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Pregnancy

8 weeks, early scan showed heartbeat but measured 6 weeks

27 replies

Morganlove · 16/12/2013 19:07

Can anyone help, I had an internal scan today due to some brown spotting. Showed a heartbeat which I was so pleased about, but the Dr said I was measuring at 6 weeks.

I'm sure of my dates for my last LMP, ovulation might be out by a couple of days but not enough to put me back 2 weeks.

Anyone had experience of this? We were thinking of telling close family at Christmas but now not so sure. Help!

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K8eee · 16/12/2013 19:20

I wouldn't worry too much OP. Congratulations though on your brilliant news Smile Thanks A friend of mine is 6 days behind me, yet she has a huge bump compared to mine, and has been given 4 different dates all between a months difference (10/03/14-02/04/14) it's insane how it works out. When I went for my 12 week scan I was told I was a week ahead, but I had a full on period then Blush not sure how we conceived that month but it happened!

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KatAndKit · 16/12/2013 19:33

Im sorry to say that this scenario happened in my first pregnancy and it ended in a miscarriage at 10 weeks when i went back to be rescanned. I guess it depends how sure you are of your dates and how many weeks ago you got a positive test. It is possible for an early scan to be a few days out but not two weeks. A sx week embryo is a quarter the size of an eight week embryo.

sorry you find yourself in this situation. It is a real headfuck. I would hold off on the announcement but make sure you get a follow up scan in a week or two. Fingers crossed that it is your dates and you didn't ovulate till a week or so after you thought.

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barleysugar · 16/12/2013 19:35

I'm so sorry but my sister had this scenario, which sadly ended as a miscarriage at 12 weeks.

I really hope it's not the same for you xxx

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funnyvalentine · 16/12/2013 19:40

Just to even things out - my own dates were 2 weeks ahead of the scan date with pg 1 and 3 weeks with pg 2. No idea why, but both babies happy and healthy :)

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CuppaSarah · 16/12/2013 19:58

I had almost the exact same scenario. We didn't know dates because of my irregular cycle, but from the pregnancy test result, 8 weeks was the minimum. I was measuring 6 weeks at the scan though, with a strong heartbeat. They were very blase about it though, saw them 6 weeks later, baby measured perfect for 12 weeks at that point. Went on to have an uncomplicated pregnancy. By sonographers date I gave birth two days early, but my dates I was a week or two overdue. Try and keep positive and see what the net scan brings. Best wishes.

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Armadale · 16/12/2013 20:05

When did you get a positive test? ie how many days into cycle?

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qazxc · 16/12/2013 20:38

I had a scan at seven weeks which, despite being sure of my dates, was measuring small and couldn't find a fetal pole. I braced myself for the worst (3 miscarriages), but 2 weeks later there was a baby and a heartbeat, they said it must have been the angle. I think that very early scans can be a bit hit and miss like that. But the fact you have a heartbeat is amazing good news!

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Rockchick1984 · 17/12/2013 00:31

I had similar, it only put me back 1 week but I was sure of my dates as had been using ovulation sticks. Heartbeat at 7 weeks (by date they gave me), heartbeat a week later, sadly missed miscarriage found at 12 week scan.

Clearly though from what other posters said it could go either way for you, hopefully all will be fine! After my second scan I told everyone I was pregnant and had to "untell" them so personally I'd suggest waiting until 12 weeks for your own peace of mind. Good luck Thanks

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Morganlove · 17/12/2013 06:23

Thanks for your responses.

I had a positive on day 32 of my cycle. Previous cycles had been anything between 28 and 36 days with a cruel cycle just before I got my positive of 40 days.

I had a bit of red blood last night and very light cramping. I was automatically thinking the worst and in floods of tears. This morning it's gone back to reddish brown and not as much, and no cramping. Could that have been as a result of the doctor having a good old rummage in there?

I guess it's just a waiting game but I'm not good at that. Wish I could fast forward a month or so, then I'd know either way. Just don't know what to do at the moment. So upset.

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HomeHypno · 17/12/2013 07:08

Having a heartbeat is always a good sign of viable pregnancy, our bodies are weird and wonderful and conception can occur at times that seems off-schedule because the sperm can stay alive in the system for a very long time and end up meeting the egg at an odd time.

I had a similar scenario where a scan put my dates back 10 days which seemed impossible, but in my case I had simply gotten a positive pregnancy test result incredibly early. Just try to be patient while you wait for the next scan x

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Mabelandrose · 17/12/2013 07:13

You poor thing. It's very possible the bleeding was caused by the internal. I would prepare for the worst and then hope for the best.

My experience was similar - measuring a few weeks behind but a strong heart beat at 7 and then sadly mmc. They think the baby died soon after and looking back the difference in measurements probably indicated something was going wrong.

Best if luck there are still lots of positive tales. The waiting is such a killer.

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Armadale · 17/12/2013 07:54

Hi, how have you been overnight?

