supposed to be 7+1w - scan says just 5w....

[LetsHaveAnotherOne]

Just had a private dating scan - as I wasn't allowed one on the nhs (despite a history of recurrent miscarriage/missed mc). It wasn't because I was unsure of dates - just because I didn't feel very pregnant, and was worrying. I needed to see if all was well.
I thought I was 7+1. LMP 29 June, dtd 13 July......no chance I conceived after that date.

There was a fetus with heartbeat - but only 2mm long - and the scanner said it was not the biggest of gestational sacs she'd ever seen... so to me it looks like this pregnancy is on it's way out.

I'm going to the dr tomorrow to request blood tests over 3 days to see hcg levels.

The scanner said seeing the heartbeat was a positive thing - but as I seemed pretty sure on the dates that she would probably give odds of 60/40.

I have a nice lot of pics of the "dot" and even a dvd (as it was a private scan)...but now I'm just sad I have them as I'm pretty sure this preg won't make it. It was my last chance. Unplanned, we have 4dc, so dh will not want to try again.

I'm taking progesterone and aspirin - which I've been advised to keep taking "just incase" the pregnancy IS viable.

I just can't figure out HOW the preg is viable. I know they saw a heartbeat - but this fetus really isn't developing is it.

Oh, LHAO, I am so sorry you're going through this

I have no words of wisdom I'm afraid. Are you absolutely sure that you conceived on the 13th?

Yes. Usually we just use condoms - but that one time we didn't.

Hold on to the 60% chance that everything will be fine. What does your instinct say? And also remember that sperm live... so the egg would not have necessarily fertilized the day you had sex (I know you know this, but just reminding you!). And also condoms are not 100% (I know you know that too!)

My instinct doesn't know what to say...feeling confused. There's a lot of info on the web about the inaccuracy of scans in the very early weeks.
I will ask for the blood tests to be done and see if they'll scan again in 10 days.
I have no cramping or bleeding which is good I guess.
My first pregnancy tests on day of missed period were very very faint...maybe I am a week less than I thought due to late implantation or something - but I don't think 2 weeks - but then the scan might have been inaccurate a little too.

What did the scan tech say about it? is it possible for the heart to keep beating if the fetus hasn't grown for 2 weeks? because I'd have thought it would stop? Really hope everything is fine for you anyway and that your dates are out a bit!! Get yourself to the EPU first thing tomorrow and insist on another scan. I think they have to give you one if you have a reason for it.

Scan tech said sometimes they just don't develop properly and so the heartbeat can continue on for a bit before it peters out eventually.
I've been told i won't get an NHS scan unless i'm bleeding.
I will request the blood tests and see if the dr can get a scan for me in 10 days time after that depending on the bloods results.

i think if your hcg levels are doubling then you will have no need to worry. They put mine back from 6+4 to 5 something but the heart was beating. The fetus is sooooo tiny they can easily make mistakes by a few days.

My date was put back by nearly a week, sperm can survive up to a week in the right conditions and you are right, early scans are not very accurate.

I was told the same thing as you at what I thought was a 7 week scan but was told more like 5/6... they said it was difficult to be accurate at 5/6 weeks and asked me to come back in 2 weeks.

At the next scan they could finally date it properly (5 days later finally) and I am now 14 weeks.

Fingers crossed for you.

And I have also read that the egg implants 5-12 days after it fertilizes so totally possible to be back dated! Keep the faith!!

lucy101 thank you for telling me your experience - I think maybe up to a week could be explained by late implantation. So if baby is 6w, but they measured 5 (it was not a transvaginal scan) it's feasable the pregnancy could be viable.
My first pregnancy tests in the early days were VERY faint - even using a supposedly 10mg sensitive test. The hcg has risen a lot since then (judging by the lines on the tests now)

I looked up all the measurements - and they are compatible with a 5w fetus (both the sac and fetal pole) that is viable as heartbeat was seen.
I did not feel myself ovulate this month - ususally ovulation is painful - but I cannot be sure when I ovulated - I can only be sure that the unprotected sex occured on 13th July, and LMP was 29th June.
I'm keeping on with my aspirin and progesterone - and hoping for a miracle (again!).
I am booked to see the dr this afternoon at 3.30 to request the blood tests.
Only time will tell. Wish I hadn't had the early scan at all now.

Hi, I just phoned the epu at our hospital - who said go to gp and request an early dating scan - which they can do urgently and fax through to the hospital.
The lady at the EPU said NOT to get the beta hcg tests done - as they would not help in this situation as I'm not bleeding and everything appears well. She said the best thing was to get into their system - have a scan with them asap - followed by a 2nd scan 2 weeks after to see if there is any development of the pregnancy.
So - unless I get a bleed - it's going to be a 2 week wait to find out what is happening with this baby.

Maybe not the most honest thing in the world. But is it worth calling them and saying you've had a small bleed? Just so you don't stress for 2 weeks?

After having problems right at the start of my pregnancy I had a scan at what we thought was 7 weeks they put my dates back a week. Then at my 12 week scan changed their minds again. Am now 20 weeks pregnant and all is fine. Really hope all works well for you but I agree with sanielle. Not good for you or baby to be so stressed out for so long and seems unfair of the hospital to be ignoring your worries.

RIght hannah thats also the reason that even when they do give you an early scan to check all is well. They dont call it a dating scan, not until you are 12 weeks because they are so inaccurate early on!!

