12 week ultrasound measuring only 6

[Lizhappyfeet]

Hi everyone, I just really wanted to see if anyone else has been in my position. I've just had my 12 week ultrasound, but the sac measures 7 weeks and I have a 'possible fetal node with slow heartbeat' measuring 6 weeks. I was dated from 1st day last period, but my cycle is 35 days, and I took a test at 39 days which was negative. It was only around 6+4 I tested positive. Is it possible I am just not that far gone? I don't want to get my hopes up, and part of me wants to prepare for the worst. Been asked if i 'feel' pregnant, but i just don't know, i'd started gerting over the sickness at around '11' weeks which i took as normal. Sorry for the long post, all replies welcome I'm feeling a bit fragile :(

aww lizhappyfeet.

never been in this situation im afraid but thought i would reply to you.
cant imagine how you must be feeling right now, im not sure what it could be, there might be some perfectly normal explanation, what is the next step they are going to do to find out whats going on?
hope you are ok, and try not to worry too much yet although i know its easier said than done :(

Thanks Beckie90, I have another scan next Fri. I think to check for growth which will be good or bad news

Unforunately it doesn't sound great, because if you got a positive more than 5 weeks before the scan, you should have been at least 8-9 weeks by the scan date. Tests go positive 1-2 weeks after ovulation/conception and for standard dating you add 2 weeks to that.

FWIW the Miscarriage Association have great information leaflets if you don't get good news at the next scan.

good luck lizhappyfeet

Thanks and thanks for the info. Any positive stories or should I plan for the worst next week?

I had my scan when I was 8.5 weeks, but the fetus measured only 7 weeks. My obstetritian told me that I must have ovulated late (I have very regular 28 day cycles, so I was surprised). The doctor changed my due date by 1 week. Also, the pregancy test is accurate normally within 1 week of falling pregnant... I think you need to go and see one of the best fetal medicine specialists in London (if you are in London). I did a lot of research on the topic and some of the most highly recongnised/recommeded specialists are Prof Eric Jauniaux, Dr Demetrios Economides, Dr Guy Thorpe-Beeston. It will probably cost you an extra gbp200-270 but would give you peace of mind. Hope it goes well for you. Good luck!

Thanks London's a bit far but I'm going to look in my area - do you really think they'll do more than NHS? I'll give it a go. I notice a lot of people having scans before 12 weeks, was told I had to wait until 12. Maybe because I was 'low risk'. I wonder if next time I could have an earlier one - talk about thinking the worst

When I was pregnant with DS3, I went for my 12 week scan and was only measuring 7 weeks. Went back again when I was meant to be 12 weeks and measured 13+5. DS3 is 2 next month

Hope it all goes well next week.

Liz, leaving aside the issue of the size (there are def stories around like 5inthebed where its just a slow grower or you conceived later than you thought) I would definitely be worried about the slow heartbeat. This is something that sonographers see as a marker for miscarriage. I'm really sorry you are going through this. Would second the miscarriage association as a source of advice/support.

Thanks 5inthebed it shows I could have a positive outcome.

Owlingate yes she must have mentioned slow heartbeat for a reason.

I've spoken to a lot of people it's happened to so at least I'm not alone. I'll have to take heart i got pregnant straight away so there are hopefully plenty more chances.

I'm glad there's somewhere like this forum :)

Lizhappyfeet, I definitely think in this situation, one is better off going to an very experienced private obstetritian who is also a fetal medicine specialist and does his/her own scans. I have not been to NHS, but have heard that scans there are done by sonographers who naturally do not have the same level of experience and educational qualifications as the more established fetal medicine obstetriatians. Also, it seems to me (just having read mumsnet where women mentioned that they had to go on a full bladder for early pregnancy scans) that some NHS hospitals use old ultrasound equipement. I have asked my obstetriatian whether full bladder was necessary, and he laughted at me saying 10 years ago - yes! - when we had an obsolete technology. You might be totally fine and might have been examined by an unexperienced sonographer using an old ultrasound machine... There is always room for an error. I think it is worth getting another opinion. However, if you do it privately, I'd go for only the very best one (as you are already spending money anyway)...

Most early scans are private or for those women who have either had recurrent miscarriage, IVF or had bleeding in this pregnancy.

On the private/NHS thing, TBH, you will get adequate care on the NHS. And if you had a private scan and then needed treatment resulting from it, you would have the scan redone on the NHS if you wanted the treatment on the NHS anyway. So unless you have the cash not only for the scan, but also for all treatment privately, then going private is just to have a more patient-centred experience (if you're paying it's their job to make it as easy/satisfactory for you as possible whereas on the NHS they can sometimes be a bit clinical).

I think you do need to be prepared for the worst unfortunately.

If you had ovulated late, then you would get a positive test later. But as you got a positive test 5 weeks before the scan, you should've been at least 8 weeks by the scan. Combine that with slow heartbeat and the odds are not good I'm afraid.

Sorry you're going through this, MCs are horrendous. Give yourself time and space to deal with this.

Best of luck.