Writing this in hopes I can help some people and give them hope...

At my 6 week US, the doctors saw a gestational sac and yolk sac but no fetal pole. My HCG levels were 69,000. They asked me to come back for a scan at 7 weeks — my HCG levels had risen to 190,000, but we still saw no fetal pole at all inside the gestational sac.

The doctors immediately told me that it was not a healthy or viable pregnancy. They expect to see something that looks like baby at HCG levels of 10,000 and with HCG levels so high with no fetal development, this could even be a molar / partial molar pregnancy. They started talking to me about scheduling a D&C; that week.

I had no signs or symptoms of a miscarriage like bleeding or cramping, and while I wasn’t having intense pregnancy symptoms, their diagnosis didn’t sit right. I insisted on going to get a second opinion at another hospital. I asked my doctor how often another scan could show different results and they said never, but if I needed the peace of mind and closure I could go ahead and get one. I was devastated and basically had fully accepted that I was miscarrying, but went to get the second opinion that day.

To our shock and joy, the ultrasound and transvaginal ultrasound at the second hospital both immediately showed that there is a PERFECTLY healthy fetus (10mm!) with a heartbeat and ZERO signs of abnormality.

Point being.... Doctors can make errors and have out of date equipment and especially if your OBGYN is doing the scan, they aren’t as experienced as an ultrasound tech who does USs all day every day. PLEASE get a second opinion before you schedule a D&C;!!!!!