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Hi Deborah. I was diagnosed with a blighted ovum about 2-1/2 weeks ago (I was supposed to be 8 wks pregnant, but there was only an empty sac, measuring 5 weeks, when I went for my u/s). My HCG levels at that point were about 17,500 and went up to 19,400 a few days later. But this rate of increase was not normal-- it was not increasing fast enough-- so I felt confident at that point that there was a problem with the pregnancy. Anyway, I was advised to wait until I miscarry naturally-- but as I said it has now been 2-1/2 weeks and nothing has happened. It is frusterating, but the Dr. told me that it can take up to a month for the miscarriage to happen. If I wait another week or so and still nothing happens, I will be calling my Dr. again because I don't want to wait anymore! I too, want to start trying again. Also, like you, I had brown spotting for more than a week, though it was very light. It really sucks, but there is nothing we can do about it. Good luck to you! And to us both... Also FYI, my HCG levels were still rising, though not by much, at the time I had my ultrasound (which would have been a good 3 weeks since the sac stopped growing. And I have been told that your HCG has to be at zero before your body signals to miscarry-- so who knows how long that could take! It just sucks.

Hi there, I've just been through EXACTLY what you're experiencing except my hcg levels were normal. Also had brown spotting, then started bleeding (the morning that happened it felt like I was about to start my periods) anyway did a scan and you could see the blood was coming from where the sac was .. anyway went in for a d and c it was fine and my doc was great he explained that its very common for this to happen. The d and c wasn't painfull they put me out completely for about 15mins. Not sure if in South Africa it works a bit different to where u are. Doc said to wait until first period before trying to conceive again .. hope this helps you out. Take care

Hi Deborah, On Sep 2, I had an u/s and I should have been 9+ wks pregnant. The sac only measured 5 wks 6 days and the heartbeat was 86 - not a good sign. I went back again Sep 14 and there was no heartbeat at all, all they could see was the sac. The doctor said within two weeks I should miscarry. Two weeks and two days have gone by and I just came from my Dr's office. They did another u/s and the sac is still visable and my cervix is still closed! My body still thinks I am pregnant! He said it is safe to wait things out but he wants to see me again on Oct 12. I too want my body to hurry up because I want to try again soon. I am very conservative and want nature to take care of itself. My Dr agrees also. He said if he has to do a D&C then there is a "possibility" of scar tissue; puncturing the uterus etc. and then he has to deal with infertility problems. I would say it has been a good four weeks since the sac stopped growing. I wish my body would also just hurry up.

Hi

Hi Deborah, On Sep 2, I had an u/s and I should have been 9 wks pregnant. The sac only measured 5 wks 6 days and the heartbeat was 86 - not a good sign. I went back again Sep 14 and there was no heartbeat at all, all they could see was the sac. The doctor said within two weeks I should miscarry. Two weeks and two days have gone by and I just came from my Dr's office. They did another u/s and the sac is still visable and my cervix is still closed! My body still thinks I am pregnant! He said it is safe to wait things out but he wants to see me again on Oct 12. I too want my body to hurry up because I want to try again soon. I am very conservative and want nature to take care of itself. My Dr agrees also. He said if he has to do a D

Hi. Yesterday, at 7 1/2 weeks, ultrasound showed an 8 to 10 week sac, but no embryo. I was encouraged to have a D&C within a few days, but told that I could wait if I wanted. My HCG levels are high by home pregnancy test. HCG and further ultrasound were not offered by the doctor's office. I guess I'll just wait another couple of weeks and see what happens.

I am in the same boat. My first hcg level was 86 on Nov19th, my second hcg was 586 on the 22nd, the third was 1304 on the 29th. I did blood work again and went in for an ultrasound on Dec 2nd. Ultrasound looked normal blood work came back 1304 again. I started spotting brown/light pink on the same day as ultrasound and have not stopped since. Doctor called me in first thing Monday (the 6th) and explained we had a blighted ovum. Went back for blood work Monday the 6th hcg levels at 2506. Back for an ultrasound on the 9th and an embryo had devloped not supposed to have one with a bighted ovum!! Am I going to miscarry? I have all the same questions and concerns as you. The one thing I know for sure is the waiting is unbearable!! My heart goes out to you and I wish you well. Keep your fingers crossed.

