So I went to the dr’s office today for my appointment. We did the ultrasound and still there is nothing to see, just a gestational sac. No yolk sac, no embryo. I thought by now we’d surely see something. I’ve never had an ultrasound this early before, but with the other kids at 8-9 weeks we couldn’t definitely see something.
I was quite discouraged because my doctor said that it may be a blighted ovum. That’s a fertilized egg that implants, develops a placenta and a sac, but the embryo doesn’t form or develop. Usually it’s due to a chromosome abnormality. There’s really nothing we can do to be sure. We did draw blood to check hormone levels. However, that won’t positively tell us anything unless the numbers drop which would signal an upcoming miscarriage.
So when I left the dr’s office, I was very discouraged. I thought, well, maybe it’s just not meant to be. Maybe it’s for the best, I think I can accept that, but right now that just doesn’t feel quite right. So, of course, when I got home I searched the internet for information on this type of situation. Most of what I read indicated that a miscarriage will likely be the result.
However, then I found what I was hoping to see - situations where other women had the same type of ultrasound experience and still went on to have a healthy pregnancy. What surprised me was how I felt when I read those stories. It made me cry. If all I got was information that said there was no hope, then I could begin accepting that fate. But now it’s like, do I prepare for the worst? Or do I keep my hopes up knowing that the odds are probably against me and knowing that if I do keep my hopes up, I may be even more devasted in the event of miscarriage?
One thing I read was that a tipped uterus sometimes makes it more difficult to see the embryo via ultrasound until later (even as late at 12-13 weeks). Then one woman (non-tipped uterus) wrote that even at 9 weeks, her ultrasound showed an empty sac. But a week and a half later - there was the baby, right on track (her dates were right on) with a strong heartbeat. I’ve been told that I have a retroverted cervix, which I believe means that I may have that “tipped” uterus. So do I hang on to the hope that that’s it? That this pregnancy is just one of those exceptions to the rule that isn’t following what’s expected?
So they drew blood today to check hormone count. The only thing that would do, is confirm a upcoming miscarriage if the numbers drop. Even with the blighted ovum, numbers can increase because the placenta is formed and can secrete hormones just as if the pregnancy is right on track. I will also go back to the dr next week to try another ultrasound. If that one still shows nothing, I will probably not go back the following week. I think I’ll just tell the dr, I want to wait for a couple of weeks (until 10 weeks) before I go back again. I don’t think there’s much to be gained by going back in a week. If a baby is there, he/she will be there at 10 weeks. If not, maybe things will take care of themself before the next appointment.
Also many women who had an empty ultrasound at 6-7 weeks were advised by their dr to have a D and C. Most did it at right about 8 weeks. I know that I will not take that route. I will let nature take it’s course and allow my body to take care of things on it’s own if that’s what’s meant to be. So now I just wait and see. Either the miscarriage will happen or one day we’ll see the baby and the heartbeat on the ultrasound. Until then, I will just try to relax and know that whatever happens, things will work out. Thankfully DH has been wonderful about everything. Through the surprise, through all the questions, and through today’s appointment (he was there), he’s been so supportive and caring about whether or not I’m okay.