Measuring behind + hematoma

[hmcjan]

I’m normally a fairly relaxed person, but pregnancy makes me incredibly anxious! I’ve had some news about my current pregnancy and am wondering if anyone has been in this situation before and can shed some light?
As a bit of background, I have DS who will be 2 next month, and previously had a missed miscarriage earlier this year. With my MMC, the baby had a heartbeat but measured 5+4 when I knew for certain I was 7+0, so I knew it was unlikely to be a good outcome. Sure enough, when we went for a second scan at 9 weeks, the heartbeat could no longer be found and baby was still measuring under 6 weeks. I waited another 2 weeks for my body to catch up naturally, but it never did so at 11 weeks I took medical intervention and had the miscarriage. We waited until I had a period and then conceived again the very next cycle.
Everything with this pregnancy felt “normal” until 6+3 when I suddenly started gushing blood. I thought all was lost, but it stopped almost as soon as it started (within an hour). We rushed to hospital and they checked me internally and my womb was still closed. The next day, they did a scan and baby was there with a “strong” heartbeat, measuring 6+0. They also found a “very large” hematoma (like 2 inches) measuring bigger than the gestational sac, which they think is causing the bleeding. I was booked in for another scan in 10 days time and told to expect more bleeding. This was a week ago and I’ve not had a drop of bleeding since the first gush.
Maybe I’m hyper-focused on this because of my MMC but is it normal for the baby to measure 4 days behind? The EPU midwife wasn’t concerned about this at all and she said +/- 5 days is totally normal, but I’m sure about my ovulation dates (could only be a day off max) and I also tested positive at 9 dpo so there’s not much wiggle room there anyway. The midwife was much more focused on the hematoma, and said we need to monitor the size to make sure it doesn’t get bigger and threaten the pregnancy. Has anyone had any experience with a hematoma and/or measuring a few days behind? What was the outcome? Give it to me straight, I’m terrified of having a second MMC but want to mentally prepare myself for my next scan.

Didn’t want to read and run. Firstly, congratulations! I’ve not had any experience with a hematoma, but I have had experience with loss and unfortunately it does sort of taint any subsequent pregnancies with a level of anxiety that’s hard to shake (which, by the way, if it gets worse, they have talking therapies etc. for - speak to your MW). Just know that if they see a “strong” heartbeat at 6/7 weeks, this is a really good sign! It usually has good outcomes. Measuring a couple of days out is neither here nor there (they might catch up before the 12 week dating scan anyway) and is certainly not a bad sign! As for the hematoma, although I’ve not had one personally, I’ve both known and heard of plenty of people that have and have gone on to have perfectly healthy pregnancies. They usually absorb themselves eventually. Main thing is, they know about it early and can keep an eye out and your baby’s heartbeat is showing good and strong!! Keep going, you’ve got this. X

@DefinitelyMaybe92 thanks so much for your response. I’m sorry to hear you’ve also been through a loss - they’re so cruel, and you’re right - it’s so difficult not to read into every little thing after you’ve had one! I feel very pregnant (bloated, nauseous, occasional headaches, sore boobs, etc.) but I had all this with my MMC right up until I took the medical intervention, so it doesn’t give me the reassurance most might feel at those signs. I’ve got my next scan Friday morning so will see how that goes and if I find I’m still struggling with anxiety I’ll ask about the talking therapies, it’s definitely very hard to trust my body this time.

@hmcjanahh yeah, one of mine was MM so I definitely empathise with the symptoms not giving you the reassurance. It really is so tough isn’t it. BUT only 10 short days to go and it’ll fly by. Keep yourself busy but well-rested and keep reminding yourself that you’ve seen a good, “strong” heartbeat. Visualise baby ticking away in there healthily. Very best of luck. ✨

Cautious congratulations OP! If positive stories of SCH are helpful, I had one, and bled and spotted my way from 6 weeks until well into the second trimester; the anxiety was awful but the baby (an IVF pregnancy after an early loss in a previous IVF cycle) arrived safe and well at 39+5 and he starts secondary school in September.
I'm so sorry for your previous loss. With your history, there is no point me saying "try not to worry". So I will just say that today, you are pregnant; one day at a time, and remember that distraction is your friend right now - and please stay away from Dr Google! The odds are in your favour but you will drive yourself mad reading articles [like I did...].
Fingers crossed for you.

@DefinitelyMaybe92 next scan is actually Friday, less than 3 days away so I’m getting closer and closer to having some answers (I didn’t post here until a week after the bleeding episode and first scan, when the anxiety got the better of me!). Thanks so much for your well wishes, I’m for sure trying to keep myself distracted with work and my crazy toddler in the meantime. 💗

@Cockerdileteef thank you so much for sharing your story, it definitely helps me to hear of people who have experienced an SCH and had a successful outcome. I’m so happy it all worked out for you, although can appreciate it was very difficult at the time!

One of my friends said to me something about how we take a gamble every time we get pregnant and there are no guarantees, and the best we can do is love the little babe for as long as we can. It really helps me to think about it that way.

I can't comment on the haematoma, but regarding measuring a few days off at an early scan, I don't think it's a big concern.

I had a MMC discovered at 10 weeks (baby didn't grow beyond 6.5 weeks) and then another simple miscarriage at about 6 weeks.

I'm currently 23 weeks pregnant. In this pregnancy, I had scans at 6.5 weeks, 8 weeks and 10 weeks before the 12 week scan. At the first scan, the sonographer initially measured the baby as 5 weeks, then did it again and said I was 6 weeks, which I knew was about 4 days behind when I had conceived.

Obviously I was really stressed about it, but at the next scan the baby was measuring in line with my expected dates. Due date at the 12 week scan was 2 days behind what I expected and everything was fine at 20 weeks.

I asked the sonographer at a private scan about expected growth and measurement errors. She said that:

• because the baby is so small, small errors in measuring length can translate into several days difference. The limit of detection on an ultrasound is probably about 0.5mm, so when the entire baby is 6mm or so, it is easy to be off by a mm either way.
• growth isn't totally linear. The baby grows in little growth spurts, so might be measuring a day behind 1 day, then a day ahead after a growth spurt - and it averages out over time.

I think a combination of those things means your baby's measurements are well within the margin of error for its expect size!

@InvisibleDragon I’m so sorry to hear about your miscarriages, but I’m so happy to hear your current pregnancy is going well for you! Thank you for responding with your story and information about measurements at this stage! I kind of assumed that was the case since they’re measuring something so tiny, but it’s nice to have something to back up my assumptions. I’ve seen stories about women who measured behind because they ovulated late, but I know that’s not the case for me - your response makes me feel like this could still turn out well for me, so thank you!