Hi, I am too in the same waiting game but I think mine might be over. Had early U/s and doc was not happy so had hcg level done Thurs and getting another tomorrow and then seeing doc. But since Thursday I started spotting and then last 2 days bleeding very heavily and bad pains so I think this is it. I'm only 6 weeks so if my cycle hadn't been so reguar I may have never known I was pregnant but I am and I did and it does not make it any easier. I believe the further on in weeks you are the more painful it is to miscarry. Sorry if that frightens you but you need to be prepared that it MIGHT be painful. I'm with you that if you want for it to happen naturally then you should. It helps to know your body is taking care of you its own way. Good luck trying again but make sure you are over the loss of your previous pregnancy before you do. Your chances are just as good after. Life can be an emotional rollercoaster and you have to be strong to get through.

Hi Deb - so sorry. I had a miscarriage at 6 weeks last week, blighted ovum. What happens is at conception when the chromosomes do not line up problerly, you will continue to grow a sac, etc. At 6 weeks, when the sac is mature, it triggers baby to grow, with blighted ovum there's no embryo so you miscarry. Extremely common. I started spotted two Fridays ago, main part of miscarriage was Sunday, ended by Monday eve. No DNC, most women do not get DNC that early. Have to wait 2 periods (miscarriage bleeding doesn't count) to try again. Never did blood work. Doesn't physically hurt, just emotionally. - Lisa (maesmom@sbcglobal.net)

Hi Deborah I just wanted to let you know that what you are experiencing is very common. You are not alone. I had my first miscarriage on Nov 1st. Like you my numbers were not doubling as they should and when I should have been 8 weeks pregnant my sac only measured 5. We went back 2 weeks later for another U/S and the sac now measured only 5. It had shrunk and no fetus was present. I wanted to wait to have the miscarriage naturally because I was worried about scarring from the D & C. It took me about 4 weeks from when I was told to expect it to when I finally had it. Your HCG levels need to even out before your body knows something is wrong. Please keep in mind that everyone's body is different. My miscarriage was very painful but did not last to long. My Dr. told me that it takes about 12 hours to pa__s everything. My Dr. also gave me some GREAT advice if you choose to have it naturally when it seems like it is at it's worse point and the bleeding is the heavyest do not panic because it is almost over. Your HCG levels will not drop until after you have the miscarriage. They will go down but then plumit when it is over. That I think is the worse part because your hormones send you into a frenzy and all you want to do it cry or scream. Good luck with everything and all will work itself out.

I have suffered two miscarriages one at 10 weeks and one at 11wks the first time i had an emergency scan and there was an empty sac the second time it died at six weeks i gathered a lot of information on a blighted over and i think thats what i may have but was happy to know that it does not stop you from going on to have a healthy baby. it took me three months to loose the first one but the second time round i went straight in for a d&c because i lost a lot a blood but the d&c was ok you get put to sleep and it is done within 10 minutes and i felt ok the next day. they did do hormone tests for me but my hcg levels didnt increase thats how they knew id lost it so if yours are going up you could be lucky.

Hi Deborah, I just found out that I am pregnant with my fifth child and went in for a Dr. appt. I am supposed to be 4 wks 4 days and the sac measured 8 wks and they could not find anything in it. I have another u/s in one week to see if the sac is growing and if they can see anything inside. My Doc told me that until I hit 8 wks with no progress, not to worry because a baby could always be a little bit slow in growing. You are in my prayers.

Hi There, I just want to share this to all of you. I had 5 consecutive pregnancies in my 8+ years of marriage. The first one was with a healthy baby at 10 weeks but was lost due to a fall. The second one a year after was fetal demise.I had DnC for both.2 years after i got pregnant again and this was the first time I heard the term blighted ovum but didnt had any idea about it. The doctor give me a prescription to let my cervix open and it did. This time I chose not to have the DnC. My doctor just rea__sured me that I can go on to have a full term pregnancy.A year after I got pregnant again and at 9 weeks the u/s result showed an empty sac just like the previous. I waited for a few days for it to come out naturally but it was torture for me. So I went on and had my third DnC. All the pain I never experienced from the past miscarriages were all present and I swore I would never want to get pregnant again. BUt all those I have forgotten because of the desire to have a child and so I was 6 weeks positive of the third weeks of September 2004 but 10 days after I felt the very familiar feeling and went to see my doctor. She advised me to have a transvi and again all my fears were confirmed. I had blighted pregnancy for the third consecutive time. Days pa__sed nothing had happened so I opted for DnC as I was still feeling so pregnant, throwed so much up that most of the time its composed of blood. It only then that I understand so much about blighted pregnancy but i still cant understand why I have to go through this. I am happy for those who went through this but still went on to have full term the next time. As for me, I can never be sure if I can still ever have one myself. Wish you all the best.

I too was spotting at around six weeks. I rested and it stopped. I have also had a u/s scan which showed a heart beat. So spotting does not necessarily mean loss. Good luck.