Shouldn't I See More?
QUESTION
Dear Ms Ultrasound,
I know you've answered a lot of similar questions, but none exactly the same as mine: I had an ultrasound today and am exactly 6 weeks pregnant today. I also know the exact day I ovulated and it was exactly 4 weeks ago. But at my ultrasound (vaginal) today, the doctor could only see a gestational sac, nothing inside of it and no heart beat. He says it is nothing to worry about and the sac looks normal for 6 weeks, but everything I've read indicates that a yolk sac and/or heart beat should be detected at 6 weeks. He scheduled me for a repeat ultrasound in 2 weeks, but I don't think I can wait that long to find out if everything is okay or not! Any advice you could give would be much appreciated.
Thank you,
Michelle
ANSWER
Hi Michelle,
I understand your concerns. It is all very scary in the first few weeks of pregnancy. I am not sure if there were some concerns with the pregnancy for you to have such an early ultrasound. Having an ultrasound too early, many times causes more concern the necessary.
Yes if you truly are 6 weeks, we normally see, at least a yolk sac. The facts are.......No one knows when she got pregnant. The moment of ovulation is not always the moment of conception and not always the moment of intercourse. Conception can happen days later. Unless you had intercourse just once, you may have gotten pregnant anytime in the course of your cycle. You may have ovulated twice. There are many scenarios.
You are now in a hold pattern. With one of my pregnancies that was similar to your circumstances, because I was stressing over the pregnancy, I took the opportunity to look into myself, to calm my mind and stop all the scientific chatter. It is not healthy for you or your baby. Use the next two weeks to connect with the life that was started inside you. I was so happy I had the uncomplicated, quiet time with my child early in that pregnancy, because the pregnancy did not go to term. I treasure that time and made every moment count.
The ultrasound will come soon enough. You now have the opportunity to reverse your thinking, making the next 2 weeks very, very special, instead of a time of stressful anticipation.
-- Jane, RDMS
Jane Foley
Jane Foley has worked as a Sonographer (Ultrasound Technologist) since 1979. Jane has lived and worked in many parts of the world including Saudi Arabia. She is a Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer or RDMS. She pulls a wealth of information from her experience in the field of Radiology and her interactions with such a broad cross-section of cultures she has visited. She now makes her home on the island of Maui with her English husband, Michael.
