Empty sac at 9 weeks - is there no hope?

[Anonymous]

It is amazing what a difference a week makes - last Monday I went for my first prenatal appointment and was just so incredibly happy. I was supposed to have my first ultrasound later this week, but yesterday, after I started having some spotting, I went for an ultrasound, and they couldn't see anything in the sac. I should be 9 weeks, and I measured only 6 weeks.

This was going to be my second, and up until yesterday the pregnancy was pretty much identical to my first. I also spotted with my first pregnancy, but they were able to see the baby at 7 or 8 weeks. I was just so sure this was the same situation.

My doctor said she is not giving up hope, but I am 100% sure of my dates. On the other hand, my blood test last week was positive for pregnancy, and the ultrasound showed little pools of blood in my uterus, which also happened last time, so they can't say the bleeding is the miscarriage. I have no cramping, and it is not heavy. Has anyone had experience where they saw nothing this late and there was still a baby? And if I am indeed miscarrying, how long will this process take if the baby stopped growing at 6 weeks?

thanks for any help.

[Anonymous]

Hi OP,

I'm so sorry. I had a blighted ovum before my first DC, at 8.5 weeks. It isn't uncommon, but it is hard.

[Anonymous]

Ask your doctor to do a number of beta tests, each 48 hours apart from the precediing one and see if your beta is dropping dramatically. I was in the same situation as you and my beta dropped from 42,000 down to 22,000 in 48 hours at 9 weeks (plus an empty sac) and I was told that was the clue that I was about to miscarry.

So sorry that you are going through this.

[Anonymous]

So sorry you are going thru this. Similar situation happened to me over the summer. Stopped growing at 6.5 weeks - empty sac and then a natural miscarriage at around 11 weeks. I wish I had advice to make this easier, but it is a painful process. I hope you have a miracle.

[Anonymous]

OP - I have no words of wisdom. I just want to say that I"m sorry you're going through this.

Best of luck to you & hang in there.

[Anonymous]

OP here - thanks everyone for your kind words. This is surprisingly hard to talk about, so I haven't yet told any of my friends, even though a few of them have gone through this. Thank you for sharing your experience. I am really scared I will be at work and all of a sudden I will gush blood everywhere...

[Anonymous]

Once you verify with a beta - if you are going to miscarry, you can schedule a D&C, so no surprises and a lot of people on these boards recommend over a natural. I had a natural misscarriage because my RE suggested it. It took forever - maybe 6 weeks before it started. I would wear a small pad/liner everyday and kept pads with me everywhere I go. I had warning...some spotting and cramping a few days before it happened, so chances are it won't be a big gush. I found the bleeding about the same as a heavy period, but the heaviness lasted longer. Please take it easy on yourself.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for the advice!

[Anonymous]

Sorry, to hear about your blighted ovum. I also had one of these with my first pregnancy and it was very upsetting. I decided to have a D&C because I showed no signs of miscarrying naturally and once I knew the pregnancy wasn't viable, I really wanted to get it over as quickly as possible. I was also told that you have a higher chance of getting pregnant within the first three months following a D&C. I got pregnant two months later and carried that baby to term. I think the D&C primes your uterus or something. There are also possible complications with a D&C, as with any surgery, but with a gifted doctor, you should do just fine.

[Anonymous]

I am bleeding and passing clots pretty much every time I go to the bathroom (which is a lot!) so I guess it is really over... Thanks again everyone for your help.

[Anonymous]

OP - I'm truly sorry.

[Anonymous]

OP - I'm sorry. I miscarried under surprisingly similar circumstances almost exactly 2 years ago. It is tough. Fast forward 2 years, and I now have a beautiful baby girl (in addition to my boys).

Take the time you need. I also had a hard time comprehending the whole thing - partially b/c I had had 2 successful pregnancies before. I felt like I didn't have as much of a right to be sad b/c I was lucky enough to already have 2 awesome kids. I was definitely in a funk for a long time. Take care of yourself...

[Anonymous]

Agree with PP - I also had one under very similar circumstances (had one healthy uneventful pregnancy before). One piece of advice I would give and wish someone gave me....your body may not return to normal right away. Acupuncture, yoga, rest, etc. are all good things to help you get back to normal. I had a TON of anxiety for about 3 months and acupuncture really helped.

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone. Those that said they felt guilty for feeling sad because they already had children, it is so true. I try to downplay this on the outside, but on the inside I feel like something is wrong with me that my body couldn't sustain the pregnancy. It doesn't help that the first few weeks of the pregnancy I was terribly sick with a cold, had to take antibiotics and now I feel that this is what caused the miscarriage, even though my doctor said it was fine to take the medication. My OB said I can try again after one cycle, but honestly this is pretty traumatic, I am not sure I will be ready again so soon. Then again, time is not on my side. All I kept seeing at the doctor's office today is these articles about fertility and age. These days I am definitely feeling like being a woman is just too hard sometimes!

[Anonymous]

OP, if your miscarriage is indeed a blighted ovum, then chances are it was a bad egg, thus the fetus did not develop. It's not because of something you did or did not do. I was in the same position as you were - I even requested a pathologist's report after D&C trying to get some answers (which came back normal). I was also beating myself up that I exercised too much, stressed too much, lifted heavy stufff, but the truth of the matter is if it were a healthy pregnancy, it would have progressed fine. My 40-year co-worker when she was pregnant went through some serious stress, plus the fall on the stairs and her baby was born just fine, totally healthy and happy.

I know it's hard to go through this, but with time and support from your family, you will feel back to normal and ready to try again. Hugs and good luck!