Why did the ultrasound scan at the eighth week show 5.5 weeks baby with no heartbeat?

Question

Hello doctor,

The first ultrasound scan at six weeks showed a baby with heartbeats. But, after 15 days, it shows a 5.5-week baby with no heartbeat. The doctor told me to take MTP pills. After taking these pills, I had heavy bleeding for six days, and from the seventh day, I started expelling black blood with lumps for three days. I did not have any symptoms of a failing pregnancy. According to me, I am three months pregnant, so why did the scan show only five weeks pregnant? I am attaching all my reports.

Please help.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I am sorry for the loss you had. I have seen all the reports (attachment removed to protect patient identity). The first scan shows a six-week-old baby; that is the actual size of the baby. Due to some cause, which has to be found out, the heartbeat of the baby stopped soon after that scan. When the blood flow to the baby stops, the baby starts to shrink and will measure smaller. This measurement of six weeks and 5.5 weeks is just two days' difference.

The measurement of the baby is in mm, maybe 6 mm and 5.9 mm. There can be a difference in measurement by the same person in the scan. So, the MTP (medical termination of pregnancy) pill will expel the remains of the baby with period-like bleeding. It will be a thicker, jelly-like mass with clots, and slowly the blood clots become blacker.

You had exactly the same course. Why are you worried about the course of bleeding? After two weeks of bleeding, just have a scan to confirm that the products of conception have completely gone. Try for the next pregnancy only after three months; this will remove any small cause in the body. And when you plan for a pregnancy, get the following tests done:

1. Fasting and postprandial blood sugars.

2. Thyroid profile.

3. aPTT (activated partial prothrombin time).

4. ANA (antinuclear antibody).

5. ACA (anti-cardiolipin antibody).

There are a number of causes for miscarriage; these are a few important and treatable causes, which can be corrected after pregnancy, and the baby will not be affected. Pray well and hope for the best in the next pregnancy.

I hope this helps.