No fetal heartbeat at 10 weeks pregnant

[Willma]

Yesterday, I went to my doctor's office for an appointment.  I had some light spotting in the morning but it was gone by the time I went to my appointment.  The doctor still thought it would be a good idea to have an ultra sound.  At first, the tech could not see the baby just by using the ultra sound on my stomach so I had a vaginal ultra sound.  The baby did not appear to be moving and the tech could not find a heartbeat.  She said the baby was measuring nine weeks that it had stopped growing and there was no heartbeat.  I instantly felt tears roll down my face.  I was in shock.  It was not the news I was expecting to hear.  It truly is devasting to hear your baby has no heartbeat.  The doctor is recommending a D& C but he also said I could do it naturally but would probably still need a D& C.  He can't do the D& C until late next week.  We are suppose to be going on vacation to an island with some medical support.  Should I go on vacation and hope to not miscarry?  If I do miscarry on vacation exactly how much medical attention will I need?  I really do not want to stay home and just sit around thinking about it.  I would still have to wait at home at least a week before the D& C.  Does anyone have any advice about miscarriages?  How painful?  Is a D& C easier to cope with?  Please help.

[Simplelives]

I guess we are all not alone in this horrible time. I'm so sorry to anyone that has experienced a loss of an unborn child no one should ever have to go through that :( This is my 2nd pregnancy and 2nd loss in less then a year. First pregnancy the sac did not grow and my hcg levels weren't rising. They did the ultrasound and blood tests but they couldn't see the baby I was 6 weeks pregnant at the time. I didn't believe the first dr I went to I couldn't believe that he told me I needed to have an abortion. I went home in tears he was just so not empathetic at all and made me feel like it was no big deal..  Anyways I went for more blood tests and still my hcg levels were really low and suggested an abortion right away.. So I went to another doctor and sure enough it was true the baby never developed :( but the doctor suggested a dnc not an abortion which made me feel a little better. For me it was the most painful thing I ever had to go through in my entire life... I was in pain for a month, I will never do it again just in my opinion, the pain was a constant reminder of our loss. :( but we made it through but then we got pregnant once again about 6 months later. I was suppose to be due aug 6 of this year. :(

Now this is our 2nd pregnancy, I went to see my doctor he checked me and everything seemed fine. So he told me to schedule a blood test and ultrasound so I did. My blood hcg levels were rising so I thought good news. Went for my ultrasound about 4 days later and this time we saw the baby but no heart beat and they said that it was bad news again :( I am 10 weeks or suppose to be and the baby stopped growing at 8 weeks!! I just can't believe it happened again... I keep praying that its not true and that our baby will keep growing but I have a feeling I am wrong :( I refuse to do a dnc again so If its suppose to happen and I miscarry won't it just happen? Or do I have to do another dnc? I can't bare the pain again it's a scary thing even though the procedure is fast its scary and I don't think I can handle that again.. I feel like its my fault we lost another baby I just feel so empty and like my world is crushed again.. I want to try again but now I am scared for this happening a 3rd time. I pray for anyone else who has been through the same situation. Its not easy for a woman to go through.
Lets try and hope for the best all future mothers to be.

[Butterfly_Baybee2005]

Hello,
My name is Holly. I am 20 years old. I am planning on going off the pill (i have been on it for 3 years now) in November. I hope to get pregnant right away so I can give the news to my in-laws and my parents as an xmas gift. Do people usually have problems conceiving the first few months they go off the pill? How does it work? I also want to lose weight before I have a baby. As it is I am not comfortable in my skin. If anyone has suggestions or would like to chat, please email me at butterfly_baybee2005***@**** I will respond to everyone!
Also, will you only conceive on certain days of the month? I can use as much information as I can

[IWantToBeAMom]

Call your ob/gyn, tell whoever answers the phone that you want to ask a nurse a question.  Tell the nurse exactly what you told us and ask what she recommends.  Go from there.  I think they might want to see you...

[jamnin]

I had a D & C two days ago, after finding out at 9 1/2 weeks that there was no heartbeat.  The D & C seemed to go fine.  Very little cramping, bleeding or pain the first day.  Today I am having cramping and red bleeding, not a great deal, but bleeding nonetheless.  Can anyone tell me if I should be worried about that or is this normal?  I was told I'd have some cramping and spotting for a day or two, but it wouldn't be red?????

[dharmon]

so sorry to hear about your loss.  I too went through the same thing. I had mc and had d&c, almost 6 weeks ago.  I was 9 1/2 weeks pregnant, but had no cramping or bleeding, only way I found out I mc was a routine u/s at 9 1/2 weeks, there was no heartbeat and it stopped growing at 7 1/2 weeks, it was very unexpected.  I would recommend a d&c.  I also counldn't stand the thought of walking around and waiting for it to happen naturally, it already hurt emotionally enough.  Actually I just got my 1st period today...I was worried it would take longer.  My thoughts are with you!

[Liza55]

I also recently went thru the very same thing. My first routine u/s at 11 wks revealed the baby died at ard.9 wks. I'm an RN and routinely do D&C's myself on m/c at work. I felt very comfortable w/the procedure as well as what it's actually doing (clearing literally dead tissue). My experience was painful during the procedure (about 4 mins long w/lots of cramping),but very little bleeding and cramping afterwards. To me the biggest thing was psychological- I couldn't phathom the thought of 'waiting' for my body to m/c, sitting days w/the baby inside me. I began my 'closure' to it all right after the d/c. Also, as I wrote elsewhere- I, personally, couldn't stomach the thought of looking at every clot on my pad, every cramp I felt, and every bit of blood flushed down my toilet and wondering if it was part of my baby. I was home Tues. by noon w/it all behind me. M/c is so shocking and painful- no matter how you deal w/it our thoughts and feelings are w/ you...

