QuestionLet 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?
AnswerDear 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.
Brenda
