When was your first ultrasound?

[Stayseeliz]

I'm supposed to have my first u/s next Friday at 6w4d. I'm totally freaking out that they won't be able to see a heartbeat yet. My options were that day or a 7w exactly. I chose the first because I didn't want to have to wait all weekend. But I also don't want to freak myself out if it's just too early. I'm still seeing a RE right now and they want to do an u/s fairly early on then release me back to my regular OB.

I'm totally getting freaked out here!! :

[ASusan]

I know that I, too, would have problems waiting through the weekend!

Thet may not be able to see a heartbeat, but they should be able to see a fetal pole. (I think you can probably google exactly what you would expect to see at that exact time.)

If it's anything other than expected - they just see an empty sac, for example - they will schedule you to come back in within a few days to see the progress you are making and make sure that everything is on track.

Either way, it should give you some relief.

To answer your question: This time around, we did an ultrasound at 9 1/2 weeks (yesterday), because the earlier betas were rising well. We saw a heartbeat. The previous pregnancy, which resulted in a blighted ovum, they did an early (~6 weeks) ultrasound because the betas weren't rising properly. The first ultrasound was just a sac and dated me at around 5 weeks, when I KNEW it was 6. At the second ultrasound, a week later, I had made only 4-5 days progress. We did a 3rd ultrasound, 13 days after that, and I had made only 6 days progress. We knew then that it was an anembryonic pregnancy. But, oh! the waiting.

[Stayseeliz]

The waiting and not knowing is part of what I'm afraid of. My levels have been rising normally so that's not a concern. I just had two very early losses last year so I feel anxious about this whole thing. I just want to see a little heartbeat. I'm scared to death of seeing nothing and having to have a d&c. I think a 3rd m/c would break me at this point.

I know I'm totally worrying about something I can't control. I just want the reassurance, you know? These hormones are making me crazy!

[firstkid4me]

Ours will be next week on Friday. I think I'll be 8 weeks then. The receptionist made it sound like it was because my due date HAD to be off (my LMP was 1/6, but I ovulated on day 19 of my cycle, so I adjusted my due date accordingly.)

[Dena]

In both of my viable pregnancies (first didn't even make it to the u/s stage), we did ultrasounds at 6w2d. Both with dd and again yesterday we saw heartbeats. I even saw one of the heartbeats yesterday - I didn't with dd until 8 weeks, but trusted the dr. when she said it was there!

But our clinic cautions us that they don't always see heartbeats that early, and just because there is not one at 6 weeks doesn't mean anything is wrong. Like a pp said, you will still be able to see the fetal pole and sac and know that everything is progressing as it should.

I know how hard it is not to freak out - my symptoms were diminishing and I was all but certain I had miscarried again, only to find very good news indeed. Good luck - I hope all goes will with you next week!

[swimswamswum]

Is it normal to get them so early? I have only had one doctor's visit and that was to confirm my pregnancy. The birth center said that I don't even need to come in for an appointment until the 10th or 12th week. Are those of you getting ultrasounds early high risk? Why are you doing it now?

[intorainbowz]

I had my first at 5w6d an we were able to hear a heart beat. What a reassuring sound that was as I was spotting.

[Abylite]

6W3days....was so relieved to see it!!!

[Stayseeliz]

Originally Posted by swimswamswum

Is it normal to get them so early? I have only had one doctor's visit and that was to confirm my pregnancy. The birth center said that I don't even need to come in for an appointment until the 10th or 12th week. Are those of you getting ultrasounds early high risk? Why are you doing it now?

The reason I'm having one so early is because I'm currently under the care of a reproductive endocrinologist. I have PCOS and had miscarried twice last year and I was referred to them to see if there was something they could do to keep me from miscarrying again. So far it looks like what they did worked as I m/c'd the other two times at 4 and 4 1/2 weeks.

They want to make sure it's a viable pregnancy then they release you back to your regular care provider. The nurse told me that they do an u/s at around 7 weeks then release you. When I was pg with DD my normal OB did an u/s at 8w to date the pregnancy.

I'm still waivering. I think I should be okay at 6w4d but I'm just stressed about it. Although this pregnancy has been MUCH different than my m/c's last year. Somene on the Pregnancy after Loss board had a ultrasound at 5w6d last week and they couldn't see anything. She was really stressed but they brought her back for another u/s at 7w and everything was fine.

Just wondering if I should put it off 3 days..

[swimswamswum]

Thanks for the reply. I was starting to freak out a little.

I really hope things go well for you.

[Dena]

Originally Posted by swimswamswum

Is it normal to get them so early? I have only had one doctor's visit and that was to confirm my pregnancy. The birth center said that I don't even need to come in for an appointment until the 10th or 12th week. Are those of you getting ultrasounds early high risk? Why are you doing it now?

