Always Get a Second Opinion

by Kim Neyer | More from this Blogger

08 Jun 2010 08:23 PM

According to a recent news piece in the Irish Times, a woman was told at an early prenatal appointment last year that her baby had died. She was given an abortive drug and set up an appointment to have the fetus removed. When she continued to suffer morning sickness, she decided to get a second opinion. It's a good thing she went with her gut instinct, because it turned out that the baby was just fine.

It's extremely important, particularly in early pregnancy, to request a follow up scan if the first ultrasound seems to indicate the pregnancy is not progressing. If your doctor does not want to do a second scan, you should seek a second opinion with another doctor. It is possible to get a miscarriage misdiagnosis.

There are many reasons a woman could be wrongly diagnosed with a miscarriage. Women who have a tilted uterus or a bicornuate (heart shaped) uterus may present elevated hCG levels, but their baby might be "hidden." An experienced ultrasound technician may know where to look, but it is possible that an ultrasound tech may see the empty portion of the uterus and assume there is no baby. Another scenario is when the pregnancy is not as far along as assumed. A second ultrasound a week later may reveal a perfectly healthy baby, just a little younger than previously thought. This is especially likely if the woman's periods are irregular.

Typically, a true miscarriage will make itself known through a variety of symptoms such as cramping or bleeding. Sometimes one of the first signs is a sudden absence of morning sickness (if it was present to begin with). Like the woman from Ireland, if you are diagnosed with a miscarriage, but you still feel pregnant, there's a chance the diagnosis is wrong. Hopefully, most doctors will not jump to a conclusion, but instead schedule a second ultrasound to confirm the diagnosis.

Learn more about Kim Neyer

Kim is a freelance writer, photographer and stay at home mom to her one-year-old son, Micah. She has been married to her husband, Eric, since 2006.

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