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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

retroverted uterus, measuring 7+3 wks at '12' wk scan?

15 replies

joaninha103 · 09/02/2014 16:26

I have a retroverted (backwards facing) uterus and went for my 12 week scan (according to LMP date) only for sonographer to say I'm only measuring 7wks +3 days. How likely is it to be that far out? Not 100% sure of dates, but pretty sure I haven't miscalculated by that much! I read somewhere that having a ret. uterus makes it more difficult to see anything on an abdominal scan as you're looking at it 'sideways'. Anyone else had similar?

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Julietee · 09/02/2014 18:12

I also have a retroverted uterus (only found out reading my scan notes!). I know that they tip forward at some point when the weight of the pregnancy get's heavy enough.
Sorry, I have no idea about your possibly date miscalculation issue.

fridayfreedom · 09/02/2014 18:14

I have one two and measured small for dates till later in my pregnancy. She was 7lb 3oz.

willitbe · 09/02/2014 18:25

A retroverted uterus usually measures upto 2 weeks behind, but once the uterus moves above the pelvic brim at 12 weeks, it rights itself and the measuring behind no longer happens.

My dd at 7w3d was measuring less than 5weeks, but by 12 weeks was measuring ahead by 5 days (which tied in with early ovulation).

I would say that if you have a retroverted uterus, then add 2 weeks onto the measured date which would make you around 9 and a half weeks, would this tie in with when you got a positive pregnancy test? I think that it would be a good idea to have another scan in 2 or 3 weeks and see if you have caught up with being closer to dates.

Could you have ovulated late (do you normally have long cycles?)?

smudgedhorizon · 09/02/2014 19:50

I have a retroverted uterus, I've never measured behind and it actually corrects itself once you hit approx. 13 weeks and pop out from the pelvis. It won't make the baby measure any smaller, it can just make the baby harder to find in the early weeks using an abdominal ultrasound, so they will often use transvaginal, but it won't make a difference to the actual measurements and dating of the baby xxx

willitbe · 09/02/2014 20:12

Smudgedhorizon - sorry to disagree but it can make measurements incorrect. Look up misdiagnosed miscarriages website for the links to published data and many many stories. I have also experienced it personally on all my pregnancies.

willitbe · 09/02/2014 20:15

Sorry pressed pist too soon. At actual dating scans after uterus was above pelvic brim my pregnancies have all measured correctly for dates, but all early scans measured significantly behind dates, specifically due to retroverted uterus.

MummytoMog · 09/02/2014 23:32

I have a retroversion as well - never measured behind and had several early scans in first two pregnancies and one this morning, which actually put me forward. Not to say your scan couldn't be wrong, but are you sure of your dates? What was the heart rate like? Could they still see a yolk sac?

BakingBunty · 10/02/2014 09:11

I too have a retroverted uterus. Sorry to say that I've only measured behind on a pregnancy that didn't work out. I've measured bang on or slightly ahead at 6w, 8w and 12w for pregnancy with DS and this one (currently 13w 4d).

I really hope it works out for you though - it does seem like some people get funny measurements.

RaRa1988 · 10/02/2014 13:55

I have a retroverted uterus (severely, apparently, though by about 13 weeks it was easy to scan my trans-abdominally even with an empty bladder. She measured slightly ahead of dates even at early scans (6+5 and 7+1), so I have no experience of what you're going through, but baby's position can make it more difficult to measure him/her. At my 12-week scan, for example, she was lying transverse and the sonographer couldn't get proper CRL measurements so had me doing star jumps around the room to make her move! I wouldn't be surprised if it was more difficult to measure your baby if your womb is still retroverted - as far as I know, most will have moved to more-or-less upright by 12 weeks. Did they not offer a transvaginal scan? And what did the sonographer think? Heartbeat detectable?

Original poster

joaninha103 · 10/02/2014 19:01

Thanks for all the replies. just reading my original post and realised I'd written I'm measuring 7+3, and I actually meant I'm measuring 9+3 I recon I could be up to 1 week out going by dates and as sonographer said there's a strong heartbeat, but still yolk sac, I'm guessing I'm about 10-11wks. Can't wait til 'proper' 12wk scan... although I'll probably be about 13wks by then and maybe too late for NT/Downs tests...

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Roseandmabel · 10/02/2014 21:06

My experience has been that it has been difficult to see the baby during scans (I needed internal ones). However mu dates have been spot on at every stage. The pregnancy that didn't turn out well I had measured behind.

I did know exactly when I ovulated which made it easier to calculate my dates this time. Measuring only a week behind is less concerning than three weeks.

Keeping my fingers crossed op.

RaRa1988 · 10/02/2014 21:19

Hopefully only being a week behind isn't too much to worry about OP - certainly better than what we thought at first from your OP! And a strong heart beat has got to be a good sign . Fingers crossed.

JollyGolightly · 24/11/2014 13:04

How did his pregnancy work out for you, joaninha? I've had a similar experience this morning with an early scan, I dated myself 7+3 but the scan showed 5+2, I do have a retroverted uterus but naturally it is a bit of a worry.

Original poster

joaninha103 · 24/11/2014 14:01

Hi Jolly. This 'pregnancy' is currently 11 weeks old and sound asleep next to me! All worked out well in the end. Had the 12 weeks scan when I thought I was 13-14 weeks, but the scan dating turned out very accurate as DS was born on his due date! Had a bit of a scare tho, the day after 12 wk scan I bled heavily for 5 days, getting less every day. I assumed the worst (miscarried previous time) and they wouldn't scan me again as it was only the next day! Still had all the symptoms after the bleed and hormone levels stayed high, so had a loooong wait till I heard the heartbeat at 16 weeks - best sound ever! Hope all goes well for you.

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JollyGolightly · 24/11/2014 16:53

Congratulations!!! And what a journey. I'm finding it hard to believe there's something wrong because I've got strong symptoms, but I've had 3 losses before so have learned to be cautious. The mw today mentioned the retroverted uterus as a possible explanation so I'm glad to learn your story.
Enjoy being a mummy

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