Fetal Heartbeat Using Transvaginal Ultrasound
QUESTION
Dear Midwife,
I recently went to the emergency room for cramping. I had no bleeding accompanying this. They did a transvaginal ultrasound and estimated I was 4-5 weeks gestation and that no fetal heart beat was present. They discharged me with a diagnosis of having a miscarriage.
I always thought it was to soon to see the fetal heartbeat at 4-5 weeks gestation. I was under the impression that you could see the heartbeat around six weeks. I am confused because I am still not bleeding and still pregnant.
Hope you can help.
Carey
ANSWER
I don't know exactly what they (didn't) see, but I would agree that it is a little early to totally give up hope. I'm hoping you have another ultrasound scheduled for two weeks from now. I do wish you the very best.
-- Cynthia, CNM. PhD.
Cynthia Flynn
Cynthia Flynn, CNM. PhD, is the General Director of the Family Health and Birth Center which provides prenatal, birth, postnatal, gynecological and primary health care to underserved women and their families in Washington, D.C. Recently Cynthia served as Associate Professor of Nursing at Seattle University. There she not only taught, but remained in full scope clinical midwifery practice at Valley Medical Center where she cared for pregnant and birthing women, and practices well-woman gynecology, family planning, and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases.
Cynthia founded Columbia Women's Clinic and Birth Center, where she took care of pregnant women and infants up to two weeks of age and attended both birth center and hospital births. Before Cynthia earned her CNM, she worked as a registered nurse in labor and delivery and postpartum and is a certified Doula and Doula trainer.
