Newbie here- No heart beat on US

[StuckInLimbo]

So yesterday was our first doctor appointment.  This is our first pregnancy.  I'm 38 yo, in good health.  We were so excited to get our questions answered, and when she decided to do an US I was thrilled! By my calculations, I was about 8 or 9 weeks pregnant.  I wasn't totally sure on dates.  

So onto the US...  the tech was super quiet and didn't explain a thing.  I asked if one thing I saw was the baby and she said, "no that's the sac."  So she took a million measurements and her eyes didn't leave the screen.  She then said she'd get the doctor.  I knew something was wrong.  

The doctor called us into her office and said that the fetal age is 6 weeks, 5 days.  There was no heart beat.  She said that it was a miscarriage and scheduled a D&C for today.  Well, after speaking to my mom (who is a nurse and works with OB patients), she recommended to NOT have the D&C right away.  Instead I went for blood work last night.  BETA/HCG was 32,195 and Progesterone was 11.23.  I'm going again tomorrow to see what the levels are doing.  I've had NO symptoms of miscarriage, no spotting whatsoever.  I still have pregnancy symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, and headaches.  The doctor also said my uterus is tilted (not quite sure what that means).

So I've read a lot of older posts on here and it appears that many people have had this same or similar situation.  If the baby is only 6 weeks, 5 days, could it be too early to detect the heart beat?  I don't want to hold onto false hope, but I cannot go through with a D&C without knowing for certain that the pregnancy isn't viable.  I'm actually a bit surprised she was pushing for the D&C so quickly.  I obviously was in no mindset to make such a huge decision so quickly.  

I'm praying for a miracle!  Any advice, comments, similar experiences???

[StuckInLimbo]

Well, some news...
I just got my second set up lab results back.  The doctor called it a "cloudy picture."  The BETA went up to 36,959 and the Progesterone went up to 14.79.  I know the BETA should have increased by more than that, but I'm taking it as a good sign that it went up a bit.  It was about 1 1/2 days between labs.  She wants me to get labs again on Friday and then do another US on Tuesday.  I have been hoping and praying so much for this little peanut, and I really would love to prove the US tech and doctor wrong!  

This forum is so amazing!  I am so thankful to have found it!  

[crissy578]

We didnt get a heartbeat on my fetus until 7 weeks, so hang on!!! Dont get that D&C until you are for sure about the situation.

[ChristineMP]

You are very welcome. I would love to see you post a follow up when you get all your results back. You will be in my prayers...hope you see a beautiful heartbeat on us next week!

[StuckInLimbo]

Thank you, Christine!!  I am definitely going to stick to my guns here and get blood work and ask for a follow up US next week.  I'm almost certain that the fetal age is at least 6 weeks, so hopefully it is just too early.  I'm praying and hoping!

Thanks so much for your post and prayers!  :)

[ChristineMP]

I really hate it when doctors rush to a D&C. Listen to your mom...she sounds as though she has more sense than your doctor (and honestly, consider switching doctors!)

Due dates and gestational age based upon the first day of the last menstrual period (LMP) are useful but in some cases, they can be very inexact. It is based on the assumption that a woman has a 28 day cycle and ovulated of Day 14 of that cycle. Guess what? Few women follow that schedule...and sometimes our cycles are even more off than others! You may have ovulated later than your LMP suggests, in which case your baby WOULD be smaller.

A GOOD doctor would do a second ultrasound a week after the first to see if the baby is growing AND would draw blood for your hCG levels twice, 2-4 days apart. Only if those tests indicate a miscarriage (no fetal growth, hCG levels not increasing at normal rate) should he/she consider a D&C

You will be in my prayers (((hug)))