when should the fetal pole be evident?

[kittymommy]

I am hoping someone can offer some clarification.  I received bad news today at my 1st u/s.  I am 7 weeks 2 days since LMP, and the Dr saw a gestational sac but no fetal pole or heart beat.  He is certain that the fetus never developed, and that a miscarriage is imminent.  I asked that another doctor review the u/s findings just to be sure, and she agreed with the diagnosis.  I guess my question is does anyone know at what gestational age the fetal pole should be apparent?  I can't really find anything on the internet that specifically addresses this.  Everything I have read says that the heartbeats may not be detectable until 8 weeks, but I can't find anything concrete on the fetal pole development.  As many of you can completely understand from your own experiences, I am devastated by this news and am just trying to be absolutely 200% certain that there is NO BABY before I make my decision about the D&C.  I had a miscarriage in July 04 and it completed itself naturally, but it took 6 painful weeks to do so.  I am considering the D&C this time to bring some closure and to move on with my life.  What a crappy thing to have happen especially right before the holidays.  I am thankful that I found this website, it has been a source of great comfort and clarification to me during the last several months.  Thanks for any info you may have to share.

[Naz1972]

This blog is old but feel I should share my story. I'm in the uk and paid for a private early US on Saturday 19th March. I was told it was bad news as she found a sac and yolk but no fetal pole or heart beat. Although very upset and shocked I refused to believe it after still feeling sick and very tired. I went to my doc on the Monday and she sent me to the hospital today (wed) where I was shown the sac the yolk my baby and the heart beat. So go with your gut. My LMP was 26/01/2016 which would of put me at 8 weeks 1 day today. I'm actually 6+. Everyone is different and I obviously ovulated late. So chin up ladies they are not always right x

[vada626]

I know I am reading this a few years from the date u first posted. But iwanted to share my experience. I had no idea I was pregnant. I wound up in the er for complications with my asthma when a urine sample confirmed I was pregnant. Since I was bleeding I feared the worse. An emergency ultrasound was performed and I was told there was no yolk sac and no fetal pole or heart beat. My Hcg levels placed me at 6 weeks pregnant. The er doctor told me that from the ultrasound I was having a miscarriage. I was terrified. I followed up with my ob 2 weeks later, a urine sample confirmed I was pregnant. So my ob set an ultrasound for 2 more weeks. At that visit I saw my daughter and heard her strong heart beat!!! She just had her 3rd birthday!!! Miracles can happen. And doctors aren't always right.

[JRabbit314]

Thank you so much for sharing! I was in the ER today...I am 7 weeks pregnant and have been bleeding so I was concerned...I got a pelvic exam and a vaginal US. The doctor told me there was no fetal pole and that I was going to miscarry. I have been a mess for hours but after reading this I have hope!❤

[Million_millenia]

So this literally just happened to me .. according to my lmp I'm suppose to be 10w 2d . But what happened was I conceived way after the fact . my first u/s all that was visible was a gestational sac I got the same unfortunate news as you except I was just not okay with taking a tablet and ending it I held off 2 weeks for another u/s badabing there it is my baby inside that sac. Sometimes are lmp aren't accurate. Some technicians  dont have the best equipment .. although those 2 weeks were pure horror everything turned out just fine. I hope everything turns out okay for u.

[Momyof02]

I went to the doctor and hospital,the yolk sac is present,but no fetal pole is seen,I am 6 weeks and 1 day ,this is my 3 pregnancy,what should I do,should I be worried

[Robynb3]

I am completely heartbroken.  I went in for my 6 week 1 day ultrasound and the dr. said there was no fetal pole or yolk sac detected, however, my gestational sac doubled in size since 5 weeks and 4 days.  Completely heartbroken, and trying not to lose all hope.  Has anyone had this happen before??

[Lornadoo]

Thanku  too for ur reply!!im back today for blood test !!its hard being in this situation!!more than anything ive dealt with before!!all the best for u and hope ur out come is good news!!

