Nine weeks pregnant, but scan showed just under six weeks gestation..

[IrnBruTheNoo]

I've had brown discharge with minute pink discharge occasionally for the past five days, on and off, with a dull ache, crampy feeling....

Sonographer said there's a heartbeat (which I also witnessed on the screen). Seem like good news, but found it hard to get excited about this.

Is the outcome likely to be good? Or should I just expect the worst? Anyone out there been in the position of measuring small for their dates and it's turned out well in the end?

DH suspects that the embryo did not implant straight away to explain the lag in time. Not sure that I feel very convinced....

What a worrying time :(

[Armadale]

Hi IrnBru, I have had the same thing happen.

Can I ask, when did you first get a positive pregnancy test? Was it when your period was due, or later? And do you usually have regular cycles?

[IrnBruTheNoo]

Thanks for responding, Armadale. I usually have irregular cycles, sometimes 28 days, 31 days, 34 days, 29 days, etc. Very erratic, and it's always been that way for as long as I can remember...

I got a positive test roughly on the day I would have expected AF. I say 'roughly' meaning that I could only guesstimate what day it would start on...Roughly 29/30 days and the HPT showed a positive straight away.

[IrnBruTheNoo]

Midwife was wondering what else could be causing the cramping, dull ache when it's been shown to me on the scan that there's an embryo with a heartbeat. I'm just not convinced all is well. It's just a hunch but I cannot prove it! This is such a stressful time. Glad there's a forum to talk about all this. No one knows I'm pregnant except DH. Too frightened to tell anyone else in case it all goes badly wrong.

[icklekid]

A heartbeat is a very good sign- will you have a 12 week scan or one before that at all?

[Armadale]

OK, irregular cycles do make it more likely that there can be a discrepancy between the scan date and last period dates, so there is some hope there.

Having said that, the big decider for me is usually the date of the pregnancy test. This is because it is possible to ovulate/implant really late in a cycle, but if so there would not be a positive pregnancy test until a correspondingly later date, because the embryo would need to have implanted to start producing the hormone the test needs for a positive result, if that makes sense.

If you tested on day, 30, and got a clear positive, this would suggest to me that the earliest date you could have been, was about day 23/24 as it is not possible to get a positive before this- that would adjust your date backwards to place you at about 8 weeks, so it is concerning that you are showing at slightly less than 6 weeks.

Unfortunately in my experience when this has happened to me a couple of times it has not gone on to be a successful pregnancy in the end.

If I was in your situation I would be hoping for the best, but preparing myself for the worst just in case. It is horrible to have to write that, and I hope I don't hurt you by saying it, but for me it was better to know that it indicated that there was an issue than to not be prepared and for it to be a complete shock if it happened.

I have to say for me the waiting is absolutely the worst thing, that combination of naturally wanting and hoping for the best and fear that it won't happen that way is a special kind of torture.

What plans have they suggested they put in place? Do you have an appointment for a rescan? Is it in a week?

[Slavetominidictator]

Really sorry you're going through this. I had v similar symptoms, went for a scan and was told by junior doctor that it was small for dates, along with bleeding looked like miscarriage. She wrote non viable fetus on my notes. When thy are measuring such small embryos an foetuses, the margin for error is high as they are so small. Of course, it may be that things will not end well but that pregnancy is now a v healthy 20 month old.
I have also miscarried and it was v tough indeed: you don't need false hope but it was a thread on here about measuring small for dates at that stage that really helped me through. Very best of luck x

[Slavetominidictator]

Oh and mine had a heartbeat too. Almost identical symptoms to yours x

[IrnBruTheNoo]

I felt like a total fraud going to EPAU because they don't tend to see anyone unless you have severe cramps and large amount of bleeding.

I know LMP was definitely the right date, as I have been charting my periods since my teens (because they are irregular).

No, I'm not offended by what you've said Armadale. I actually said to the sonographer before she began that I am expecting the worst case scenario. She seemed surprised but I wanted to be honest about my feelings before she began the scan. I was surprised there was a heartbeat, tbh.

I have had a MMC in the past and assumed my pregnancy was going great, only to start bleeding a week before my scheduled dating scan (would have been around 11 weeks at that point) and find out the pregnancy had stopped around 7 weeks or so. Bad news is not alien to me, as I've experienced it in the past and I acutely aware of how quickly the situation can change.

Thanks slave I can only hope it's a good outcome but don't want to get my hopes up either. What situation to be in!

[IrnBruTheNoo]

I have just checked diary from last year - I tested on CD32 and got a +HPT result.

[IrnBruTheNoo]

I was told I'll get an appointment card through for the dating scan. The midwife said there's a heartbeat, better than not finding one and that perhaps my dates are a bit out. Very matter of fact. She made me feel like I was making a huge fuss over nothing.

[IrnBruTheNoo]

The midwife made no comment about re-scanning in a week's time, and I'm assuming that's because they've found a heart beat.

