Week 9 Ultrasound: No Heartbeat - Understanding Potential Causes & Next Steps
QuestionI found out I was pregnant on March 23. I have been for the orientation appt, had all of my blood work done, which I was told looked very good. I am considered high risk because I have a Protein C definency and was put on Lovnox injections. Which have been going fine. I went today for my physical and had my pap smear done. The doctor said everything looked very healthy and when it came time for the ultrasound they could not detect a heartbeat. The gestastional sac, yolk sac, and placenta were visible on the ultrasound but they were not able to locate the fetus/heartbeat. I was also told I have a tilted uterus. I was then told the pregnancy was not normal and would probably miscarry. Right now by my lmp they have me at 9 weeks and 6 days. I am not having any other problems, no bleeding, no cramping, just the usual 1st trimester symptoms. My question is could this be too early to make a decision and isn't there a possibility that I may not be far enough along. I don't want to make a decision that I will regret. I am very health minus my blood disorder. Please help.
AnswerIf you are dating your pregnancy solely by LMP, your dates could be wrong. Especially if you have long or irregular cycles, LMP cannot give you an accurate date. You certainly don't have to make any decisions yourself. You can simply wait. If your pregnancy is not meant to be, it will end itself. If nothing happens in the next couple of weeks, you can go back for another ultrasound to see if anything has changed. But there is absolutely no need to do anything if you are having doubts. It is not necessary to artificially terminate a pregnancy that might miscarry; your body can do that on its own. Remember, too, that as many as 30% of all pregnancies end in miscarriage, even for completely healthy women with no problems, so don't blame yourself if the pregnancy does end.