[Lornadoo]

Just wanted some advice really,I had a us 9 days ago found a sac but no baby!!today I had a internal scan and still the same!,been told it's not a viable pregnancy and a tablet to help me miscarry is being offered to me tomorow!!dont know what to do??ive had my bloods done once but that was nine days ago so have nothing to compare with,hcg levels etc!!part of me wants to take the pill and get it over and done with but a part of me is thinking they are wrong!!heads all over the place!!any advice would be much appreciated!!apparently the sac is misshaped but hasn't changed in size in 9 days !!i should be 7 weeks according to lmp and got all the sickness feelings of being pregnant and frequently going toilet !!all the usual pregnancy feelings and positive pregnancy tests!!just feel like that small chance that they are wrong!!dont know what to do!!i have no bleeding or discomfort!!

[believe58]

Thanks so much for your posting. Reading it was like reading what I'm going through at the moment. I had a vaginal u/s done a few days ago (at 6wks 5days) and the technician gave me the devastating news that she could see a gestational sac but no embryo. I didnt even know this was possible. After crying myself out, I met with the doctor who said there is no cause for concern at this stage. He ordered a blood pregnancy test which came back with hcg at 27,000 (which I thought was too high but seeing as yours was even higher...). I am scheduled for another u/s next week. Praying and hoping it turns out just like yours: that at 7wks and a few days, we will see the little blip that evidences a bun in the oven. Thanks again for brightening my day and renewing my hopes!

[believe58]

b

[somi842]

hi i am 5 weeks according to my LMP found sac size 3mm no fetal pole or heart beet doc said it is just for 3 weeks and i have mild discharge in brown colour as well by last day.i had miscarrage in April please help very worried.
thanks

[tea_cee1]

Thank you for posting on this board.  My daughter texted me today devastated that she had no fetal pole, no heartbeat.  She told me she was positive of date of sexual activity date and that she was barely 5 weeks along.  This board is proving to me and to her that she should NOT lose hope yet nor make decisions at such an early date.  Thank you thank you thank you!
Terri C.

[wishingwell67]

Hi caringmum, what a pleasure it was to read your posting. I am 45 yrs old and have just fallen pregnant for the first time. My Mum had five kids, I am the youngest and she said exactly the same thing as you, that there is too much information available to us now and that it only stresses the body at a time when it's meant to not be stressed. I had a scan at 6 weeks 1 day and there was sac and yolk but no fetal pole. I wasn't worried because it's relatively early but the doctors practically told me it was going to miscarry! You're right that we shouldn't be scanned until 13 weeks and just let nature take its course. I will be scanned in 6 more days unfortunately but if I can remain mentally strong, I should do ok regardless of the outcome. It is what it is and will be what it will be, que sera, sera! I think I will not opt for the D&C and just let it happen naturally.

[cdunbUsername]

I've had 3 chemical pregnancys and 2 blighted ovums in 13 years. One healthy 1st pregnancy who is now a 15 years old boy. 1st blighted ovum passed on its own. The second which happened in June this year I had to have a D&C. I read lots of these threads and demanded weekly scans and decided to go ahead at nearly 11 weeks. No fetal pole detected just a growing empty sac. I waited it out until my hcg levels had stopped increasing and the sac had started to slowly deflate. The sac was so high it could have taken weeks to pass on its own so I agreed to end! Don't rush into anything. For me I was sure after having it happen before. Good luck to everyone. It's a long hard journey I know I had 4 agonising weeks if going for scans. It's exhausting but try not to stress. I was told you shouldn't have a scan before 7 weeks as most of the time only the sac is visable and its very stressful to go home not knowing whether you've got a baby or not. Wait it out and stay calm xxxx

[Patty1632]

