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ObGyn/Pregnancy issues/fetal pole but no heartbeat

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Expert: Brenda - 7/25/2007


Question
Hi! I am in a very confused state of mind and am hoping that you can help.

My LMP was 28rd May. I have a regular 27 day cycle, but the previous cycle before this came at 24 days. I tested for pregnancy on 23rd June and got a very faint positive. I tested again the next day and got a negative. A week later, I got a strong positive.

I went for my first u/s when I was six weeks - but the doctor said it looked more like five weeks. She saw a sac, but nothing else. She sent me back for two weeks.

Yesterday I had my second ultrasound. She saw a clearly formed sac, yolk sac and a fetal pole measuring around 3.4 mm. However, she could not detect a fetal heartbeat. She has told me that the chances of this being a viable pregnancy are very low - yet we should wait for a week and do another ultrasound.
I;m devastated - this will be my second loss, if we don't detect a fetal heartbeat on Monday.
I do have a retroverted uterus - could that have anything to do with her not being able to detect the heartbeat?
Do I have any hope?

Answer
Dear Sandhya,

Although by 6 weeks gestation we expect to see some fetal heart activity, another landmark that we tend to go by is embryonic measurement. Embryonic cardiac activity should always be seen when an embryo measures greater than 5 mm. Since yours was at 3.4 mm, there may be a slight discrepancy in dating or just a slight delay in development.

Here's the thing - you can't change this one way or the other by worrying. If there is a problem with the fetus it is most likely a chromosomal abnormality and if that is the case, your body will recognize it and nature will handle it in the way the nature does. On the other hand, there is no reason to give up hope until you have concrete facts. Your doctor just wanted you to be aware that there may be a problem so you weren't blind-sided if something happened in another week or so. Just prepare yourself either way. As much as I know you want it to be, it just is not in your hands or control at this point. All you can do is just wait and see what progress there might be with the next ultrasound.

I hope this has helped you and answered your question. I wish you well and will have a good thought for you.

Brenda

ObGyn/Pregnancy issues

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Brenda

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.

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