'm sorry its dragging out ..I kno everything is pointing to a miscarriage but that's quite a testimony for that embryo to still have a heart beat ,even a slow one ...my first pregnancy was deemed "non viable " my drs heart beat was slow an she was a little small but as long as she had a hb I had hope ..she's a healthy almost 7 year old now ..I had a miscarriage a year after her at 15 weeks we heard nothing but good news at Dr appointments for that baby he just simply passed away ..keep your mind open for everything just don't give up all hope is all ..I wish u the best ..keep this forum updated with any new news .. :) take care

[staceybrooke]

Summer, really?  It is so hard to keep hope.  Thanks for sharing your experience.  Do you remember what your baby's heartrate was?  When did things turn around and become clear you the pregnancy was okay?  Like how many weeks?

[summero87]

I was 9 weeks when things looked up for us ..her heart rate never rose above the mid 70's range until then ..the drs urged me to take the abortion pill to induce a miscarriage or get a dnc but I refused ..as long as there was even a flicker that baby was alive ...I prepared myself for the worst still but hoped for the best ..I knew i was taking a chance with a miscarriage happening but was willing to chance it because my baby wasn't dead ..if i would have listened to those drs my daughter would not be here today an not because she died but because i terminated ...it was so stressful waiting those weeks...everytime using the restroom u look for blood or feeling a pain an immediately thinking the worse ..I'm sorry your in this position..if u need someone to talk to or something happens u can message me on here anytime ...I'm due in August with a little boy an I'm on bed rest so ill gladly chat with u ...

[staceybrooke]

Summer,

That is so awesome and makes me really happy for you.  Congrats and good luck with the rest of your pregnancy...baby boys are awesome.  I have an 18 month old myself and he is seriously the light of my life.  :)

The heartbeat finally stopped this week...when I had my u/s on Tuesday there was nothing.  So I went in this morning for a D&C.  I couldn't bear to wait any longer for things to progress naturally.  

Anyway, again, good luck with the rest of your pregnancy!!!  :)

Stacey

[vaannie]

Staceybrooke - I just read your thread about your m/c.  I'm so sorry for your loss... I'm going through the exact same thing right now. First u/s last Friday, should have been 6 weeks 4 days, was measuring 5 weeks 6 days, tiiiiiiny flicker detected, but it looked very slow. Had another u/s this morning, the embryo has grown 4 days in 7 (now measuring 6 weeks, though I am now 7 weeks 4 days) and the flicker was much more pronounced but still VERY slow.  Embryo is too small to get an accurate count.  Maybe 40 beats per minute?  They want me to return next Friday again to see what's happening. I just want closure -- like you said -- so we can move on. Even if the heart beat picks back up next week, I can't help but think something is terribly wrong.  :(  Anyway, I just wanted to ask how many weeks you were in "limbo" like this?  If you don't mind sharing.  The radiologist things I'll either miscarry naturally this week or the heart will stop beating and I'll need a D&C.  Blah.

[jazmeen123]

my first scan was at 5 weeks , and we saw nothing no pregnancy, at 6 week the the U/S showed implantation, but it was so small to make anything out. I am going back for a 7 week scan, and as i am writing now i know it is over. I had 2 five days embryos transfers.

[Carole86]

I am sorry to hear about what you are goo g through but I wanted to share a similar experience. I was pregnant with my third child and went toy OB for the 12 week check up, I was ecstatic to be able to hear the heart beat. My dr couldn't pick one up so she did an abdominal ultrasound nothing...so then a transvaginal and there it showed where the baby had stopped devolving at 8.5 weeks. I was devastated by this and asked my dr why didn't my body act like I had miscarried. She said I had a missed miscarriage and it honestly was more traumatic than a normal miscarriage I think. I pray that you get through this notated the outcome. Good luck.  

[Jblynn_11]

I know I am very late to this conversation, but I am having the same problem. On my first visit I measured 6 weeks, and 1 week later only 6 weeks 1 day. At first they said there was a faint heartbeat, now they are saying there isn't one.  I have had no bleeding or cramping and just want this to be over. How long will it take?

[kateryna102012]

just wanted to share what is going on with me right now. i had my appointment today, and i was supposed to be 9 weeks. but when they did pelvic exam, my doctor couldnt find anything. when he saw my face and tears on my eyes he ordered an ultrasound. i had one probably within 10 minutes after doctors check up. the doctor had to do ultrasound both ways. he said that baby looks like 6w5d.... which was way off... and then he finally saw the heart. BUT the heart rate was only 40 beats per minute.... i still cant believe all that had happened! this is my first pregnancy, and this baby is very wanted!!! i am going back for ultrasound in three weeks. that is when we will find out for sure what is going to happen.... hope for a MIRACLE!!!!!

[IHope4cure]

I am dealing with a similar issue right now. I am 10 weeks 4 days and the baby is still growing, but the heart rate has been very low since the first ultrasound. I have been going for weekly ultrasounds and the rate has been slowly decreasing, and at this point we are waiting for the heart to stop and my body to miscarry. We don't have any other options.

[need_help_sister]

I am sorry to hear all these incidences.... my sister s going through the same...can anyone help me in finding why this happens and what can be done to avoid this? Please help me...  

need_help

[adgal]

I'm sorry your sister is going through this.  Unfortunately, first trimester miscarriage is fairly common, occuring about 30% of the time.

In the overwhelming majority of cases, it is due to something just not coming together properly at conception.  It is not due to something either parent did, and sadly there is nothing that can be done to prevent it.  If it has happened 3 times, most Dr.'s will then perform some tests to see if there is a medical of physical reason, but that is not often the case.  It's just bad luck.  I'm so sorry, and I hope your sister is doing ok.

[need_help_sister]

Thanks for the reply. My sis is ok. Actually she doesnt show her inner feelings to us as she s the strongest among us. I am really worried bout her thats why after reading all the post i thought u all can help me finding the answers so that i can help her coz its third time that this happens to my sister... Plz keep me posted if u find out any information regarding the same.... Thanks a lot

[adgal]

If this is her third loss, it is time for her to see her Dr.  Often Dr.'s will refer you at this point to a Pregnancy loss specialist, usually an RE.  Various tests can be done looking for physical or medical reasons for the continued loss.  I'm glad to hear your sister is doing well.  I know how hard it is to go through this multiple times.

[need_help_sister]

thanks a lot for the information