No heartbeat at 10 weeks?

Question

I had an US at 6 weeks and there was one. I am spotting so went to my Dr. He ordered another one yesterday and I'm about 9 1/2 weeks. They didn't see one and want me to get a D&C. I was too upset to second guess her, but I don't feel like I can go through this. I do not have signs of a miscarriage. It's not heavy spotting, no major cramping and I still feel pregnant. What should I do? Could the fetus have been in a position where they missed the heartbeat? They did an internal as well.

The ultra sound was yesterday and they want me to get the D&C today.

Answer 1

I do not mean to be harsh, but I think some answers may be giving you false hope. If the ultrasound was done at 6 weeks and there was a heartbeat, and now there is not one chances are the fetus has passed. If they did an internal ultrasound, it was not they couldn't hear it, it was that they couldn't see it. It would have been a flicker on the screen. You can always ask for another ultrasound, because there may be a slim chance they will see a heartbeat, but it is not likely. There are risks with a D&C but you can't continue to carry a fetus that has passed. I'm so sorry for what you are going through.

Answer 2

i'd say chances are slim that the baby is still alive, but you can ask for another scan just to be 100% sure.......you don't always have a lot of bleeding and cramping when you lose a baby. My friend has lost 5 babies and with the 3rd one she did not know until she had a 10 week scan and there was no heartbeat. She had no bleeding at all with that pregnancy and needed a D&C to remove the baby........With the other 4 she had a lot of bleeding whih was the start of the loss.......
you could wait and see what happens (with medical guidance) and if the baby has died it will probably come away in the next 2 weeks.........BUT if you decide to wait and see make sure the hospital are keeping a check on you
Personally i'd ask for another scan though and not wait to see what happens

Answer 3

I've had 2 m/c. With the 1st one I went for an u/s at 9 weeks and there was no heartbeat. I was told that I had a m/c. I couldn't believe it as I had no bleeding or cramping of any kind. 2 days later it started and I was in hospital 2 days after that in really bad pain. I had a d&c. With my 2nd m/c I had an u/s at 10 weeks as I had brown spotting and my hcg levels were going down. There was no heartbeat. I had a d&c before the bleeding started. Sorry for your loss.

Answer 4

By 10 weeks your baby should be able to fit in your hand and the heartbeat should be clearly visable.

If you couldn't see the baby clearly at this stage or it was undersized so the heartbeat wasn't clear, then you may have conceived later than expected or you are miscarrying.

I used to work in fertility and i saw women miscarry with no symptoms and this is WHY they had to have a D&C, since their body wasn't passing tissue naturally. I've even seen women have one day of bleeding, yet pass all the tissue.

If you are concerned that the pregnancy is still viable, ask for another US in 3-7 days. If you are unwilling to have the D&C, your doc should order another US. If you don't see a heartbeat by this time, have the D&C to prevent infection.

Answer 5

Ask for another u/s...I had the same thing...went for a u/s at 9-1/2 weeks, and they could only find a sac. Teh fetus hadn't grown. I too was told to get a d&c, and I worried that they might be wrong also. They assured me that there wasnothing there. I opted for a d&c right away. My Dr told me that a d&c would help with future pregnancies as the d&c made the uterus clean again, and that I would be pregnant within 3 months. Guess what?? I was, and carried to term.

Answer 6

If they tried 2 different ways and couldn't find it, chances are you've had a miscarriage. You may want to get one more opinion before doing a D&C though. They told me at 6 1/2 weeks that there was no baby at all in my uterus, but I went someplace else that night and the baby and heartbeat were visible and fine. Mistakes can be me made. Good luck.

Answer 7

Usually what doctors do is if they dont see a heartbeat they wait 1 more week to see if the fetus has grown or if a heartbeat shows up. Try waiting a while or get a second opinion. Also have them track your HCG levels to see if they are going down.

Answer 8

In most cases, the embryo/fetus dies several weeks before the miscarriage actually takes place. There are risks to a D&C and I would suggest that you delay that and see if it will pass naturally first. I have real issues with a doctor that would immediately suggest a D&C. I would instead ask her what is the normal time period between fetal death and miscarriage. If she doesn't know, then find another doctor before making any decisions. There is a point where you have to consider a 'missed' miscarriage, but you know that doesn't affect most women.

Answer 9

at 9 1/2 weeks a heartbeat can be heard on an ultrasound. My sister miscarried 3 weeks ago and she had all the symptoms still until she started bleeding heavily and had a scan and found out the baby died 2 weeks before. I would say you have miscarried. Sorry for your loss

Answer 10

it is commonplace for the scientific expert to fail to discover the toddler's heartbeat at 10 weeks. the pulse is there the scientific expert basically won't be able to discover it. Your scientific expert has a foul physique of ideas attempting to insist which you get a D & C. exchange medical doctors in case you may. anyhow, attempt to not concern and provide your little guy or woman yet another few weeks after which you will have the skill to pay attention the pulse loud and clean. while i became pregnant with my daughter the scientific expert could not discover her heartbeat till 14 weeks. She became out to be an exceedingly healthful 9 pound toddler.