[kat21]

Good morning!
I am currently pregnant after a loss in ealry September. I was 12 weeks and I had already seen the HB of 160 at 8 weeks.
My question is this: did you see and/or hear the HB before your MC? Did you then go on to have a healthy pregnancy after this?
I am asking b/c I have read that after you see or hear the HB there is only a 3% chance that you will have a MC. It makes me think something else was wrong.
I'm just looking for some hope.
Thanks!
Kat

[twinzplus3]

I would be interested to see where you've read that honestly. It is true that most m/c were not viable from the get go. . .there's never a heart beat and it's just a matter of time before it's discovered. So if you hear the heartbeat. . .that's generally a good sign. I don't see how in the world someone could claim a specific percentage though without having a specific gestational period. Your chances of m/c go down drastically the farther along you are. I have never read anywhere, where that is claimed but I would guess, that it's based on hearing the heart beat at 12 or 13 weeks when the chance of m/c is very, very, low.

My honest advice to you is to seriously stop stressing over it. Do what you need to do to get your mind off of it. It's not healthy to be this obsessed over something that may or may not happen that you cannot stop. I'm sure you know that and I understand it's hard. If something was wrong, it is more likely wrong with the fetus and not with you in which case its unlikely to repeat. If something is wrong with you, unfortunately most OB/GYNs will require more than one mc to investigate that unless it's something for which you've already had symptoms for. It is most likely that something was wrong with the fetus. . .and nature took its course.

However, from your various posts it sounds like you're in a manged health care situation--right? They have a tendency to brush people aside. If you really, honestly and truly think in your heart of hearts that something is wrong. . .you need to push for more answers. If you had a d/c in the hospital (or if you passed the fetus in the hospital or brought it to your doctor's office) they have a pathology report and you have the right to ask for it. That will have the cause of death on the report. I am assuming you have no symptoms of something being wrong with you, but if you think that something is wrong with you, physically--then you should ask to have it investigated. If they can't investigate something ask why. It is okay to be pushy. These people have the mentality of herding cattle if you allow yourself to be a cow. You can demand different care, pull out the patient's bill of rights, etc., etc., etc.

This is a pretty good article on pregnancy loss and what causes it. I hope you find it helpful.

[kat21]

No, I do not have a managed health care situtaion. I have had one MC and have been hearing different things all from the same doctor's office. One says it is common and another sounds worried b/c I had a MC after seeing a HB.
I have read that about the percent dropping dramatically after seeing or hearing a HB MANY times. From what I have read, the HB can be detected by transvaginal ultrasound as early as 6 weeks. I am not making it up as it seems you are suggesting.
My reason for the post was to simply gather some hope from other women who have aslo had a MC and went on to have a healthy pregnancy! Have you had a MC? It seems like you would understand the fact that I am VERY concerned and just looking for some support.

Kat

[2girls]

I have also read many times that once you hear the heartbeat your chances of m/c are only 3%. Unfortunatly I did not hear the hearbeat before my loss. (nor am I pregnant again either).
But I just wanted to send you some well wishes. I understand you being nervous, as I know I will be extrememly paranoid should I fall pregnant again.
But you will never know unless you give it another go, right?
Try to enjoy this time in your pregnancy, I know it's hard to do. I am thinking good thoughts for you this time around.

[sp2arky]

I had a m/c in March of this year. I did hear the heartbeat at 6wks through an ultrasound ~ which I had because I was spotting. About two weeks after that, the night after we went to our first baby class, I woke up with horrible cramps and bleeding. Needless to say I ended up goin gto the ER and losing the baby. They did an ultrasound at the ER and found that they baby stopped growing at 6wks 1 day.
I am pregnant again. My doctor had me on clomid to get this one....turns out I wasn't ovulating right anyways. After the first month of Clomid and temping, I got pregnant. Right away the doctor had me coming in each week to check HCG and Progesterone levels. Turned out that the HCG was going up, but the Progesterone was not. I ended up having to take progesterone vaginal suppositories for the first 12 weeks. Which has apparently helped a lot! I have had two ultrasounds and things are looking good. On Nov. 2nd we got to hear the heartbeat for the first time (the ultrasounds we just saw it). We go back in the day after Thanksgiving for another check-up!
I don't know if that helps you at all. But I do know how hard it is to relax, but it something that you have to try. Good luck and I hope you have a great uneventful 9 months!