I found out I was pregnant a few years back on a Friday.  I went to my first drs appointment and found my uterus had not grown at all but was positive for pregnancy and had missed 2 periods.  The dr opted to do absolutely nothing and just told me to come back in a month.  Something didn't seem right to me so I went to a different dr.  This dr was very kind and ordered an US plus several blood tests.  Unfortunately before I even got my US I began bleeding and went to the ER where I had a US there and was told there was no fetal pole and an irregularly shaped sac.  I was told I had a blighted egg and that I was miscarrying.  By the time I went to the scheduled US it was all over.  I never had any pain except at my follow up appointment when the dr found I had an infection and had to perform an emergency D & C.  I was only "pregnant" for 3 weeks but the emotional toll of it all was very hard on me.  I had already come up with a name as we believe in early naming for early communication with the baby.  Before this I had had 3 perfectly normal and healthy pregnancies.  I got pregnant a few months later and at my first US they could find nothing and I thought I had once again lost my baby but they said go home and go on bed rest for two weeks and when I went back to the next US they saw our little black blob of a baby ( that's all it looks like that early on a US--at least for us in 1998) and I now have a beautiful 13 year old daughter.  You never know what will happen and should just try and wait things out to see where they lead and trust your instincts.  

[Princess_Alejandrino]

Hi, I am supposed to be 7-8 weeks pregnant if we will base it on my last day of menstruation which was July 2, I had reddish brown brown spotting that doesn't smell like blood at all so my OB-Gyne advised me to have a transvaginal ultrasound, the U/S reveals that I am less than 4 weeks pregnant and there's a gestational sac but no Embryo... The SoNo and my OB-Gyne wants me to have another TV U/S next Saturday. I feel so wretched right now, really my question is what are the chances that an embryo would show up a week from now? What should I do? I have 2 healthy kids. I am just so scared.

[maha26]

plz plz can anbody temme does normal pregnancy symptoms occur in anemryonic pregnancy???i had ma first anemb preg but ma pregnancy symptoms stops...its ma second preg suspecting anembryoic but m havin normal pregnancy symptoms...can anyone plzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz answer me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[nyc1981]

I am 7 weeks 2 days pregnant. Last sat I began bleeding and the ER drs observed me for hours and told me I was having a miscarriage for sure. I went to the dr mon and she confirmed and said no fetal pole or fetus at all. I went in for d&c tues but dr found heartbeat. She said it was very slow but to wait it out. Tues night I experienced heavy cramps and gushes of bleeding and passed something big. I collected and saved for dr to analyze. I assumed I miscarried naturally and dr wanted to do another sono. Today they said heartbeat is strong and I must have passed a blood clot last night! I am still high risk for miscarriage but despite being told I lost baby 4 times, still pregnant! If I would have had d&c tues then it would have been all over. I have another sono tomorrow and am hoping for the best! If waiting gives you peace of mind then do it. No one will fight for your unborn child like you will.

[ohmaya]

My LMP was 6/7/11 and I became pregnant soon after. I took a home pregnancy test and tested positive.  I began bleeding on 7/20/11 and thought I was miscarrying (this would be my 2nd miscarriage).However the bleeding felt like a normal menstral cycle and I didn't see any tissue expelled.  I saw my doctor to do a follow-up and we did some blood test. She noticed my hcg (200) was rather low (especially after a miscarriage) but wanted to monitor me some more. The following week, I took another blood test and this time, it went up to 1200. i took another blood test the following week and it was at 2000. She recommended a US. I found out this week that they were not able to detect a fetal pole. The gestational sac and yolk sac was present but no fetal pole. She said this was an abnormal pregnancy and recommended termination either surgical or via drug.  

i am opting to wait another week and to do another US. I am so glad I found this forum and to have read all of the postings. it's giving me some comfort to know that there is a possibility that I could still be having a normal pregnancy and that it was just too early to detect a fetal pole. I'm not keeping my hopes up too high, but so far I'm not experiencing cramps or pain, just the normal early pregnancy symptoms.

