Heartbeat question (sorry if offended)

[catty1]

I apologise to anyone this may upset for whatevet reason but I am a bit confused about miscarriges, early scans and heartbeats.

I found out at my 12 week scan in May that my baby had died at 8 weeks, I know there are a lot of women on here that had the same thing.

Generally women who have had a missed miscarrige like this are offered an early reassurance scan and are told that once a heartbeat is detected there is a much smaller risk of anything going wrong. These early scans seem to be done at around 6 weeks.

Is it the case that my 8 week baby (and other post 6 week miscarriges) never actually had a heartbeat because otherwise I don't see how a 6 week scan would be any reassurance as so many people miscarry after this time.

I really hope this makes sense and that someone can shed some light on this for me.

Thanks

 

[MrsR]

2 years ago I had a scan at 12 weeks and was told that the baby had no heartbeat and had died at 10 weeks. Thus I assume that the baby must have had a heartbeat to be able to grow to 10 weeks and then for whatever reason the heart stopped beating and baby stopped growing. I wasn't offered an early scan for this exact reason. My midwife, as nicely as is possible in cases like this, explained that an early scan in this instance wouldn't help as a hb could be detected at 6,7,8 weeks and, if there is something wrong with the fetus, it could stop beating at 10 weeks, resulting in the same outcome as if an early scan hadn't been done iyswim?

I did however have a scan at 10 weeks (which is within the usual time frame for '12' week scan which usually happens between 10-14 weeks) as I was stressed out and panicy and everything is fine with baby so far-I'm 34 weeks now.

All in all I wouldn't personally opt for an early scan in the circumstance of having a previous mmc.

I'm really sorry for your loss honey.

 

[Rósa]

Im my previous pregnacy, I had an early scan due to bleeding, baby dated six weeks had heartbeat and looked good, bleeding stopped by the time i had a scan, bleeding started a few days after, had another scan , baby had no hb and hadn't grown since the last scan, baby must have died withing 36 hours of the scan I was told

 

[catty1]

Thanks girls

I was so confused but you have cleared things up for me. I don't think I will ask for an early scan as it just seems like it could offer false hope. Maybe I will ask for one at about 10 weeks as it seems that most mmc seem to happen before that.

I guess there's nothing I can do but wait and try not too worry. It's lovely to know that there are plenty of people out there who have had mmc's and gone on to healthy pregnancy's next time.

x

 

[Rósa]

And another thing i had an early scan this time, baby at 6wks 5 days heartbeat and everything .. BUT it hasn't made me feel better cos i saw a heartbeat last time

 

[kiki]

Sorry to hear about your loss. With my second MC I had a scan at 8weeks and everything was ok and there was a heart beat and 48h later I lost it. So I wouldn't have an early scan after that, because I felt it made it even harder to cope with. But I guess for someone else it could be a big reasurance. So what ever feels right for you!

 

[Jody]

I know what you are saying BUT it is supposed to be true that the chances of miscarrying once a heartbeat is detected is reduced, There is obviously still a chance and just the number of ladies on here that it has happened to between 6 and 12 weeks proves that the chance is still pretty high, but its still not as high as having never seen a HB. Having said that, I had an early scan and even paid £90 for it and it has given me no peace of mind whatsoever, Today I am proper fed up of worrying myself stupid!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Heulyn]

My EPU were very nice, and allowed me to come in for a reassurance scan every two weeks or thereabouts, so that I could make sure things were okay on a regular basis, as well as any time I felt anything was wrong or needed checking on.
(Funnily enough they know me quite well now!)

Obviously it wouldn't have helped if something had gone wrong, but it definately made me feel a lot better, and gave me hope, and peace of mind.

Hope you find the reassurance you're looking for

 

[Jody]

WOW How lucky were you?! I'd have to be gushing with blood to get a scan where I live They really dont give a sh*t how worried I am

 

[catty1]

I don't think I would get any reassurance from an early scan. My last baby died at 8(+5) so until I got past that I don't think it would help.

I couldn't get a doctors appointment until the 15th but when I go I think I will ask if I can have a scan at 10 weeks and then probably pay for another at 12-14 weeks.

Thanks everyone. It's so scary. All I cared about was getting pregnant again but now I am it's unbearable, all I can think about is something going wrong.

 

[MrsR]

I scared the sonographer at my 10 week scan by nearly hyperventilating with crying this time round as soon as I got in the scan room! She made sure the screen was turned away and told us immediatly that baby had a heartbeat. I was absolutely fine then until about 14 weeks when we purchased a Doppler so that I could hear the heartbeat whenever I wanted and this really really helped until I felt him moving x hugs honey I know how hard it is x