early termination

[afoster]

I was in the ER for back pain and admitted to the hospital on 9/17.  I had informed them that I was pregnant and was due for my first appointment on the following day.  We had been trying to conceive for two years with one miscarriage last Apr so I used an ovulation test to conceive and believe we conceived around Aug 5-7th but my LMP was 7/23.  I had an ultrasound on the 19th and the ER doctor came in that evening and told me the pregnancy was blighted.   They scheduled me for a DNC the next morning and was released that same day.  I went to the hospital yesterday to pick up the MRI report and with it was the ultrasound report.  I read it and it states "A single untrauterine gestational sac is seen with an average length of 16.4 mm corresponding to a proximal gestation age of six wks duration.  A yolk sac is seen."   Then the impression section says, " Empty intrauterine gestational sac in this patient with an LMP of 7/23.  Features are suggestive of anembryonic pregnancy.  With the gestational sac, the gestational age measures six wks.  However, with the patient's LMP, the gestational age should be 8wks, 2 says and fetal pole should be seen.  Follow-up Beta HCG is suggested."   I was never given an HCG blood test.  If I am reading this correctly I think they terminated my viable pregnancy.  By my calculations if I conceived in Aug I would have only been 5-6 wks.  Please help!  I think something went really wrong.

[Keith Downing, MD]

Hello,

I suggest you discuss the matter with the physician or physicians who performed the dilation and curettage.  They should have reviewed the report and images with the radiologist to be 100% sure there was no chance of this being a viable pregnancy.  A sac size of 16mm without a fetal pole is suggestive they made the correct diagnosis, but you should hear from the people who cared for you and then decide how you want to proceed.

Best regards,

Dr. Downing

[fuzybunnyslippers]

Forgot to add:  

In calculating your gestational age they calculate from the 1st day of your lmp.

[fuzybunnyslippers]

I too am sorry for your loss.  However, in my interpretation of what you wrote (and I am not a doctor), there was no fetal pole.  I believe there must be 3 things visibly seen in order to be "viable":  gestational sac, yolk sac & fetal pole.  However, I do not know at what time frame those 3 things are to be seen.

Good luck to you!!

[BabyHardiman]

Let me first tell you how very truly sorry that I am for your loss.  They should have done a HCG test bofore proceeding with any kind of termination.  If they knew you had an appointment with you PCP it seems to me that they would have told you to speak with your caregiver.  Did they state you were in any kind of danger?  At that point did you even know you were pregnant?  My sister conceived WITHOUT having a period because her periods were so unpredictable and she would go months without having one.  Womens bodies are so very different and that is why they have tests like the HCG test.  My doc is going to monitor mine very carefully as I have had one miscarriage before and I also have a Didelphys Uterus (double uterus). Please let us know what happens with you. Again, I am so sorry for your loss.  In my opinion they should not have terminated your pregnancy based on that ultrasound alone ... HCG should have been the next step, then another a couple of days later.