My friend lost her baby

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Hi everyone! I'm not an OB nurse, so I'd like to know if you all can answer some questions for me.

My friend had her first OB appt Fri 2/4. She was about 6-7 weeks pregnant. She said MD did an US and discovered embryo "stopped growing" at 2 weeks. She said the only bleeding she has had was spotting, which MD said was normal. Would US be routinely done at first OB appt? Does her body just absorb the embryo?

Thanks in advance,

Stephanie RN CDE

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Hi everyone! I'm not an OB nurse, so I'd like to know if you all can answer some questions for me.

My friend had her first OB appt Fri 2/4. She was about 6-7 weeks pregnant. She said MD did an US and discovered embryo "stopped growing" at 2 weeks. She said the only bleeding she has had was spotting, which MD said was normal. Would US be routinely done at first OB appt? Does her body just absorb the embryo?

Thanks in advance,

Stephanie RN CDE

It is likely that her body will reabsorb the fetus. If not, the fetal contents may expell themselves - may look like blood clots. A US is not routinely done at the first OB appt (atleast here) except to determine gestation age. However, if your friend were complaining of severe cramping accompanied with the occasional spotting (which is normal) then he may have felt strange about it and that could have been the reason for the US.

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

When I had my miscarriage 15 years ago it was routine to do an ultrasound on the first visit to help determine gestation age (and perhaps to help r/o ectopic at the same time but I'm assuming there..). It was discovered on my first visit that the embryo was not the proper size and that there was no heartbeat as would be expected for its gestation. I learned all this after I miscarried approximately 2 weeks later however. I guess back then they didn't believe in informing the patient of the ramifications of their findings...

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Specializes in OB, M/S, HH, Medical Imaging RN.

I don't think an US would show that a embryo stopped growing at 2 weeks. At 2 weeks the embryo is embedded in the uterine wall lining and not visible. The woman is only then realizing that her period might be late. I hope the doctor did blood tests showing the amount of HCG circulating? I think her pregnancy needs further investigation. If she had some light bleeding it's possible that the embryo did not successfully implant and instead passed out of the body. I would be interested to know what her HCG level showed? US at the first visit would be the exception and not the rule. I suspect that her uterus didn't feel like a 6-7 week uterus and that prompted the decision to see if she was indeed pregnant at all. I've had two miscarriages and I am sorry to hear about this happening to your friend. I can truely say I understand.

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Specializes in Home Health Care,LTC.
Hi everyone! I'm not an OB nurse, so I'd like to know if you all can answer some questions for me.

My friend had her first OB appt Fri 2/4. She was about 6-7 weeks pregnant. She said MD did an US and discovered embryo "stopped growing" at 2 weeks. She said the only bleeding she has had was spotting, which MD said was normal. Would US be routinely done at first OB appt? Does her body just absorb the embryo?

Thanks in advance,

Stephanie RN CDE

I don't know how much comfort it will be to your friend but there can be successful pregnancies after this one.

I had miscarriage at 4 mths

boy born at 28 wks. gestation

girl starting to come early, put on bed rest, went 2 wks 2 days overdue and

had to be induced.

girls stillborn full term 4 days away from due date

miscarriage at 3 mths

boy born at 34 wks.

ever since my first miscarriage I have had an US done with every pregnacy and actually I can't remember how many US I had during my pregnacy period. Dr's kept a very close eye on me.

Angie

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