OP I am not the kind of person who gives false hope as I think it just makes it harder for people when things don't work. But I think there is a good chance they have just got dates wrong and you stressing won't help you or your baby.. wish you so much luck xxx

if you saying you got preg the 13th of july you would have concieved around 5 week ago right?. as that was my last period and that was 5 week and 3 days ago. you would be 7 week from your last menstrual period which was 29th june. docs normaly add 2 weeks on anyway, they told my friend she was 12 weeks when she had scan she was 10 weeks. so if you did get pregnant on the 13th you would be 5 weeks. if theres a heartbeat i think you should be fine i had a scan when i was 5 weeks and was worried as they couldnt even see a heartbeat and i ended up having to have a internal scan beacuse they couldnt see anything in the sack with the normal scan. but all progressed fine, like im pregnant again docs will say im 5 week 3 days but i'll probably be something like 3 weeks. good luck :)

LHAO: You mentioned that you were using condoms apart from one time. DP and I were using condoms AND the pill. We didn't use condoms twice and thought it must be those dates, but neither of them matched up.

So it's possible that you got pregnant while using condoms. I know it's a small chance and my evidence is just anecdotal, but possible a glimmer of hope?

Good luck, I hope it all works out!

Thanks everyone for the glimmers of hope - only time will tell.
Saw the dr this afternoon who has organised a scan next Thursday at 10am. I am really hoping there has been some growth by then.
In the meantime, I am continuing with my medication as I said, and trying to keep busy and ignore the pregnancy as much as I can! (I don't want it to be the center of my world and the only thing that makes me happy at this early stage when things are so precarious, iyswim).
Mahraih I think we did it once after the 13th - with a condom (not exactly a rip-roaring sex life that month with DH being away a fair bit - and also we're often so tired with 4 kids already!). That other time was probably the week after. So maybe I'm 6w - but the scan measuring 5w - if that is feasible?
I did a clearblue preg test on 31st July that said 2-3w pregnant though, so it's all VERY confusing!
I will report if anything else happens in the meantime, but otherwise - it will be next Thurs when I update I think.

I tested on the day my period was due and the line was very very faint. So faint DH said I was looking for something that wasn't there. It was though. I tested again twice later in the week and the lines were still faint though so I wouldn't worry too much about how faint/dark the lines are.

Those digital tests have also been shown to be pretty unreliable with regards to how many weeks so I would ignore that.

Good luck anyway.

Thank you so much LunaticFringe. It is very kind of you to let me know that.
My previous experiences include 2 early miscarriages, and also 1 "missed miscarriage" - which was not discovered until 13 weeks - when swelling/infection had begun - and I was rushed into hospital with suspected ectopic pregnancy - but it just turned out to be a missed misacarriage (estimated to have been 5 weeks) that had gone bad. I had a d&c - and found the whole thing rather traumatic.
I guess I shouldn't be worrying so much - I don't have any pain or bleeding even.
At least the size of the gestational sac and fetal pole size match for the 5w - and with a fetal heartbeat too there is some hope at least.
I'll try to not focus on the pregnancy so much and enjoy each day that comes and we'll find out what will happen next Thursday morning.

My scan is in the morning. I've tried really hard to keep my mind off it but i'm obsessed! I'm desperate to find out if this pregnancy is continuing well or if it's over.
Will report back tomorrow sometime.

Good luck. Will be sending good vibes to you.

Good luck LHAO Im watching with great interest and hope as im in the same position i Had a scan last monday and with my dates i was expecting to see a 7 week size blob, instead we got 2mm 5weeks and a heartbeat just like you. My next scan isnt until Tuesday feel like i been holding my breath since. Please do let us know how you get on, thinking of you and feeling your worry.

This thread is hitting home for me. I had a scan today because LMP was abnormal, and thought I was just under 6 weeks. I was told I'm much earlier though - no heartbeat and only 1mm long. They can't even give me an estimate, and told me to come back in 3 weeks. I'm a bit worried now, but it's good to know I'm not alone.

LHAO, I hope everything is ok!

Hi, the update is:
Todays scan was absolutely......

INCONCLUSIVE!!!!

I am booked for another scan on 6th Sept 10am

The NHS scan was a LOT more blurry - less clear than the private scan.

They could see the "Sac" - eventually.

I had drunk a lot of water as instructed by gp - only to be told - Oh no - empty your bladder we'll do an internal scan first......
And when they looked my uterus was tilted - AND an odd shape (elongated and big) and leaning to one side. They could not see the pregnany at ALL !!!

So - off I went to drink water - they looked aagain - found a small sac - but a little bigger than previous scan - only 3mm x 9mm x 12mm - they were unsure if they could see a fetal pole - they measured something - unsure of what it was - 3mm (lets hope that's NOT the fetal pole - could it be a yolk sac?). They saw no heartbeat - but the scanner said that didn't mean there wasn't wan - it just meant - with the lay of my uterus - and my tissue (being polite for FAT belly?!) - they were not getting a clear view of anything - so at this point they could not rule out a viable pregnancy.

I'm tempted to book another private scan - as I'm now convinced their machine is better - but then again - they may also say they can't see if my uterus is playing hide and seek - and it seems the "pregnancy" is in the top end of the uterus - the bit that is hardest to see.

I'm NOT happy.

My gut feeling is - the pregnancy is failing - very slowly. How sodding unfair. Again.

Best wishes all other mummy's awaiting further scans...I hope your anatomy is more "usual" than mine and your scanner is a nice clear modern one that shows you a good picture!