no yolk sac at 5 wks 4 days

[guatmommy]

I had an u/s this past Tues and there was a pregnancy but no yolk sac present.  My hcg level was 10,000 which went up appropraitely from the previous test.  Dr said my cervix was closed and uterus was soft as a pregnant uterus should be.  I just had a miscarriage in July due to abnormal chromosonmes.  I am so nervous.  I bled Mon night one time.  Then I bled on Wed one time.  A little clotting too.  Dr said this could be just normal spotting.  I go back on Tues for a repeat u/s and am just so nervous.  He did say sometimes the sac is hard to see if it is behind the placenta.  I also know I have a retroverted utuerus- if that matters- basically it is upside down.  Just want to kow if anyone has had similar experiences of not seeing and then seeing at 5+ wks.  Today I am 6 weeks and 1 day and hoping and praying to god that all is ok and when I go back on Tues (which seems so far away) that they will see the sac!!  Any advice/comments are welcome.  

[Keith Downing, MD]

Hello,

Your next ultrasound should give you a firm diagnosis of whether this is a normal pregnancy or not.  Having a retroverted uterus may affect the quality of the ultrasound, but a vaginal scan generally overcomes that problem.  The placenta should not be an issue at your gestational age.  

I wish you luck today.

Best regards,

Dr. Downing

[guatmommy]

My progesterone level had dropped from 14 to 7 but my HCG level increased.  Just spoke to my Dr and they are putting me on progesterone suppositories.  I don't understand why they didn't do this oin Tues and why I had to call to question this.  Is this drop very bad??... even though my hcg levels arehigh?

[heather n]

I do not know about the progesterone levels...did they volunteer that info or did you ask your p. level?  Good for you for pushing on that.  In the u/s, what do you mean that they saw a "pregnancy"....they found the gestational sac, but no yolk sac?  They didn't see a fetus yet, right?  Did you see what looked like just a grape/oval with nothing in it?  Apparently the yolk sac is supposed to be inside the bigger oval "grape".  Was the inside of the oval black or gray?

I had an u/s on Thursday and my hcg was 5440 on same day (1500 4 days earlier, 60 a week before that).  They did not find a yolk sac either!!!.  At first they told me that meant a failed pregnancy and I would need a D&C, so I grieved the lost and got ready for the surgery.  Then, they called yesterday (fri) saying that b/c my hcg blood test was so high that maybe I'm at 4 weeks not 6 weeks (ovulated way late) ---- so, it could be a normal pregnancy just early (4 weeks) or a Molar pregnancy at 6 weeks.  I go in on Monday for another u/s and yet another blood test.  Like you, I CANNOT WAIT for the weekend to go by.  Waiting is absolute torture.  There is a huge difference btwn molar and normal pregnancy!!  This is my first pregnancy ever at 30 so I am a nervous wreck.  If you want to just stay in touch this weekend and until Tuesday please let me know.  I am just waiting around like you.  Good luck...keep pushing those drs!!!!!!

[guatmommy]

They saw the gestational sac but nothing in it. I couldn't see the screen.  This is my 2nd preg.  I hada  miscarriage in July due to abnormal chromosones.  This is killing me thinking that possibly I have lost another baby.  I am dying waiting until Tues.  Def. let's stay in touch, my e-mail is ***@****

[1506emily]

I'm in your exact same boats!  I had an u/s on Fri. which showed an empty sac.  My hcg levels at the time were ~ 17,000, so they were saying I was 7 1/2 weeks pregnant and it was probably a blighted ovum.  I know I was only 5 1/2 weeks pregnant (I ovulate very late), which would most likely be too soon to see anything. I go in again next Friday for another u/s, and waiting is so hard.  Because of the aggressive transvaginal u/s (he pushed so hard on it, saying my uterus was slightly tipped), I began to bleed.  When I first saw the bright red blood, I thought for sure I was having a miscarriage, but then the bleeding stopped.  I'm still having some brownish spotting, but it's minor.  I'm going to call my doctor on Monday to see if they'll take another hcg level.  I don't know whether to be sad or hopeful-- I'm just praying for this pregnancy to proceed successfully if there is a viable baby in there.  Blessings to all of you!  

[guatmommy]

I know - this is very difficult- I feel like I o not know if I have miscarried.  I go back on TUes but it seems so far away.  I really want this baby----  and I do not want have to go through what I went through with my 1st mis., killed me emotionally.  I am hoping that when I go back they will see the baby and that my #'s went up, including the progesterone levels.  I am just hoping that my progesterone did not drop from the time they took the test til I requested supplements.  I am so confident that the 1st doctor mmessed up by not giving me supplements.  When I called and got a diff. dr, she put me on right away!    Is 5 1/2 weeks early to see anything????

