Yolk Sac/uterine attachment?

SmilingBluEyes · Aug 26, 2005

I have no idea about this condition. Maybe someone much more experienced and smarter about perinatal medicine can chime in here.

I wish your friend the best.

midwife2b · Aug 27, 2005

I have a friend who is at 8 weeks gestation. After a horrifying ordeal this week, an ultrasound showed that the sac has attached itself to the uterus causing bleeding. I've been trying to find more info about this but my friend couldn't give me a technical term for this and I'm just a first semester student with no clue. Have any of you seen this and what are the chances of this pregnacy remaining viable?

Could it have been implantation bleeding? As the POC imbed into the decidua there can be some bleeding. It happened to me and I thought I was miscarrying (not quite as heavy as a period but more than spotting). If I remember right it occurs around 6 conceptual weeks, or 8 gestational weeks, so the timing is right...

palesarah · Aug 27, 2005

Could it have been implantation bleeding? As the POC imbed into the decidua there can be some bleeding. It happened to me and I thought I was miscarrying (not quite as heavy as a period but more than spotting). If I remember right it occurs around 6 conceptual weeks, or 8 gestational weeks, so the timing is right...

Unless I'm mistaken, and I could be!, but implantation bleeding usually occur around the time of the next expected /first missed period, about 2 conceptual weeks/4 gestational weeks.

To the OP, can you clarify- did they see a yolk sac at 8 gestational weeks ( eight weeks from last menstrual period) and that's what was attached to uterus? A yolk sac is usually visible within the gestational sac at a bout 5 gestational weeks, and it is the yolk sac that developes into the embryo. The embryo is usually visible on ultrasound as a "smudgy bean" within the gestational sac (that's how they look to me!) at about 6 weeks, give or take a day. Can you get some better details from your friend?

Katydidit34 · Aug 27, 2005

I will surely try to get some better details. She did tell me though, that the bleeding was much heavier than just a regular period. She passed some pretty large clots and literally had blood running down her leg. She said they told her at the hospital that the yolk sac has attached itself to the uterus. You must be right though, she must be using the wrong terminology. She admits to being somewhat hysterical. LOL!! I will see what else I can find out. Thanks for the input.

Unless I'm mistaken, and I could be!, but implantation bleeding usually occur around the time of the next expected /first missed period, about 2 conceptual weeks/4 gestational weeks.
To the OP, can you clarify- did they see a yolk sac at 8 gestational weeks ( eight weeks from last menstrual period) and that's what was attached to uterus? A yolk sac is usually visible within the gestational sac at a bout 5 gestational weeks, and it is the yolk sac that developes into the embryo. The embryo is usually visible on ultrasound as a "smudgy bean" within the gestational sac (that's how they look to me!) at about 6 weeks, give or take a day. Can you get some better details from your friend?

Editorial Team / Admin · Aug 28, 2005

I have a friend who is at 8 weeks gestation. After a horrifying ordeal this week, an ultrasound showed that the sac has attached itself to the uterus causing bleeding. I've been trying to find more info about this but my friend couldn't give me a technical term for this and I'm just a first semester student with no clue. Have any of you seen this and what are the chances of this pregnacy remaining viable?

Upon implantation, the embryonic cell mass actually forms an interface with the endometrial tissue. The endometrium envelopes to cover this mass. After implantation, a cavity or sac develops and contains the chorionic and subchorionic layers. Inside the subchorionic layer is the yolk sac with the embryonic disk (it too, with its own amniotic cavity). At approximately 5 weeks the yolk sac is very well defined.

THAT is a VERY scaled down explanation of embryology and the develpment of the yolk sac.

Now......it could be that there was a gestational sac without an embryo. The sac continued to develop after the demise of the embryo. If the sac is large, it must be distinguished from a normal pregnancy, ectopic or hemorrhage inside the sac.

A heartbeat at or about 7-9 weeks with bleeding results in approximately 10% spontaneous abortion.

I wish her all the luck in the world. Please keep us posted. :balloons: