No one else to ask!

[Sameerah]

Good morning all you mummies/mummies to be. I haven't posted for a while so here goes.

I had my LMP on the 17th of November and when i found out that i was pregnant;i was over the moon! However my Hitler of a doctor told me (and none too gently) that there was trouble in paradise - she should have been able to see the fetal poles in my u/s taken on the 6 Jan. So without any more blood tests she asked me to have a D&C (my HCG level was 7000). I waited it out and called an old family friend who asked me to have an HCG test, wait a day and have another one - and only if the levels were dropping should i go in for one. The tests came back, 15,800 and then 17600! So I'm having another u/s tomorrow.

Although I'm hoping for the best its very difficult to be in limbo. I have so many questions that i hope someone can help me out with:

1. When should you be able to see fetal poles

2. When should i be able to hear the heartbeat

3. I don't know if I'm calculating it wrong - but someone please tell me how many weeks gone am I?

I've been through hell and back in teh last week - so if anyone has any advise for me - it would be very much appreciated!

[nurse12hr]

You can go to parenthood.com and find the due date calculator, but I entered in your LMP and came up with a due date of 8/23/04.  Bear in mind this is based on a 28 day cycle, and is of course an estimate.  You are approx 8 weeks pregnant now.

Your doctor should be able to see a fetus and a heart rate when you get your ultrasound tomorrow, especially if the ultrasound is done transvaginally.

Good luck, I hope everything goes well.

That site, www.parenthood.com, is a great one. Check it out!

[Kassimom]

I would follow the advice of gpereyra and get a second opinion. According to what I have read, fetal heartbeat is BEST detected after the 10th week, but can be picked up as early as the 8th in SOME people. I know it must be hard not knowing and constantly wondering.

[Kristen26]

The heartbeat can be "doppled" best after the 10th week, but a transvaginal ultrasound can pick up the heartbeat a lot sooner. I believe at 6 weeks.

[nurse12hr]

By ultrasound, it should be visible at around 8 weeks.  Of course there are exceptions, but a transvaginal ultrasound should give her the information she needs.  

Here is a quote from an ACOG site:

"Once the hCG value is known, it can indicate whether the pregnancy is far enough along to be visible in the uterus. For example, an intrauterine pregnancy will be seen on transvaginal sonogram by the time hCG levels reach, on average, 2,000. If the hCG value is more than 2,000 and the pregnancy isn't visible on transvaginal scan, it's likely that the pregnancy is located outside the uterus, in the fallopian tube or other abnormalities may be present.

Since these values depend somewhat on the type of hCG test used and the sensitivity of the ultrasound equipment, your ultrasound unit will have its own specific standardized cutoff levels."

But,absolutely, if you are not comfortable, wait and get another ultrasound in another week.

[Kassimom]

Transvaginal U/S is what exactly. When they INSIDE with a camera? And what is the other U/S called?

[nurse12hr]

Transvaginal ultrasonography is when they do an ultrasound via a probe inserted into the vagina.  Details are vastly superior when done this way, versus an abdominal ultrasound (done on the outside of the abdomen only).

To "doppler" a heart rate is to listen thru a special amplifying device right thru the mothers abdominal wall.  In some individuals, you can hear the fetal hear rate this way at 8-10 weeks.

[Wildfire1073]

I am 10 weeks today and went in for a transvaginal ultrasound last week at 9 weeks.  You could see the baby and the heartbeat was awesome.  I'm only about 13 days ahead of you and my hcg at 8 weeks was 103,181.  I don't know if this helps or not but thought maybe from a comparison standpoint you might get some info.  Hope everything works out for you.  Also don't always believe what the doctors say, get a second opinion for God's sake.  I went to one at 7 weeks and he told me I wasn't even pregnant with an hCG of 5 this after blood test at the hospital said I was.  I went the very next week and my hCG was 103,181.  Anyway, let's us know what happens and good luck!

[Kassimom]

And do most dr's have this transvaginal u/s if they have the abdominal one? Can I ask for it or do they only do it if they suspect a problem?

[kck]

Do not get a D&C until you feel absolutely certain that the baby has no chance. It is your right to wait until you are comfortable with the diagnosis.  Rising HCGs indicate growth.  Whether the growth is at an appropriate rate, you should know at this next ultrasound.  Any chance you are just not as far along as you think?  When was your positive pregnancy test?  Maybe you ovulate really late, like me, and you aren't as far along as the doctor thought.  Good luck!

[hther]

They usually do have both ultrasound capabilities. They usually try the tummy first and if nothing can be seen they do the vaginal u/s.

Heather

[pennywav]

I'm in the same boat...lmp 1-21-04...no fetal pole...1st beta 12000...2nd 14000...it's early! Let's stay positive!