[heather n]

5 1/2 weeks is right at the point where they should see the yolk sac and fetus.  However, I've heard that sometimes they develop later and it isn't until 6.5 weeks to see something.  Did your dr. ever go through the exact dates with you on when conception may have occured - taking into consideration that you ovulate very late?  Mine did not, in fact all I have seen since I first suspected I was pregnant are nurses and u/s tech.  Does this seem fishy????  I'm sure they are capable people, but it seems like a dr. would be able to diagnose these things right away.  The tech is the person who told me I would have to get a d&c.  I can't believe you started bleeding in the u/s!!!  Have you seen the dr since??  They should be guiding you as to what tests to do next, but I would definitely push for another Hcg test.  I think I am resided to the fact that I have to tell myself everything is fine b/c the anxiety is killing me....I can deal with disappointment better I think.  I also really want this baby and I think the only choice is to stay positive.  Let's keep in touch through our ultrasounds this week, k?  I will pray for you......heather

[heather n]

I am hoping for the exact same thing for tomorrow -- see the fetus and my numbers progressing normally.  From the research I've done, see above about 5 1/2 weeks.  I think most of the time they can see something, but like "temporaryID" and I, we ovulate late, so there is really no telling when exactly conception occurred.  Going back to your last period is just a guide.  So, I think 5 1/2 weeks works for people who are right on the money ovulating right on time, but it does not work like that for everyone.  I don't think the progresterone can hurt, but not taking them can do harm, so again, keep pushing!!  

When you guys saw the sac on the u/s, was it black on the inside or was it gray??  Mine was gray and the tech said it was filled with some sort of tissue....this is why I'm concerned it's molar -- which means two sperm fertilized an empty egg and turned into a tumor.  So, I'm praying that I'm just much earlier than what they thought.  However, the thing I cannot figure out is whether a normal u/s at 4/5 weeks looks gray inside or black???  So confused.  Do you think there is something wrong that I haven't seen the dr. yet?

[guatmommy]

I know my exact date of conception- it is 9/6.  What does that mean- does that mean my weeks could be off?  I did not see the u/s- the dr ttilted it the other way.  I am not seeing this dr anymore- I am so upset with him for the progesterone mess up.  i am going to see one of the other associates.  I don't understand why you haven't seen a dr yet...  I would demand to see a DR!!!   I can't believe the sono tech told you that---  she has no right to say that!  

[Tiffany08]

I've been trying to decide if I should even comment on this because I really don't want to scare you. I also had a m/c a few months ago and am pregnant again, so I have an idea what you are going through. With the m/c, I had an u/s at 7 wks, everything was fine, but I also had blood work done that day. My progesterone fell from 50ish to 12. They told me anything under 15 is cause for concern. They put me on suppositories also, but it was too late. When I went in for the next u/s at 9 wks, the baby no longer had a hb. It was the sono tech that also told me I would need a d and c, but that was her job. She looks at these all the time and knew what she saw, I was not angry with her in the least. With this pregnancy (I am 6 wks now), my progesterone was 150 the day I missed my period and the dr put me on progesterone suppositories even though that is an extremely high level, just in case. It has slowly fallen, and is now 125, but still high enough to be above normal. My biggest point here is that yes, you should have seen the doctor by now I think, and since you have already had one m/c, maybe they should have put you on progesterone right away regardless of the numbers, my doctor told me you can never have too much progesterone, only not enough. One thing I have learned is to speak up at the office, if you think you need something or want to see the doctor, tell them and be adamant.  You aren't there to make friends, you are there to have a healthy baby. Good luck and I hope I have helped instead of caused more anxiety for you, please know that is not my intention at all...all I ever wanted was someone to be honest with me and tell me if there was cause for concern.

[Tiffany08]

The doctor also told me that although he couldn't tell me why I miscarried, the drop in progesterone was an indicator that it was going to happen. I was also very angry with them for not telling me this at the time. However, your progesterone only dropped a few milligrams (or whatever they measure it in) so it may mean nothing. And they did tell me that under 15 is cause for concern, but pregnancies can sustain much lower numbers.

[1506emily]

I'm sending good thoughts your ways.  The u/s tech. and radiologist both would not listen when I said that I was only 5 1/2 weeks along.  They kept saying, "But your lmp was 8/11"  I was taking ovulation kits, and they never even came close to indicating that I ovulated-- I took them through Day 35.  I had a negative preg. test on 9/21-- didn't see a positive one until 9/24, so I couldn't have ovulated until more like Days 37-40.  

At this point, I'm still spotting, which I did for 2 weeks (weeks 12-13) with my daugther, who is now
2 1/2.  I just want answers.  I have hope, but I'm so afraid it's false hope.  I hope we're all able to gain more knowledge about our individual experiences in the coming week.  I'll keep you all updated.        

[heather n]

Thanks so much for you thoughts....I think we just don't know what to think and honestly probably only time will tell.  However, I feel that if we are armed with as much knowledge as possible it helps us guide the dr.s as they are humans too.  Sounds like the progesterone suppositories are key.  Did you ask about your progesterone levels?  I have not been given that information at all.  I will ask tomorrow.  How wonderful you are past the m/c and on your second pregnancy!!!  I wish you the best of luck........heather

[heather n]

Thank you for your input.  It seems like you really just have to take control of your own pregnancy and make sure everything is in line.  Were you able to see anything at your 5 1/2 week u/s?

