![]() ![]() ![]() Her breasts feel different – tender, sensitive and fuller than usual. High progesterone levels make a woman feel pregnant. Once this ‘cluster of cells’ (called a blastocyst) anchors itself to the wall of the womb, the placental cells connect with the endometrium. Any delay or obstruction in this tube will result in a ‘tubal pregnancy’. The fertilised egg has only eight to ten days to journey through the fallopian tube before reaching the womb. Although the sperm can enjoy the comfort-zone of the cervix (mouth of the womb) for as many as five days after ejaculation, the ova, once released, must be fertilised within 24 hours. The embryo is racing against time to survive independently. The developing embryo depends on mega-doses of progesterone from the ovary to keep it alive. By day 22 the embryo needs to be prepared for the heart to start beating. Finally it implants itself into the womb lining (endometrium) on about day ten. During this time one single ovum (egg) and the sperm, race against time first to meet, then fuse and nd the womb at the end of the fallopian tube. The first 22 days after conception are crucial for the embryo. From this primitive stage, the contracting heart circulates blood, nutrition and oxygen from the placenta to every tiny dividing cell of the baby’s developing body. During pregnancy, labour and birth, the baby’s heartbeat is a good indication of the baby’s health. The baby’s heart begins beating from day 22 to 28 after conception. This instinct can be a blessing because it may help to soften the news when the doctor confirms the diagnosis and has no choice but to booka D&C (dilatation and curettage) to end the pregnancy. Women who go through this experience may have had a gut-feeling that she didn’t ‘feel’ pregnant. This will inevitably become a spontaneous miscarriage. If the woman is sure of her dates and there is still no heartbeat, if she is bleeding (even just spotting) and the baby does not measure 6mm on the scan, this could be an indication that the pregnancy is not progressing. ‘Extra padding’, when mom is plus-size may make it more difficult to hear the baby’s heartbeat, but this does not affect the scan in any way. The missing heartbeat may be an incorrect calculation of the conception date, and the baby maybe younger than was originally thought to be. I am sorry for your loss, and if there is anything I can do to help you, please let me know.If the pregnancy test is positive and the doctor is unable to find the heartbeat on scan, an appointment is made for a second scan – usually the following week (or even longer). Mourn however you need to, and tolerate no judgment from others. You just joined a very big and loving club. This time we're more cautious in our optimism, but we love this new baby every bit as much as we loved the first. We conceived again a little over 3 months later. It was like having a little wake for our pregnancy, and it was helpful for us. We spent the next day daydrinking with friends. That was tough.) The nurses and anaesthesiologist were wonderful, and though I don't remember seeing my doctor, she must have been there. ![]() (Though, as we got on the elevator, a young family with new twins were getting off. My dad drove me home and picked up Scotch and Gatorade on the way - after all, I needed to make sure I was hydrated for my long day. I went to my parents' house, told them, and did a shot with them. She scheduled me for 4:30PM the next day. Then she started talking options, and I cut her off and asked for a D&C as soon as possible. She offered me the chance to have a confirmation ultrasound upstairs, which I did. My little gummy bear measured 9 weeks, 1 day and had no heartbeat. My OB had trouble finding the heartbeat, so she brought in the portable ultrasound. Last December, I went in for a doppler at 9 weeks, 4 days. It's never easy losing something you've hoped for so much. You will heal from this with the support of one another. She was pregnant again within a few months as well. Once she found out, she was able to visualize letting go of the pregnancy and was able to pass it on her own a couple of days later. I have friend who also had a missed miscarriage but didn't find out until she was 13 weeks. Luckily it only took 6 months before we got pregnant again. It took me until I got pregnant again to really heal from the loss. All the woman at the clinic treated me like I was just coming in for a routine abortion and kept asking me if I was sure. The procedure was painful, but I think it was more emotional pain than anything else. At that point in my life (22 years old) I didn't know miscarriages were very common. They sent me to the hospital for a more in depth ultrasound which confirmed that the pregnancy was no longer viable. I went in for my first OB appointment at 10 weeks and the baby was measuring 8 weeks and there was no heartbeat. ![]()
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