Early Pregnancy Loss: Understanding Miscarriage Symptoms and Diagnosis

Question
Well yesterday 5/2 I went to th ER because of some spotting I had during the day. According to my lmp I was supposed to be 7 weeks. Now the u/s done confirmed a 5 week gestational sac, with a yolk sac. My levels were 1159.
The Dr said that either my calculations were wrong, or the baby stopped growing 2 weeks ago. Initially my first sono done 4/20, when I was supposed to be around 5 weeks, showed a small sac, with blood in the uterus. My Dr said that I was measuring small for the dates. So I followed up with my Dr today after the visit to the ER last night. Once I got there I started bleeding heavily. The u/s showed another 5 week sac, with no yolk sac. I decided to go ahead and get the d&c done to put an end to all the worry, stress and anxiety. My only problem now is, the what if's. Could there have been a possibility of a viable pregnancy with those levels, bleeding, and in accurate u/s measurements? I know I conceived on either 3/28,29,or 30th. Would those dates actually have measured out to match my hcg levels, and the u/s. The Dr confirmed that the bleeding and absence of the yolk was a miscarraige in progress. Can you give me any answers & advice. Im really depressed, confused, and angry

Answer
Dear Lena,

Being confused, frustrated, and angry is very normal. It sounds as if your doctor was right here - the absence of a yolk sac at this point in your pregnancy, along with the heavy bleeding, would tend to indicate that a miscarriage was starting for you.

Your confidence in the date of conception only confirms the dating of approximately 7 weeks for this pregnancy. At 7 weeks, not only should we have been able to see a yolk sac, but  an embryo should have been large enough to measure a CRL (crown-rump length) and heart activity should have been visible as well.

Please do not worry about having had ended this pregnancy prematurely. I have never come across a doctor yet who will suggest a D&C if he/she has ANY doubt as to the viability of a pregnancy.

I hope this information has helped you and answered your question. I wish you well.

Brenda