AboutBrenda Expertise I have been an R.N. since 1988 and come from a family of nurses. I have clinical experience in labor and delivery, as well as post-partum care and pre-term pregnancy complications. I have also worked in Community Health Clinics dealing with this area of expertise, including WIC (Women, Infant, & Children) clinics performing nursing evaluations and assessments in determining a need for services or intervention for pregnant women, newborns, and young children. I have worked in immunization clinics in and around my community as well. I also have several years experience in OB and Pediatric Home Care Nursing. In addition to that, I am a mother of two, ages 21 and 16, both of which I had hoped would be vaginal deliveries, but ended up being C-Sections... one of which had me in pre-term labor...another which was frank breech (bottom first)... one who rejected the breast... and so on... to list my personal experience would be a bit lengthy! I'd simply like to help anyone who might have a question or concern that I can draw on my expertise to answer!
Experience I have been an R.N. since 1988 and come from a family of nurses. I have clinical experience in labor and delivery, as well as post-partum care and pre-term pregnancy complications. I have also worked in Community Health Clinics dealing with this area of expertise, including WIC (Women, Infant, & Children) clinics performing nursing evaluations and assessments in determining a need for services or intervention for pregnant women, newborns, and young children. I have worked in immunization clinics in and around my community as well. I also have several years experience in OB and Pediatric Home Care Nursing. My experience also includes approximately three years working in Behavioral Services.
Education/Credentials Graduated from the Mary Lanning School of Nursing in May 1988. Have been a licensed Registered Nurse in the state of NE since 1988.
Expert: Brenda Date: 7/2/2008 Subject: LOW FETAL HEART RATE
Question Let me start off by saying on May 8, 2007 I had a miscarriage i was exactly 4 weeks pregnant so it was really early. I then found out i was pregnant again on June 5, 2008. I went to the doctor on June 16 and had an u/s it showed a gestational sac and a yolk sac they said i was 5 weeks and 2 days. Well, i went back today July 1 for another u/s. There was still a gestational sac and now fetal pole but the yolk sac was small and the nurse said it should have been alot bigger. She then said that the heart rate was only 40-45 bpm which is extremely low and that now I am only 6 weeks and 1 day pregnant. Please tell me what are my odds in losing this baby?
Answer Dear Rhonda,
When the yolk sac is unusually small, unusually large, irregular in shape, or calcified, there tends to be an increased incidence of pregnancy loss. The fact that the heart rate is slow can be an additional indicator of a problem with the pregnancy. However, the slow heart rate may simply have to do with the fact that the heart is just beginning to beat in the last 24 hours or so prior to the scan too. Often the rate will pick up to a normal rhythm, but it can take a day or so.
You will simply have to wait this one out - and unfortunately I cannot tell you what the actual odds are. There is just no way to know for sure. I would suspect that they will want to do another ultrasound in 7-14 days to see if that rate and sac measurements have come closer to what we would expect to see at this stage.
I hope this has helped you and answered your question. I wish you well.