[reid36]

After 13 years and being told I will never concieve again I tested positive for pregnancy. I had my blood tested twice and my latest count was 42993. Had a sonogram the 22nd of june showing two sacs but no fetal pole or heart beat. I repeated the sonogram june 30th still showing two sacs with no fetal pole or heartbeat. Sonogram show 5w1d for fetus A, and 5w5d for fetus B. I am so nervous, when can I expect to see life or not?

[bethsh86]

i had a d&c done on the 18th Jan this year and after 8 weeks my body started the cycle again. my last period was the 18th of april and i thought i was 7 weeks when i went for my scan on the 6th, however the sonographer said the gestational sac measured 6weeks 3 days, there was no featal pole or heartbeat, the yolk sac was measuring 3mm though. another ultrasound is booked for next saturday, my hcg levels are still raising, and i still feel ;pregnant; with morning sickness, cravings and sensitive breasts.... saturday is so far away but i truely have hope that this baby will come!

[heartborken]

Hi,This is such an helpful forum to anyone who is going through the situation mentioned above.I have been diagnosed with a sac with no Fetal pole and no heartbeat.According to doctor I am already 9 and half weeks pregnant but I know for sure when I would have conceived.I am advised by doctor to get D&C done next week on 27th but now we both have decided to wait and let nature do the next step.Hope everything goes fine.Every moment I just hope for some miracle to happen.

[chyoms]

i'm glad i found this site.i went for a scan today,saw a gestational sac 6wks+5days,normal yolk sac but no fetal pole seen. The dr asked for a repeat scan in 2wks.I'm dying of anxiety, i previously had a m/c diagnosis of blighted ovum was made. Lets keep our fingers crossed ok?.

[dammy0718]

I am glad to see your posts and I would like to thank everyone for giving hope...I am also 6wks and a day when I had my first u/s...the sac and yolk sac is seen but no embryo evident yet...I am hoping and praying I will see my baby this coming saturday....To everyone...Don't lose hope...God is good..Have faith.Cheers to us MOMS!

[wobblinghope]

I have been told my pregnancy is not viable and that fetus is not developing and have been recommended to have a d&c.  I am very concerned and question the dr's opinion.

On Sept 7 my hcg level was 545, on Sept 14 my hcg level was 16,250.  At that point they ordered an u/s claiming I was 6.5 weeks.  I questioned it for a moment because on Sept 7 I was told 3.5 weeks so I was confused as to how there was a three week difference in 1 week's time.  
But being excited I let it go and went off to the u/s on Sept 17.  The u/s showed a sac and yolk about 5.5 weeks no fetal pole or heartbeat. On the 18th the dr called me and told me the baby wasn't developing and ordered more testing for Monday (2 days after my last u/s).
Monday the 20th my hcg level was 65,000 and the u/s showed no difference from Friday but measured exactly 6.0 weeks.
The ultrasound shows a sac and yolk but no fetal pole or heartbeat.  I am measuring approx 6 weeks (correct according to my lmp) but the drs' feel my hormone levels are too high and therefore they should see a fetus by now.
They have suggested a d&c and I have decided to wait.  My next u/s is scheduled for the 30th and I should be about 7 weeks by then.  Part of me is tempted to wait until 8 weeks so I can be more sure but either way this has been the most unhappy month of my life.  This is my first pregnancy  and no cause for worry other than light bleeding before four weeks which I've been told is completely normal.  I have all the normal pregnancy  symptoms and the dr's cannot explain why my hormones are going up.  They told me in their opinion it is not a viable pregnancy but since my hormone levels keep rising they cannot be 100%.  
My husband is supporting my decision but it is so hard.  The drs are  being respectful of our choice and are willing to wait as long as I would like but are still positive the results will only show that the baby isn't growing.  
I do not recommend early testing to anyone!  Unless you are having painful cramping and heavy bleeding let nature take its course.  If I could go back I would tell the dr that an increase in hcg was enough and I would wait for my 12 week sonogram.  I wish I hadn't been so impatient and excited to see my baby who isn't quite ready to be seen yet.