Worried... Hcg 21,000 but "minute fetal pole" and no HB

[Chiclet2012]

Hi all,

Been reading a lot of the threads on first trimester bleeding as my situation has me very worried. I had quite a large amount of dark brown and dark red spotting a few days ago (I cried that night thinking the bleeding would get worse and it would be a mc). I went to the ER 2 days ago, when I was 6w2d by LMP. They did an ultrasound where the report reads:

"Gestational sac measuring 5w3d with yolk sac and minute fetal pole too small to evaluate for fetal heart rate." I heard him talking to the other tech while they were doing the scan (I didn't get to see it) and his comment was "I think thats the beginning of a fetal pole there"... so not a certain thing.

My question is....

- is it normal to have a gestational sac that measures so small when I should be a week ahead? I had regular periods and tracked my ovulation, though I did ovulate on day 16 instead of day 14 (so maybe I was exactly 6 weeks on that day?)

- has anybody had such high hcg levels and not been able to see a fetal pole on ultrasound??

I have a repeat scan in 2 weeks and I'm hoping for the best but really prepared for the worst.... Could really use the help and support of you ladies!

 

[LittleOnes]

I cant speak to the details of your post, but I would like to say that sometimes (many times!) before 7 or 8 weeks is just TOO darn early to see anything! They are looking for something so small, there are so many factors to consider like uterus shape, the skills of the tech, etc. This early, even a few more days could make a significant difference on a scan.

I know you had bleeding which is disconcerting. Did it stop? It sounds like it was still only spotting, and you didnt have cramping, so I would take those as good signs. I also believe it is a good sign that they saw the fetal pole.

Stay positive and believe that your bean is in there growing. Then Id try to get another scan in two weeks and I bet you see it

 

[kat2504]

I'm sorry you are having all this worry. It's hard for me to give you advice because you are so early on and at the 5/6 week stage, just one day can make such a difference in what they see on the ultrasound. If you were exactly six weeks on that day then often the fetal pole is seen but it is not abnormal not to be able to get a heart rate at that stage. After 6 weeks it grows at 1mm per day or thereabouts, so just a day or two later makes all the difference. A yolk sac is always a good sign.

HCG levels have such a wide range of what is normal so I wouldn't look into them too much. I'm afraid only a repeat ultrasound will tell you what is going on. 2 weeks is a long wait, can't they bring it forward at all?

 

[capegirl7]

I am not familiar with this exactly. But I had a scan at 5w2d and just say sac and yolk sac. My doctor said on week 6 you will see a fetal pole and week 7 you will see a heartbeat. She said sometimes you can see a heartbeat before but this is the most common. So she did not schedule another ultrasound until 7w3d which I saw the heartbeat. I think the fact you see a yolk sac and a fetal pole is a great sign. Stay positive hun.

 

[Chiclet2012]

Thanks for the positive comments ladies.
Yes the bleeding has stopped, which has calmed me somewhat.

Hopefully it is just too early to see something... they also said I have a retroverted uterus although from what I've read, that shouldn't affect the transvaginal scan. Crossing my fingers...

 

[LisK]

I had a scan at 5 weeks 5 days and all they saw was a gest sac and yolk sac but NO fetal pole. They said it was too early to see it but of course I freaked out for two weeks until my repeat scan when we saw the baby and a heartbeat. Sounds like you are pretty much right where you should be for this early.

 

[littleblonde]

With the pregnancys with both my girls. i new when i ovulated and when i conceived. had early scans with both and was alwasy put back at least a week. but by 12 weeks both girls had caught up. What you have seen is perfect for a scan of just over 5 weeks. thats the problem with early scans , so much happens so quick. you could of been scaned 24 hours before and not seen the pole or 24 hours after and seen the heartbeat. i no its hard but try and rest and relax. So far everything is as it should be