Has this ever happened to any of you?

09-06-2007, 09:25 AM

I am at eight weeks pregnant. I have had many ultrasounds already because we were seeing an infertility specialist. It appeared that the embryo stopped developing around six weeks, though my gestational sac is still getting bigger. When I went in this past Tuesday, the sac is measuring correctly and the embryo had a little growth but still no heartbeat. I know at this point, you should get a heartbeat for a viable pregnancy. The thing I don't understand is, the sac getting bigger, I still feel pregnant and my HCG levels are still rising. My nausea has gotten worse this week. I even had a migraine yesterday, which is exactly how I did with my DD when I was pregnant with her at eight weeks.

I am worried about a molar pregnancy because of the rising HCG levels and the no heartbeat at eight weeks. The ultrasound tech said it does not look like a molar pregnancy but I am wondering if it is too soon to tell.

I had two small episodes of spotting and had some cramping but now nothing. What do you all think? Is my body just taking a while to realize this isn't a viable pregnancy? Is there anyway possible that it could become viable and we get a heartbeat next Tuesday b/c of the way I am feeling and with levels rising instead of decreasing?

What do you all think? Has anyone been through this? I haven't opted for a D & C yet because the doctor told me he did see a little growth, just still no heartbeat. Plus, I am not bleeding at this point. The doctor says we aren't in any kind of hurry, but I am worried that if it is molar, we need to get it out of me sooner than later.

Thanks for any advice.
ALM

09-06-2007, 01:37 PM

They weren't able to find a heartbeat with my last pregnancy until about 8 or 9 weeks along.

09-07-2007, 10:22 AM

I would wait and see what happens at your next ultrasound - maybe the dates were off and you are not as far along as you think. If nothing at the next one then I would worry. But for now you may still have some hope.

I had what was called a blighted ovum - it stopped developing at 5-6 weeks. The sac still produces the HCG - hence the pregnancy symptoms and it continues to grow. It can take a while for the body to realize it is not a viable pregnancy and expel it - for me I was over 10 weeks before I started to miscarry.

From what I understand from a molar it produces really high HCG and there are grape like growths inside. I think that your doctor would have picked up on that if that was the problem.

The only thing to worry about if it is not viable and hasn't miscarried is the possibility of infection - then you would need a d&c.

I would wait and see what happens - you have a definite chance of something good happening because there was a little growth. Keep your chin up and hope for the best!

09-10-2007, 12:39 PM

Thank you both for your comments. I was wondering, aelliot, did you not pick up the heartbeat at all on ultrasound until about eight or nine weeks or did you just not hear it until then? I go back tomorrow and I don't know what to think. I am expecting the worst but praying for some good news. I still feel pregnant, have had no bleeding or spotting and am getting bigger. I guess I am around nine weeks.

If you check this post and feel like writing, please let me know aelliot.

Thanks
ALM

09-10-2007, 01:22 PM

ALM,

They weren't able to pick up anything until about the 9 week mark. Like you, I had gotten 2 u/s's prior and was freaking b/c they didn't find anything but a sac. Keep in mind, you will not hear a heartbeat. They will only detect one, so don't set your heart on actually hearing it until later in your pregnancy. After finally getting a HB, I went back a few weeks later to my first official appt. They again couldn't get a hb on the doppler. I had to wait until I was about 13 weeks for them to detect one with a doppler. If your numbers are increasing then everything should be alright. I know it's hard to be calm, I had 3 m/c's prior to having this last child. I always thought the worst b/c I didn't know any better, especially since I kept loosing the babies. Good luck and let us know how you make out!! My thoughts are with you.

09-10-2007, 03:47 PM

I had a molar pregnancy---30 years ago (also called hydatidiform mole.) The reason molar pregnancies were so insidious in the long ago past was because the placenta still had a beat due to the feeding of blood. that was how it was explained to me. The doc would listen and hear a beat and think the woman was pg. But now of course, with ultra sounds they should be able to see that there is NO BABY there.

At some point yes, you will have a miscarriage. but also some women delivered molar preganancies. And yes it was a grape like cluster and sometimes was malignant. I think if the molar pregnancy is delivered early it is better and less chance of malignancy spreading.
I had my miscarriage at 3 months. It was as bad as delivering a baby. Lots of bleeding and pain. Not malignant.

The doc did even not know till the miscarriage that I was not actually pregnant anymore...then I had a normal pg and baby. then another horrible miscarriage. Also another 2 "regular" miscarriages. We ultimately had only one child but feel fortunate that we do.

09-10-2007, 04:58 PM

ALM,

I also wanted to let you know that with my last pregnancy (where they didn't find a hb until 9 weeks) I was told at 17 weeks I had a partial molar pregnancy and was told I should think about ending the pregnancy. They found the grape like cluster and did an amnio. The amnio came back fine, but we went through weeks and weeks of u/s's and tests to find after delivering, she was completely normal. So when I say do not freak out until you know for sure, I can speak from experience. If I had listened to the doctor's advice at 17 weeks, I would not have my baby Charlotte!

09-11-2007, 06:39 AM

Aelliot~

I can not believe that about the partial molar pregnancy at 17 weeks!! I guess it can take a while to diagnose a molar. The only reason I have even been worried about this pregnancy being one is because of my high and rising HCG numbers and the fact that I feel so pregnant. I feel very similiar to the way I did with DD around this time.

I am not getting my hopes up about today's appt, but your post does give me some reassurance that it is possible to still have a healthy baby even though things seem so grim.

If they still find no heartbeat and there is no growth, I might opt for a D & C. I am tired of waiting and the fact that I feel and look pregnant is so hurtful, given what the doctors are telling me.

Maybe things will go well and I can finally relax a little. Did the doctors move your due date because it took so long to detect a heartbeat? Do you think that it took that long because it was a partial molar pregnancy?

Thanks for your advice.

ALM

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