What Does The Absence Of Fetal Heart Beat During 8 Week Of Pregnancy Suggest?

Posted on Tue, 5 May 2015

Question: Hi doc my wife is completed 8 week and 4 days of pregnancy today we havd done the sonography but the doc told us there is no heart beat in featus and ask us to wait for a week time and again do sonography we are very much worried. Kindly guide us whether everything is normal

Answered by Dr. Mahesh Koregol (43 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
This is missed abortion.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Thanks for your query.

I have read you query, saw the attached report and I understand your concerns.

Following is my reply:

1) Heart beat should have been seen by now as it is 8 weeks.

2) It is unlikely for heart beat to appear after this. This seems to be unhealthy ( non viable ) pregnancy which is unlikely to continue.

3) Please repeat an ultrasound scan after one week to confirm the heart beat. If no heart beat by then, please opt for abortion.

I hope I answered you query and addressed your concerns.

Let me know if you wish to ask any further questions. I will be glad to help you.

Regards,
Dr. XXXXXXX

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar