Questions & Answers

At 6 weeks I started spotting so they brought me in for an ultrasound at 6w3d. The scan showed a strong heartbeat but no yolk sac. They said that my pregnancy had an unknown viability because of the spotting, but the doctor said that she wouldn't be too concerned by not seeing the yolk sac at this stage because it was still very early. Booked me in for another scan two weeks later and bean was developing normally, had a good strong heartbeat and a yolk sac! Those two weeks were the longest of my life but I'm now 11w6d and everything is looking good fx. Hope this puts your mind at ease a little at least, probably just a bit to early to see the yolk sac. Hoping we both have sticky beans! Good luck

At 6 weeks I started spotting so they brought me in for an ultrasound at 6w3d. The scan showed a strong heartbeat but no yolk sac. They said that my pregnancy had an unknown viability because of the spotting, but the doctor said that she wouldn't be too concerned by not seeing the yolk sac at this stage because it was still very early. Booked me in for another scan two weeks later and bean was developing normally, had a good strong heartbeat and a yolk sac! Those two weeks were the longest of my life but I'm now 11w6d and everything is looking good fx. Hope this puts your mind at ease a little at least, probably just a bit to early to see the yolk sac. Hoping we both have sticky beans! Good luck

I don't know enough to really be helpful, but I found this study. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16953856 The part that seemed reassuring to me is the first line of the results "In normal pregnancies with embryonic heartbeats, a deformed or an absent yolk sac was never detected." I would take that to mean it's much more likely that the sonographer just missed it. With my understanding (again limited) the yolk sack is a requirement for an embryo, as it is the first source of nutrition and plays a role in early circulation. Additionally, I've seen stats that once the heartbeat is seen the risk of miscarriage drops to around 5%. http://miscarriage.about.com/od/pregnancyafterloss/f/oddsheartbeat.htm I hope that some of that info is reassuring, but I know, no matter what, you'll still worry, I know I would. I personally would try to disregard the sonographer and if you are really stressed out call your doctor and ask for their opinion.

I have another scan booked in 10days, the nurse said it might just be hidden but the sonographer said if there was no yolk sac to baby would die soon!! Feeling a little scared now xx

Do you have another scan booked, did the drs talk this over with you at the time?
I've not heard a lot about this but the stories I've read said it was a mistake on the scan or missed when they first looked.