early scans-concerns

[nessaw]

Hi just wanted to hear people's opinions on early scans. A bit of background-we have had 3 pg and 3 losses. We're now 6 wks pg again and under the recurrent miscarriage consultant. I have an appt on wed where I know I will be offered a scan. I refused one at 4 weeks as I knew we wouldn't see much. The problem is that with our last mc we had a scan at 7+6 saw a heartbeat but then had a mmc at 11+3. The baby was still measuring 7+6. So now my husband thinks that it was the scan (helped ny his mother putting the idea in his head) and doesn't want me to have a scan before 8/9 weeks when it could be abdominal rather than tv. I don’t think the scan had anything to do with our loss-we had early scans with our 2nd pg of twins and that wasn't why we lost them. I'm also not sure if mentally I can wait that long to see if things are ok. But I don't want to do something he's not gappy with-god forbid something does go wrong.
So after that essay! What do you think? How safe do you thjnk early scans are? What would you do?

 

[girlinyork]

My early scans have never coincided with a loss. The scan correlating with the date the baby died was a coincidence. Explain the difference between causation and correlation to him x

 

[loeylo]

Your rmc consultant wouldn't do anything to risk a pregnancy. I have had two internal scans with this pregnancy, they had to push really hard as well because I have a previous ectopic so they had to search my
Tubes and they also had a long look at my ovaries as I had strong cramps. I'm 13+3 after 3 losses!

I would get your husband to speak to the rmc consultant and explain your worries. At 7 weeks they may pick something up on an external (they did with my current pregnancy and 2nd) - they only went internal to get a better pic.

 

[nessaw]

Thanks guys. I have tried explaining bith your points but it's like he just can't see it.

 

[Jessicahide]

I am very sorry for your losses xx terribly cruel! Can I just say though, as someone who had so many more scans than other people I can categorically say a scan will never make you mc, I really hope all is well and you have a happy and healthy 9 months xxx

 

[InVivoVeritas]

I don't think there's going to be any way to reassure him -- he's trying to protect his baby, and with nothing he can physically do he's clinging on to irrational thoughts like this one. It's completely understandable, but it doesn't help you.

All you can do is have an honest conversation with him and tell him that you need this scan. If he can't go along with that then your only choice is to decide exactly how much you need it.

I'm so sorry that you have this to deal with along with your own worries.

 

[iiTTCii]

I had quite a few early scans with DD and obviously everything turned out fine.

I've already had 2 internal early scans in this pregnancy and then an abdominal one at 6+4 and could see the heartbeat so they should be able to do an abdominal one at 7 weeks.
I think it will have just a coincidence with the dates matching. Sorry for your losses.

 

[loeylo]

Just to add yes it is possible to see hb from outside at 7w but it is also totally normal not to see it at that stage. It depends on position of uterus, how full your bowels/bladder is, where baby implanted in womb, how much fat you have in the area etc. - just incase it causes any undue worry to anyone!

 

[gatormom2tots]

Sorry for your loss....I can not imagine how devastating that must be.

He probably knows logically that a scan was not the cause. But they say the longest distance is between the brain and the heart- meaning that though we may know something logically- something filled with so much emotion can sometimes not be worked out logically.

I have had several scans with this pregnancy due to the circumstances (surrogate) and a SCH diagnosed with bleeding. My little bean continues to thrive!

 

[staycb01]

I'm so very sorry to hear about your losses. At my scan last week, I asked my Dr. if having weekly scans will affect/hurt anything - and she stated absolutely not. I knew this deep down, as I know they would never put me or my pregnancy in jeopardy, but it was something that I wanted to ask.

 

[nessaw]

Maybe I'll agree to the abdominal-will be 6+5 on wed-and hope they see a hb. That's a good compromise I think. Like you say I don't think he'll change his mind. Thanks again.

 

[Islabella]

Would it not make a difference if he were to ask your recurrent miscarriage specialist about the risks of scans himself at the appointment? May then feel like it's an educated answer and relent on the day. X

 

[mzimm1]

Would it not make a difference if he were to ask your recurrent miscarriage specialist about the risks of scans himself at the appointment? May then feel like it's an educated answer and relent on the day. X

I agree with having him talk to the specialist. That way, he can be reassured by the specialist, AND understand the importance of the scan considering your past losses.

I hope it all goes well, regardless of your choice!

 

[nessaw]

Unfortunately he can't make wed appt as he can't get out of work. At the last appt we'd waited so long to go in I think he'd half forgotten by that stage!

 

[aPharmD]

keep in mind that with MMC, the baby when its not developing can shrink. so you most likely didn't lose baby at 7+6. and I know its hard to get things through stubborn minds, but I say its not the scan that caused the loss. so sorry for your pain and loss. I had a MMC at 11+5 and baby only measured about 9 weeks. dr said loss probably occurred in the 10th week.

 

[sbl]

I had scans from 4 weeks with lo as I'm high risk.
I really don't think there is a connection.

 

[macydarling]

I'm very sorry for your losses I had a mmc my first pregnancy. We saw a hb at 9w1d thru an internal scan. Then at my 14wks appt there was no hb and baby on measured 9w2d. I was convinced that it was the scan that caused the mc. With this pregnancy I was adamant I was going to refuse early scans even though my midwife assured me many times that the scan was not what caused my mmc. She said since most mc happen early on and early scans are more common now people associate them with mc but it's simply not true. I ended up needing to have 3 scans between 6-10wks with this pregnancy in the ER due to hyperemesis gravidarum and this bun is fine so far It's really up to you hun but that's just my $.02

 

[Gracesmom10]

Unfortunately he can't make wed appt as he can't get out of work. At the last appt we'd waited so long to go in I think he'd half forgotten by that stage!

I personally think it is safe. Like past posters said, your medical team wouldn't put you at risk after so many losses.

I also wanted to reach out and say I am a twin to twin transfusion loss mama also, so if you ever want to chat, we should.

Good luck at your first appointment!

 

[3chords]

Early transvag scans have NOTHING to do with losses. 80% or more of losses prior to 8 weeks are chromosomal.

If early scans were dangerous than nobody who had IVF would ever give birth.

Also, it's important to understand dating of MMCs. If at 11 weeks you saw a baby measuring 9 weeks with no heartbeat, that baby DID NOT stop developing at 9 weeks. What happens when the heartbeat stops is the embryo or fetus start to shrink daily and therefore even with your past loss, it would not have coincided with the day of your loss in any event.

 

[nessaw]

Thank you all so much for your support and suggestions. Luckily we didn't need to worry about internal-she was able to see the heartbeat with the abdominal scan. Baby measuring a day ahead at 6+6 and she was pretty sure only 1 in there. I'm happy to wait for 2 weeks now for the next one. Thanks again.x