Bleed, then scan showed empty preg sac

rosie383

I just need some advice please if anyone can help. I am 7 weeks, 4 days preg with my 3rd. A couple of days ago I started to bleed with some cramping. I was seen in A&E and sent up to the maternity ward where a nice doctor gave me a quick scan and told me that there was a pregnancy sac there, and she saw a heartbeat. An internal exam showed that the cervix (os) was closed.
I was booked to return to the EPU the next morning for a more detailed scan. The bleeding had all but stopped after about 10 hours. I expected the scan to show all was well, and was really shocked to be told that it was 'inconclusive'. The pregnancy sac looked empty. I was told to go home, keep taking the folic acid, and am booked to return for a scan in 2 weeks as there is a 50-50 chance that there is a viable pregnancy that was just too early to see.
I have read through old threads on here from a few years ago and all of the ladies on there had miscarriages. Has anyone had this experience but had a positive result at the next scan?
And if I start bleeding what do I do? Do I just let nature take it's course? Go to hospital or what?
I was too shocked at the time and didn't get much info at all.
In my head I am no longer pregnant, I think to prepare myself for the worst at the next scan.
Any advice would be appreciated.

dizzyg_2

The first thing you need to do is calm down. I know it is a terrible feeling but find a way to try and relieve some of the stress.

It is perfectly possible for women to bleed during pregancy and go on to have a healthy baby.

Silverbird

I am so sorry you're going through this.

I have never been pregnant, but when I worked at a GP surgery we were always told by the GPs that there is nothing that can be done for a miscarriage and it's a case of letting nature take its course. Obviously if were very concerned and felt things weren't progressing properly then a call to NHS Direct, a visit to your GP or even attendance to A&E if you felt things were urgent enough would be in order.

I've actually been reading about the chances of miscarriage today and found that there is a 10% to 20% chance of miscarriage with all pregnancies under 12 weeks. It said that in most cases it was nature's way of dealing with a foetus that wasn't developing properly. I thought this was a high percentage.

However, I really do hope that in your case it's just a false alarm as I do know that many women will bleed during pregnancy and have perfectly healthy babies.

I will keep my fingers crossed and hope all is well in 2 weeks for you. Best of luck to you x

money_saving_diva

Hi I didn't want to read and run but I am sorry I can not offer much advice. I just wanted to say big hugs and stay positive.
I had a missed miscarriage in april (I found out at my 12 week scan that the baby had died at 8 weeks) I had no symptoms of miscarriage so it was a real shock.
I found it devestating. You are being sensible being ready for whatever they tell you at your next scan and I am sorry this is happening to you. I hope you get good news at your next scan. The fact that they saw a heartbeat at your first scan is a good sign.
I am not sure what you should do if you bleed again as I did not bleed. Maybe speak to your mw/gp or a&e dept if you bleed alot and/or are in pain again. Then you need to rest as there is nothing they can do to stop a miscarriage happening early on in pregnancy.
The miscarriage association have a helpful website - maybe have a read on there?
I found it hard that people around me did not understand how devestating miscarriage is. You may find people around you are not very helpful or say the wrong things, especially at this time when you are waiting for your scan.
I do hope you have a happy story to tell after your next scan xx

dtc04

is there any chance you have got your dates wrong?

I have had a miscarriage and my advice is if you start to bleed again, just try to relax and go bed, there is nothing they can do and Christmas isn't a good time to be in A and E, go to hospital if you are in pain rather than it just being uncomfortable.

I hope it all works out for you, its a horrible thing to go through and I think that this time of year is the worst time of all for it to happen.

rosie383

Thanks guys. My dates are definitely correct. I had been marking my LMP on the calendar.
I'm just not sure if the first scan did show a heartbeat. I think it would have been more likely to show at the second scan rather than the first. Maybe the doc thought she saw a heartbeat, wasn't sure and was trying to reassure me.
I want to know..... if this isn't a viable pregnancy, do I have to wait to go through a miscarriage? All I had during the bleed was about as heavy as a period and only lasted for about 10 hours. Only passed a few very small clots too, so not sure as I haven't been in this position before.
It's gonna be a long 2 weeks!!

dtc04

I think you will be given choices on how to deal with it after your next scan if the pregnancy is shown not to be viable, but I dont think you will be made to wait if you dont want to.

tiamai_d

They will want to wait and see because all pregnancies develop at different rates, so your dates can be correct, but take into account the 7 days from ovulation that the egg can be fertilised, then the time it takes for implantation means your dates can be correct but the pregnancy upto 10 days behind (thats more or less, someone can polish up my biology later). Then the embryo can be a slower developer.

It's both possible that you have miscarried or that the sonographer wasn't able to see a heartbeat but there is one there. Lots of things can affect how clear an image they get.

They will wait before doing a D&C to eliminate the risk of terminating a viable pregnancy. If its not viable, then they will decide whether to give you a D&C or tablets to speed things along or let it happen naturally, you will get a say in what is to happen.

If you bleed again I'd still call them to let them know.

Fingers crossed for you ans *sticky bean vibes*

Counting_Pennies_2

Hi I am so sorry, it must be so stressful for you.

Unfortunately I was told it isn't possible to do anything to save a pregnancy before 18 weeks. Apparently at that stage there is something they can do to prolong it to hope to get it past the 24 weeks.

I called the hospital when I was 12 weeks and told sorry nothing they can do, if a miscarriage is coming it will just take its course.

I think as others have said they are wanting to wait for a few weeks to check to see if there is anything. Occasionally heartbeats can be missed and if there is still a viable pregnancy then the pregnancy will be further along and be able to scan clearly.

I think you are sensible to prepare yourself for the worst, there is very little you can do, apart from rest as much as you can and hope all will be well when you go back.

Sadly it is a waiting game with some of these things.

Take care of yourself.

x

jillie1974

(((hugs))) have not been through a miscarriage or threatened misc
all i would say is to relax, try not to worry bout it too much (i'm sure you will anyway). but do go call if you start to bleed again

and to copy tia
*sticky bean vibes*

silvercar

I had a positive result.

Started bleeding at 12 weeks, was told to lie down and take it easy for 48 hours and be careful not to do anything too strenuous for 48 hours after bleeding stopped.

The bleeding stopped after a day and the pregnancy proceeded as normal.

I think I had to wait a couple of weeks for a midwife appointment to hear the heartbeat and had the scan at 16 weeks that showed everything was fine.

is was all about 20 years ago, the policy then was not to continually scan (I guess in any case scans weren't as good as they are now). As soon as the bleeding stopped I felt more relaxed and stopped worrying.

Best of luck and I hope my experience gives you some comfort.