[1506emily]

No, I wasn't able to see anything. My next u/s is this coming Friday (10/12), and I'll be 6 1/2 weeks.  That's when I'm hoping to see something.  With my daughter, I didn't have my first u/s until almost 8 weeks, and at that point I could see a definite heartbeat.  Early medical technologies can be very beneficial, but I feel like they often times just end up scaring people.  

[heather n]

I totally agree.......most people barely know they are pregnant and I've been following this every step of the way -- all of the ups and downs.  

[Tiffany08]

The first pregnancy I didn't know much about anything so I didn't ask questions until a couple of days after they would tell me something. I'm sure the nurses got annoyed because I would call all the time and say, "About that phone call 2 days ago....what exactly does this mean" but that's their job. This time I ask about everything, I don't think the nurses would have put me on progesterone if I hadn't asked about it. When I had the d&c the doctor told me that when I got pregnant again he would start me on progesterone no matter what as soon as I get pregant. When the nurse called and told me my levels, I asked her about the suppositories. She acted like I was crazy because my progesterone was so high, but I pushed it and sure enough once she asked the doctor he told her to give me a prescription for it. I have thyroid problems too, I had mine removed about 15 years ago, and I have to constantly make the nurses check my levels or they would only do it every 8 weeks, and those levels have a lot to do with getting and staying pregnant. So, yes, I ask about everything now, and I don't care if they get annoyed with me. :) Thanks for the good thoughts, best of luck to you as well...I firmly believe you have to take control of your pregnancy as there is no way the nurses could possibly care as much about your pregnancy as you do, and as you said, they are only human.

[Tiffany08]

I just read the part where you said your hcg was 17000 and that meant you were 7 1/2 weeks and not 5 1/2...my hcg levels were 24000 at 6 weeks, and the nurse told me that anywhere between 15000 and 200,000 were normal at that point. So, I don't think they can judge how far along you are by that. The sono tech told me the only way to know for sure is when they measure the fetal pole, and when I went at 6 wks, it was too small to measure. But she did see the yolk sac and even a hb. Keep positive and good luck at your next u/s!

[stephie4]

i had my ultrasound at 5 weeks 6 days, only saw yolk sac.  going back tomorrow.  i should be 6 weeks 6 days,  

had 2 previous miscarriages only yolk sacs no fetus.

i am very lucky to have an 11 year old, i understand, its very very difficult emotionally, and the waiting is horrible...  I just want to know one way or the other so i can start moving forward, and try again soon if i need to.

let us know how your ultrasound goes.

[heather n]

Ok, nausea has started as of yesterday....feel terrible.  This can be sign of any options discussed earlier.  Going to get another blood test and u/s tooday, please send good thoughts a prayers my way -- this is it!  My thoughts are for all of you as well....  

[guatmommy]

Hi Heather- Just wanted to lket you know that I am thinking of you today!  Let us know how you make out w/ the u/s.  I go tom. night--- it can't come quick enough, I hate the waiting!  I just want to see something on that u/s...lol... I do not want to go through another m/c and not knowing if I am or not is just killing me!  Good luck to you today- and I am thinking of you!  

[guatmommy]

I was I think 5 weeks 4 days and all they saw was thegestational sac.  I am hoping and praying that they see something tomorrow.  I had a m/c in July- it was awful... emotionally.  I have a 3 yo daughter who I adopted from Guatemala and everyday I thank god for her as she is truly a blessing!  So- lets hope and pray that today brings good news for Heather and that tomorrow wil bring good news for me!!  

[heather n]

Just got back....good news and bad news.  They did actually find TWO yolk sacs in the gestational sac - twins, they literally became visible since Thursday.  Can't see anything in them yet, but they are there.  However, there is a still unidentifiable growth IN the gestational sac also.  So, within the sac there are the two small yolk sacs and the larger other mass.  They said it is not taking any blood from the me/my uterus, so not sure if it's actually growing.  I really pushed and got them to make an appointment with the dr. tomorrow at 12:45 EST to identify the "mass".  I am still a nervous wreck -- they don't know what the thing is!  So, guatmammy, we will be thinking of you tomorrow...it's tomorrow night, right??

[Tiffany08]

YAY on the twins news! That is great, no wonder you are feeling so crappy right? I don't know what to make of the other "growth"...they don't have any idea what it might be? I just looked at my 6 wk ultrasound picture and inside the gestastional sac is grey, then there's a little "bubble" inside and a little white speck above the bubble, they said that was the baby. Do you have any idea how far along you are with today's u/s? Did you get bloodwork done to check all your levels again? Way to go pushing on the appt. tomorrow. Keep me informed, I've been thinking about you!