6-7 weeks pregnant slow heart beat & irregular gestation sac

Hi all

I am hoping somebody else has been through this with a positive outcome. I have been for my 2nd ultrasound today as they could not detect a heartbeat at the first & did not think I measured far enough along. Anyway they have seen the heartbeat today & I do measure as I should for my dates BUT the heartbeat is not as fast as it should be. They did not tell me what it was. Also the gestation sac is an irregular shape. Basically I have been told, once again, to prepare for the worst as this usually means miscarriage. Has anybody been through this either way?

[adgal]

I haven't personally, but it has come up here before.  Typically an irregularly shaped sac and a slow heartbeat is not a good sign.  I'm sorry, I don't like to say something like that, but I do have to be honest.   However, anything is possible.  If this were me, I would prepare for the worst and hope for the best.  I am so very sorry, I know how hard this is.  I haven't had this exact situation, but I have been in the wait and see period and had losses.  Please take care and let us know how you are doing.

[trying43]

Hi there.  With my first pregnancy I went through this.  The heartbeat was slow and the baby measured small.  After 3 ultrasounds and bloodwork the babys heartbeat at 8w5d stopped and I had a d&c the next day.  I am sorry you are going through this, I hope all turns out ok for you, good luck.

[LisaL18]

I had an irregular sac shape on one ultrasound, like an hourglass, the HB was ok but my dr referred me for amore specialized U/S.  On this scan the sac was normal appearing.  So some hope...

[kellym]

I have had a slow HB but that was right at 6 weeks... The only positive thing that my Dr. said was that the sac was normal and measuring to gestational age. That being said, the irregular sac bothers me. I wish I knew exactly how far along you were, 6 weeks to 7 weeks is a huge difference when it comes to HB. Also, it would have helped had I known how fast the HB was.  It bothers me that they didn't tell you.... It could be 40 or 90, Huge difference!  Well, I hope they said come back in a week for a follow up, Keep us posted, Hugs!

[Oddbod]

I am in the UK and it seems we are not given as much information as in the USA. We also are not able to have as many tests done. Guess it is all about the money. I have to go back in two weeks. They said it is usually 3 weeks but they won't keep me waiting that long.Phew!!! The Sonographer did not make the heartbeat seem like such a big deal. She said it was probably because I am so early on and she didn't mention anything about the irregular sac. It was only when I spoke to the nurse afterwards I was put more in the picture. Once again I am praying for a miracle. Thanks for all of your help/advise I prefer to know every scenario.

[kellym]

Gosh, well I wish you a healthy and SPEEDY 2 weeks.  It will seem like forever but better give the bean enough time to hopefully grow big and strong by then!

[Oddbod]

Update after scan. AAGHH!!!! I am still in the same situation. There was still a heartbeat although slower than normal, the sac still seemed an irregular shape and baby had only grown 1mm. So really not looking good at all. Trying to hope I just have a lazy, chilled out little bean that will suddenly get with it and grow like billyo with a super strong heartbeat. I have to go back next Monday for another scan. While there is still a heartbeat I cling onto a little bit of hope...like perhaps because I have a unicornuate uterus and it is tilted that they cannot get the correct measurements. My heart was also skipping beats as I was so scared when lying there...could that have affected the babies heartbeat? For the past two weeks I have felt a twinge on the side it is at...now worried it is on the fibroids I was told about in May. I was told not to worry abou them as they looked like they were going and were only 5mm. Very, very emotional today with a big fat knot in my stomache.

[adgal]

Hi there.  I am so sorry you are still going through this.  The wait and see is the worst...I wish there was some other way.

Don't worry to much about the fibroids.  I have two as well, and was concerned about them.  Much depends on the positioning of them.  In my case they did not impact anything at all.

I know this is so emotional...I truly hope all turns out well for you.

[Oddbod]

Hi update from me after scan yesterday.......the baby's heartbeat had stopped and there hadn't been any growth since the week before so that's that. I didn't see an understanding nurse afterwards...just somebody who wanted me to make my mind up whether I wanted to take a tablet to expel baby or have it sucked out under anaesthetic. She didn't once say she was sorry or that I could wait & see whether the baby would come away naturally. She frightened me to death further by telling me that when they do the ERPC method (suck out) "they are going in blind so can sometimes rupture the uterus or bowel and then you have to have another operation to sort that out......you will have to sign a consent form first".
I feel like it is a double blow. I have lost my most wanted baby and now have to go through some horrendous ordeal that scares the life out of me. At the moment I am hoping I can bring the miscarriage on myself with long walks. I need to get rid of some of this anger...mostly directed at the nurse at the moment.
Has anybody had any of these procedures?????

[Birds71]

I'm so sorry you're going through this.  the added blow is the nurse who should be giving you warm fuzzies at this point.  So, so sorry for your loss and the anger you feel.

I'm not sure what ERPC stands for, but wondering if it's the same procedure we have in the US called a D&C.  This is where you are under anesthesia and they remove the fetus.  I had this done in mid-July when I was about 14 weeks along.  You are fully knocked out, so I was amazed when they woke me up and said everything was done.  The worst part was probably just all the prep they did and the waiting.  Afterwards, it was just like bad period cramping and I spotted for maybe a week.  You may feel more comfortable letting nature take it's course, which sounds like it could be a good option for you.

I never understand why someone would want to be in the medical field if they don't have a good bed-side manner!?  You deserved better and I hope any other nurses or doctors you see are 100 times better.

wishing you lots of hugs and best of luck.  :)

[Alexis2358]

First of all let me say, I'm so sorry that you are having to go thru any of this.   I know this pain well myself.    I've had 2 m/c's in the past and one of them was approximately the same time period that you are at.   I also had a very rude dr. that I was dealing with that posed the exact same question immediately as I sat up from the u/s.    My DH was with me and we were both in the room with our heads reeling from the hurt, disapointment and complete lack of understanding of what was happening.   We had gone to the appointment to see our baby, not deal with the loss of our baby.

I did 3 weeks later decide to use the medication to make the m/c happen.   I tried to wait it out, I found a different doctor in the partnership that was very nice and gave me all the options and the down side of each one.    He let me wait 3 weeks, but then you start to "risk" possible infection.    After 3 weeks, I took the meds, started having contractions and expelled the sac.     It was a very very sad moment.    I never contemplated the D&C as at my age I didn't want to risk any damage to my uterus.    

Have faith....I'm 43 years old and now almost 16 weeks pregnant.    That m/c was in February and by July I was pregnant again with a beautiful healthy son.     Keep walking thru this dark moment you are in right now and hopefully very soon you will be blessed with a beautiful miracle.

[Oddbod]

Thanks so much Birds71 & Alexis2358 for sharing your experiences of what worked for you. I am still going for the natural method at the moment. I lost a baby in May at 8 weeks and that took 2 weeks to come out but it wasn't so bad. Just a couple of days of cramping & heavy bleeding followed by bleeding similar to a period. I never saw a heartbeat with that one so it wasn't as real. The ERPC is the same as a D&C. That worries me as I am always ill with aneasthetic so I would have to stay in overnight, away from my 7yr son. I am also worrying about scar tissue as I am 36 yrs old. This is my 3rd miscarriage now so I am able to have testing to find if there are any factors causing them. I do worry though that I won't pass it naturally & will start to become ill. I am going to wait until Monday & if nothing has happened will go & see my GP, who is very understanding & I trust. I was so shocked by that nurse as I say I have had 2 miscarriages prior to this - one at 20 weeks & 1 at 8 weeks & I have been blown away by how wonderful the staff have been. They have been so understanding & so respectful. She was definitely a bad egg & doing the wrong job grr!!!