[twinzplus3]

Originally Posted by kat21

No, I do not have a managed health care situtaion. I have had one MC and have been hearing different things all from the same doctor's office. One says it is common and another sounds worried b/c I had a MC after seeing a HB.
I have read that about the percent dropping dramatically after seeing or hearing a HB MANY times. From what I have read, the HB can be detected by transvaginal ultrasound as early as 6 weeks. I am not making it up as it seems you are suggesting.
My reason for the post was to simply gather some hope from other women who have aslo had a MC and went on to have a healthy pregnancy! Have you had a MC? It seems like you would understand the fact that I am VERY concerned and just looking for some support.

Kat

I'm sorry to have offended you. I wasn't suggesting you were making up what you've read. . .I was suggesting that what you're reading is not the best information out there. You are correct, you can hear and/or see the heart beat as early as 6 weeks via ultra sound. . .I've seen mine that early without being transvaginal even. But mc is so common before 12 weeks gest. that I was questioning whether or not the 3% figure was when you see/hear the heartbeat at 6weeks or at 12 in a doc's office. At 12 weeks is when your chance of m/c goes down substantially.

Secondly, I'm not sure you unerstand what I mean by managed health care. What you're describing is very typical of a managed care situation as opposed to seeing a private doctor. Doctors have different opinions and when you're in managed health care you will see several and they have a tendency to brush people off. I thought what I did, was encourage you to really pursue the answers you are seeking if that is what will give you piece of mind. I also thought that I provided you a link with what I thought to be helpful, well written and accurate inforamtion. Furthermore, I think I was also suggesting, backed by statistical evidence that in all likelihood it was something with the fetus and not with you which means that you are likely to go on to have a good pg. That would be reassuring to me.

As far as whether or not I've had a miscarriage--what do you think? Why would I even bother responding to a board where I have no experience or knowledge? You obvisouly assume not, probably because you see the pics of my kids in my siggy. The truth of the matter is I've been pregnant a total of 7 times. . .do the math. I have lost a total of 5 babies (I lost 2 twins and went on to birth their surviving siblings) so yeah. . .um. . .I think I get it. In fact, dare I say, I might even know what I'm talking about?

I sincerely apologize though. I thought you were really seeking good information and advice. You're not, you're seeking someone to hold your hand and tell you it's going to be okay. That's okay--we need that sometimes--and I totally respect that. I'm just not a great hand holder. I was trying to give you useful information. I won't respond to your threads anymore now that I understand that. Again I apologize.

[kat21]

You are way harsh.
Take a deap breath.
Seriously.

[twinzplus3]

Not trying to be harsh at all. In fact, I re-read my posts and I'm not even sure how you get that. I would encourage you too, to take a deep breath about your pg. I hope all goes well and wish you luck.

[wanna be a young mother]

Hummmm ok just to pop in with my 2 cents!
First I have also heard that after seeing the HB your m/c rate drops but it is actually ONLY 3% every time you hear it. So if you hear it 4 times your rate of a m/c would drop 12%. It doesn't go down to 3% it only takes 3% off your rate every time. Which with a first pregnancy is about a 40% chance of a m/c. Most women only hear the HB 2-3 times during the first Tri. So really it doesn't drop your rate very much but it is reassuring to hear a HB for the mother.


Being an Infertility patient (IVF) my cycles and pregnancy were closely monitored. Plus to add to it I was carrying twins. So I did get an u/s @ 6.5 weeks, 7 weeks, 8.5 weeks, 10 weeks and again at 12 weeks. The only reason I had so many was b/c we could not get a HB on baby B. So to make sure I had lost it I had to go back for more u/s. I ended up losing baby B @ around 6-7 weeks. I never heard a HB but Nevy had a strong one from the first u/s on! Her twin never made it but I have her and I am thankful!


Val is full of great information and I agree with a lot of what she said. She can be a little bit of a bear sometimes but she is really as sweet as honey when you get to know her. I would take her advice about not worrying so much. I truly know how hard it is. After We lost twin B I was so worried I would lose Nevy as well. I cant tell you how many times I went to the ER b/c I "thought" I had lost her. All that did was drive me nuts. I even downloaded a chart with the % rate of m/c and then survival by gestational age just to help my mind. It didnt work.....all it did was make my Dh crazy! The best advice I can give anyone is stay calm. I know its hard but its not good for that baby if you keep getting stressed about this. Try taking a bath or something when you start to feel worried! It always helped for me!

Kristin (wanttobemommy/Jaxons_mommy) has a lot of experience in this I will ask her to comment

[mcmama]

When I had my mc I did not realize I was pregnant. So I don't know if there was a heartbeat for that one - it was probably about 6-8 weeks, but since I had bleeding during that time I thought I was menstruating.

Both successful pregnancies after that had heavy bleeding at 12 weeks which was pretty scary. But it turned out ok after a few days bedrest with each one.

Those were very difficult days. Made me happy for every kick and squiggle and bladder pressure later in each pregnancy.