[TinyTear]

I would demaqnd to be scanned again in a week to prepare myself for the worst.

Are they making you wait now until the 12w scan?

[Metalhead]

I'm in a similar position OP, though I haven't had any bleeding. We only dtd once in December so I'm pretty sure of my dates, went for a scan on Tuesday when I should have been at least 7+2 but sonographer put me at 6+2. She said the heartbeat was nice and strong, but I just can't shake the feeling that something's not right and that baby isn't growing properly.

I'm paying for another private scan in 3 weeks' time as I can't wait 6 weeks until my next NHS scan. It's going to be a very long wait as it is...

[Minicreamegg]

I went for a scan as I had heavy bleeding when I thought I was 11 weeks, it showed a heartbeat (which I wasn't expecting as I was bleeding a lot) and he was measuring only 6.5 weeks! I was certain of my dates so no idea how I got it so wrong.....my ds is healthy and turns 2 next month

Good luck.

[Armadale]

I'm really sorry the midwife made you feel like that.

I think it is totally unfair to expect you to wait until 12 weeks for another scan, particularly as you have a MMC before to weigh on you.

I have unfortunately had similar treatment in the past from an EPU.

My experience has been that the quality of care (and frankly even knowledge) varies hugely between different hospitals and that I wish I'd have known that earlier.

I now go to an EPU where they really get it, and they would rescan in 7 days as a matter of course.

I'm wondering if it is possible to self refer yourself to a different EPU in a weeks time for a rescan, or for that matter, if someone on Mnet can recommend a good place local to you.

I'm sorry about your previous MC too, makes early pregnancy worries so much harder

[TinyTear]

ah you posted at the same time as me and only just saw your replies. i would definitely ask to be scanned again.

where are you based? i was told in London the UCHL EPU can scan you if you just drop in, haven't used them as my local one did see me within a week of my first scan

[IrnBruTheNoo]

I may not need to get another scan in a week's time if I end up MCing though. It's something that no one can prevent. I mentioned to DH about getting a private scan but he said if I'm going to lose the pregnancy a scan isn't going to change that. I appreciate what he means, but that doesn't make it less worrying when it's your own body this is all happening to. I now know what was on the screen with the NHS scan, and there's only waiting and hoping that's left to do... If this turns out to be bad news then I've made the difficult decision not to try again. I've got two healthy DC and will count my blessings. This is just too stressful to go though.

[IrnBruTheNoo]

I'm in Scotland TinyTear. I think it's all a bit hit and miss with the services wherever you go. I lived in a different region of Scotland when I had my previous pregnancies and had a much more positive experience even with pregnancy loss that I experienced.

[IrnBruTheNoo]

Metalhead fingers crossed your pregnancy turns out well, you've not got such a huge gap between your LMP and gestation dates compared to my own dates. I think there's more chance of you pulling through. Let me know how things go. x

[TinyTear]

Ha, should have guessed from the username (I am Scottish by marriage)

I wish you well, and I would stake out the EPU for a second scan in a week... (I had 4 mcs so have experience of the 'are you sure of your dates' questions)

[Metalhead]

Thanks IrnBru, let's hope we both get a positive outcome!

I just spoke to my midwife who said early scans are usually very accurate at dating, but at the same time she didn't seem concerned that something was wrong and said there can still be variation in size. So no definitive answer there either...

[Swannykazoo]

I was slightly later on and very sure of my dates but my 12 week scan measured 9 1/2 weeks so couldn't have nuchal fold measurements etc at the time. Spent the rest of the pregnancy worrying quietly and being bemused as to where the missing 2 1/2 weeks had gone and if there was maybe something wrong with the baby - was told scan measurements are very accurate.
Anyway, baby promptly arrived 2 weeks early at 7lb 12 - or I suspect at term and a few days cos the dates were out.....
Keeping fingers crossed for you

[callamia]

I had a similar thing happen, but I knew that my LMP wasn't the right thing to go by because I was having such irregular cycles after coming off the pill.

I was scanned at '11 weeks' according to LMP, after some bleeding, and it was measuring 8 weeks. My 12 week scan was rearranged to fit this. We went with scan size dates after that, and all was well. In the end, my son was born about a month after the LMP due date... (And nearly two weeks after the scan size due date).

I hope all goes well for you.

[IrnBruTheNoo]

The midwife I spoke to yesterday at the unit seemed nonplussed about it all. I suppose she can only go on the information from the scan at that particular time she sees me, she cannot comment on whether the pregnancy will still be viable tomorrow or the day after. I've never been in such a difficult place. The last time it was a missed MC and because I had pain and bleeding got scanned the next morning and the scan made it very clear it was bad news and I just had to come to terms with it, no hanging about waiting and wondering. This time however it's such a more stressful time. It's the uncertainty that gets to me.

[IrnBruTheNoo]

thanks everyone, hope is all we have left now.