If you had a positive on day 32 of your cycle, and say it was an early result, which picked it up at 10 days post ovulation (which can happen), that would put you at 7 weeks rather than 8, which closes the gap somewhat, so there is some wiggle room there.

IME, a couple of times I have had this and they have both led to MC around 8+5, both PG were tested afterwards and found to have genetic problems which meant things were not developing properly, hence them showing behind. For me, bleeding with cramping is also never a good sign.

So as others have said, I would hope for the best but prepare for the worst just in case.

Regarding telling close family at Christmas, would you want them to know if you had a miscarriage so they can support you, or would you rather keep it to yourself, if so I would not tell them just yet to be on the safe side.

Are you under an EPU?

Can you walk in if you have any more bleeding/cramping?

Are there plans to rescan you?

I would possibly be tempted to try and get an appointment to rescan next monday, which presumably would be the last date they would do before things close down for a few days over xmas.

The waiting time is truly awful, I feel for you.

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Morganlove · 17/12/2013 10:18

Back to red blood again now but not much and the cramping I was getting last night has gone - it was very light cramping and my dp thought it may have been my mind playing tricks.

Just spoke to the midwife who said not to worry about the dates as I may just be further back than I thought I was. She said not to worry too much about the bleeding either, just keep an eye on it.

Then spoke to the EPU, they said they cannot scan for a week after being scanned so there's not much they can do. But rather than saying my dates might be wrong they said that the dating can be adjusted at the 12 week scan and not to worry. They said if I'm still worried or still bleeding next week to ring them again.

So it's a long wait now. Minutes seem like hours. All I keep thinking is what the nurse said as a possible reason for the dates being out might be due to the pregnancy not developing and heading for a miscarriage. But this was just one of the 3 options and there was a heartbeat there. EPU had discharged me and this is what they just said on he phone, they did this as they didn't feel anything was wrong from what they assessed.

I just can't stop crying at the moment. Went into work first thing but came home again within minutes as I'm just not strong enough to be there today. Just going to rest up today and pray for the bleeding to stop.

Thanks for all the responses on here, the negative outcomes are hard to read and I'm so sorry for what people have been through. Although hard to read it's keeping me grounded and realising that it could go either way. Going to be an emotional Christmas either way.

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Mabelandrose · 17/12/2013 10:21

Just want to send you hugs. It's so hard not knowing.

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Armadale · 17/12/2013 10:30

Oh poor you, I'm not surprised you aren't up to work...can you snuggle under a duvet on the sofa and watch something distracting?

Someone on a MC thread once said to me that these days of waiting are in dog years not human years- so a day feels seven times as long when you are in limbo like this. So sorry.

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dats · 17/12/2013 12:40

You poor thing. It's so tough not knowing what you're dealing with, often tougher than dealing with any bad news. Limbo is so exhausting. Try and distract yourself as much as you can, whether it's sleep, telly or whatever (knitting is mine!) and there's plenty of handholding on here. Hang in there.

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Morganlove · 17/12/2013 21:02

Bad news I'm afraid. Lots of blood and cramping today, also (warning TMI) passed what seemed to be a clear jelly like ball. EPU reckon it is a miscarriage. They have advised to rest up and take a pregnancy test in a week just to be sure.

Devastated. Have good support with my dp though so he is helping me through this.

Thanks for all your replies before and positive thinking, really helped to 'chat' to people about it.

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Ilikesweetpeas · 17/12/2013 21:09

Ahh, so sorry to hear that, try to take it easy and be kind to yourself. It's a horrible thing to experience Flowers

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Rockchick1984 · 17/12/2013 21:39

I'm so sorry Morgan its devastating to lose a baby Thanks

Allow yourself whatever time you and your partner need to grieve, it's not just physically that you need to recover.

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Armadale · 17/12/2013 21:50

I'm so sorry to hear that Morgan my thoughts are with you and your DP Thanks

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TodaysAGoodDay · 17/12/2013 22:06

I'm very sorry to hear that Morgan Thanks
Bear in mind that if you do a test in a week it could still be positive, as pregnancy hormones stay in your body for up to 6 weeks.
My thoughts are with you x

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K8eee · 17/12/2013 22:17

Sad Morgan I'm so, so sorry to hear your news. It just wasn't meant to be I guess, but difficult news to deal with :( massive hug coming your way Thanks

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dats · 18/12/2013 16:58

So sorry to hear that Morgan. Glad you have good support, just be how you need to be.

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Mabelandrose · 18/12/2013 17:59

So sorry to hear this. Please take very good care of yourself.

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anngardner5 · 18/11/2016 05:37

This exact thing happened to me today at my 11 week scan, after measuring 6.4 instead of 8 previously. I am sorry if I am bring up old things, but I was sure that it was my fault and this thread helped me a lot. I just couldn't understand why with all the timing. Sorry to all the ladies who experienced loss on this page, it truly is devastating.

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