[carolyn55806]

I am so sorry for what you are going through. I have had 2 miscarriages and I understand. I think the fact that your Doc said that you could try to mc naturally but you'd probably still need a D&C is HORRIBLE and untrue advice. Don't rush into a D&C unless medically necessary because it is so invasive. Your body, more than likely, will take care of it just fine on it's own. My thoughts are with you.

[Willma]

Thank you all for your support and suggestions.  They mean a lot to me during this difficult time.  I did just start cramping they feel like contractions. I do have bright red blood with some clots. Is this the miscarriage?  Are the clots part of the baby?  How will I know when I've passed the baby and the miscarriage is over?  Thanks.

[mslkpage]

I am also very sorry for your loss, and have been in your shoes.  In February, I found out at 12 weeks that I had a blighted ovum.  I chose to have the D&C done instead of waiting to miscarry.  We decided to TTC again in May, and I got pg again quickly.  We found out in July that this time it was ectopic...and we were about to go on vacation.  My dr. told me to stay close to home.  I had another D&C to make sure that there was no interuterine tissue, and that was followed by a shot of methotrexate.  There is little physical discomfort with a D&C.  It's the emotional pain that makes it hard.  Again, I am very sorry, and you are in my thoughts and prayers.

[MindyM]

You have to go to the doctor so they can examine you even if you do miscarry "naturally".  You have to make sure that all the non-uterine tissue has been expelled.  Please see a doctor very soon!

[Stacie30]

I had a similar experience to yours. I am so sorry for your loss. nothing in my life has compared to the emotional and physical pain of losing a baby.

get the D&C before you leave. here's why. one- chances are if you have already been spotting a little bit the miscarriage will hit you full force soon- if not while you are on vacation.. and two- miscarriages hurt as bad as labor pains, if not worse- and there is no reason to put yourself through that-especially involuntarily (on vacation and no place you trust to do a d&c).

i wanted to wait and let nature take its course with mine- that was until I felt the contractions (which started in the middle of the night btw) as soon as my docts office opened the next day I was on the phone...

don't put yourself through unecessary pain and heartache. this is going to be bad enough. get it taken care of before you go. trust me on this one.

[Christie2004]

Does the ferry run at night?  It always seems like most emergencies happen then!  Be sure they run every hour, 24/7.

I'd still be leary of going.  If you have never seen a life threatening obstetrical hemmorhage...you don't want to.  While not common, it is not unheard of to be in serious danger within a very, very short amount of time.  

If you chose to go, take your medical records with you, including your most recent hemoglobin results and your blood type and rh.  Your doctor will release these to you (or simply tell you) if you ask.  Take it easy and be careful.  Bleeding more than a pad an hour for 2 to 3 hours or severe pain is a sign you will need to be seen IMMEDIATELY.

Good luck.  I can certainly understand how you would want to try to relax for a bit if you can.

[Willma]

Thanks for your support.  They have four doctor offices on the island. Six miles off the island is a New York hospital you just have to take a ferry to get there.  At the nearby hospital they can do an emergency D& C.  My doctor doesn't want me to go but I can't imagine just sitting around the house waiting. At least there I can wait at the beach.  Thanks again.  Still not sure.

[blondie72]

I am with Christie.  I would not go on vaca just yet.  I am so sorry you are going through this.  I too had the same thing happen in Sept of 2003.  I was 12 weeks along and all of a sudden felt great, had energy, was no longer sick or tired and I thought because I had no bleeding or cramping I was just entering my second trimester and it was going to be a great pregnancy.  I went in for my u/s and we saw the baby.  It was perfect.  You could make out the head, arms and legs.  You could even see it's thumb in it's mouth.  After a while the tech said they could NOT find a h/b.  The baby had died about 2 weeks before.  I did have the D&C and if this happens again I would do the D&C again.  It was not bad at all except the first time they did not get everything and I bled heavily but after the 2nd D&C 2 weeks later all was fine.  I was even pregnant again in Dec. of 2003.  I would have the D&C done if I were you.  That way you do not have to sit around and watch this happen to you.  I wish you luck and I am so sorry.  Time will heal your pain trust me.  Every Christmas though we light a candle in honor of our baby and say a little prayer.  I still tear up.  The image of the baby on the screen looking so perfect still haunts me from time to time as well.  It will get easier though I promise.  Hang in there and let us know how all turns out.

[blondie72]

It definitely sounds like the start of your m/c.  I am so sorry.  I would get a hold of your Dr or maybe go to the ER and see if anything can be done.  Good Luck to you.  Take Care

[37yomommy2be]

I'm so very sorry for your loss.  I recently went through the same thing.  I was so heartbroken, and the cramping and bleeding just seemed to magnify my pain, so I opted for the D&C.  The pregnancy symptoms, spotting, and cramping stopped in 1 week after the procedure.  It was the right decision for me because it helped my body bounce back rather quickly.  Have you told your doctor that you are going out of town?  I would a schedule could be re-arranged to accomodate you traveling.  A natural miscarriage could be quite painful and might take several days, so I cannot imagine trying to "vacation" in the middle of the pain and grief even if there is medical care available.  Good luck to you.

[Christie2004]

I'm so sorry for what you are going through.

I'd be pretty hesitant to go somewhere remote with the danger of miscarrying hanging over your head.  Usually, the bleeding is not severe, but occasionally there can be complications that could make it into a dangerous situation.  Even if the island has some medical support--often times clinics in remote areas are not open at night.
  
Ask your doctor his/her opinion.  Call the medical places on the island to find out exactly what can and can't be done for you in your situation, and to make sure they are 24 hour facilities.  

Again, I'm so sorry about your situation.