Our babies were concieved through IVF, and our clinic checks early because one, there is a high chance of multiples, and two, IVF patients are supplemented with progesterone until 10 weeks, and there is no point in taking the supplements if the pg is not viable.

When I called my midwife, though, she says she usually doesn't see patients until ten weeks. It was the same with the OB I saw at first with dd.

[thorn]

when I researched it with dd I found the average time to detect heartbeat on u/s was 6w2d - obviously some will be earlier and some later, but later is probably better so you should hopefully see that little flicker!

[firstkid4me]

Originally Posted by swimswamswum

Is it normal to get them so early? I have only had one doctor's visit and that was to confirm my pregnancy. The birth center said that I don't even need to come in for an appointment until the 10th or 12th week. Are those of you getting ultrasounds early high risk? Why are you doing it now?

With my first pregnancy, I had an ultrasound at 12 weeks because the doctor couldn't find a heartbeat using the doppler and he wanted to make sure everything was fine (my due date was off.) This time, I'm thinking it's because the darn receptionist at the midwife's office doesn't believe me when I said I know what I'm talking about. She questioned me repeatedly about my due date (Did you have an ultrasound? Why is it so late? blah blah blah.) I think this ultrasound will just be to get accurate age of the baby. Dr Sears says this about ultrasounds for estimating due date (and the midwife's office uses edc - estimated date of confinement - isn't that weird?)

Ultrasound is particularly helpful for estimating the delivery date for women with confusing or irregular menstrual periods. (Which I had.) The accuracy of ultrasound varies with different stages of pregnancy. During the first twelve to thirteen weeks of pregnancy, ultrasound dating will be accurate to within a few days of baby's actual age. At sixteen to twenty weeks, the margin for error is a week to ten days. By the third trimester, ultrasound estimates of baby's age may be as much as three weeks off.

[Nettie]

Hi Stacey, I remember you from the TTC after loss forum.

This time around I had my first u/s at 5w5d, and we saw the heartbeat. My betas had been really high, and my m/w was pretty certain it wasn't too early--and it wasn't.

With my son, we also saw his HB early, at 5w4d.

In both these pregnancies, I ovulated on day 10 or 11, so that could be why it was detectable that early.

With my previous pregnancy, the one I ended up losing, my first u/s was at 6w2d and we saw the HB then, too.

Good luck. I hope you see that reassuring flicker!

[jessitron]

My OB does a dating ultrasound on every patient before the first appointment, around 7-8 weeks. Last time I declined it since I knew my O date, and he was fine with that. This time I'm postponing calling them until I'm sure I'm far enough along to have an abdominal ultrasound instead of vaginal.

I hope you see a little flicker, or at least a growing bean.

[herent]

Hi, Stacey I wish you good luck with you ultrasound, I think I recognize you from the infertility boards. I have PCOS to and am under the care of a fertility specialist, I just had my first ultrasound a little over a week ago, it was also 6w 4days and I never felt so relieved to see that little heartbeat, I still worry because our chance of losing our pregnancy is still great, my doctor did say taking metformin lowers the risk though. I keeping my fingers crossed for you. Let us know how it goes.

[HeatherB]

Just to throw out the other end of the spectrum, we will not have an ultrasound till around 20 weeks. We'll see our midwife in the next week or two (was going to be today but she had an overnight birth), at which point we'll hope to hear the heartbeat. She recommends waiting for the u/s until past 18 weeks unless there's cause for concern. So, we'll eagerly be awaiting a peek at our little one in another 11 weeks!

[mamalara]

I had a very early ultrasound at 6 weeks and some change (I'm getting a dating ultrasound next week.) I miscarried in December due to a blighted ovum, and I was shaken up about being pregnant so fast. Also, I had only one period between that pregnancy and this one, and am not completely sure about dates. It was very reassuring to have it, though. They don't usually do any ultrasounds in my new office until 18-20 wks unless there's a medical reason. He just felt it was prudent in my case.

[Readergirl]

I think we're just going to have one at 20 wks unless we really need more after that. My dr normally does more than that, but he said he'd go with just one if that's what we want. He said he'll use doppler to check the heartbeat.

[mamabearsoblessed]

Well I go next mon, I'll be 6 weeks, 6 days and so desperately want to see that sweet little flicker . That will be our last visit with our RE, given that all is well, and will be dismissed to my mw at that time .
My numbers have more than doubled and the progesterone is doing its job , so I am very hopeful but still scared senseless.
Suffering a loss changes everything.
I understand your nervousness and fright all too well.