Early scan has scared me!

[fluffyslippers]

This is my first post here so I'm sorry if this is something that's already been discussed.
I found out I was pregnant on Friday, very happy, been trying since January - this is my first pregnancy and I estimate I'm around 6 weeks pg (but my cycle has always been very long 35-40 days).
Visited GP yesterday, when I mentioned I had experienced some cramping abdominal pains she was concerned and immediately sent me up to the hospital for an early scan as she wanted to rule out an ectopic preganancy.
Obviously I was very scared and anxious; the scanner was not available for 1 week so the doctor arranged for her registrar to come an do a vaginal scan. This registrar told me he was not a qualified scanner, although he knew how to use the equipment he had to make me aware it was not his specialism (that filled me with confidence!). From the scan he was pretty certain the pg is not ectopic he could see the sac in the womb.
However he then said it was too small for me being 6 weeks pg - the sac was 4mm rather than 20mm. I am sure of my dates of my last period, but I always have a cycle longer than 28 days (more like 37 days) so surely this could mean I was less pg than they are calculating as my cycle is not average?
I have to go back on monday for another scan, I have been told to completely rest as my blood pressure is through the roof (not surprisingly being so anxious). I have now convinced myself that I've had a missed miscarriage (I've had no bleeding)... I'm very worried and can't think of anything else, has anyone else experienced anything like this?

Honstly, I don't think it's implyng the viability of your pg, it's jsut the reason why wyou have a scan, as obviously, like seemingly lots of HP's they ahve a problem to do teh calculations of dating when the cycle is longer then normal...lol!
With ms I knew exaclty when I fell pg, or at least I knew I could not have fallen earlier, lol, as dh basically had been away until the night I must have conceived ms...and, well, I know I hadn't had sex with anyone else...sort of would stick in my mind if I had,anywya, I also had a 37 day cycle and also always felt when I was ovulating...so, I was pretty sure I had fallen pg that first night of dh's return...well...teh m/w's kept giving me a earlier due date and I said impossible and they tried to tell me that pg is counted from first day of last period, which I knew, and I kept saying that my cyle was longer, etc...anyway....my 20 week scan came and they dated me exactly to the date that I had said all along (in the end ds came, however, 2 weeks early...ooops...good that he looked spitting image of his dead, eh,)
Honestly try not to worry, I really don't think you have any reason at this time!

Message withdrawn

Thanks for the support - I don't know for sure the date I conceived o/h and I have been trying very hard for a while!!!
I know it's not healthy for me or pregnancy to worry so much and, like you say, there's no point until I've got proper reason to.

look please dont worry about them saying no baby just a sack i had the same prob i went for a early scaqn only for them to tell me there is no baby just a sack i had to wait to weeks to go back i worryed myself sick and when i went back they told me i was seven weeks preg so i was to early for them to see the baby so dont worry 5 weeks is to early for the baby to show up good luck your welcome to email me if u wish [email protected]

Fluffyslippers, I think you've been treated appallingly by your healthcarers. I had the same at around 6-7 weeks (by my estimation) and was referred to EPAS the next day and had a scan (and I had a scanning midwife, who was horrible and very patronising and told me I wasn't even pregnant). They then did a test and told me I was (I knew if, IYKWIM!).

They also took blood and explained that they'd take it again 2 days later and compare the HCG levels. If it doubled, it was likely to be OK; if it stayed the same, it was likely to be ectopic; if it went down, it was likely to be a miscarriage.

I got really cross with the pessimism "if this turns out to be viable" etc. Blood test was OK; but another scan still didn't show heartbeat. Then a week later, another scan showed all was well, but I had had a really irregular and long cycle and wasn't as pg as I thought.

I've read and re-read and couldn't find anything about internal scans being harmful to you or baby.

I think you should make a complaint; but I also think you're justified in feeling so about what's happening and the way you've been treated. Best of luck

Hospital couldn't see anything when I was six weeks with a suspected ectopic. Went on to have the whole surgery and it was there all the time just really tiny, and I was told the registrar was an expert at seeing them so it was certain to be ectopic. Ds is now nearly nine, and I was the right dates, went on to be textbook pregnancy. Everyone's cycles are different, try not to worry, cramps and spotting are often perfectly harmless too. Good luck!

Just thought I'd give you all an update as I went back for my repeat scan today.
All is well, it's just (as suspected) I'm less pregnant than they thought. They have put me between 5-6 weeks, everything is growing normally and we even saw the heartbeat which is amazing at this stage in the pregnancy and I cried a lot!!!
The healthcare team were amazing today, really helpful and reassuring, looks like I had a naff doctor last week!
Thank you to everyone for your reassuring messages, I'm going to accept and enjoy this pregnancy now and look forward to the future.

Fluffyslippers, thats's excellant news

I really think you should log a complaint against the way you were treated last week, no-one should be put through so much worry.

FSm that is wonderful news Congratualtions on your pg, hopefully you will have an enjoyable and healthy pg!

Hi Fluffyslippers.

I haven't read all of the responses here and so apologise if I'm repeating something already posted.

I think you have nothing to worry about. The doctor probably based his opinion on how big your baby should be on the average cycle length of 28 days. Obviously, you have a completely different cycle length (as do most women). There's an excellent book that covers this in detail - Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler. I would recommend it. From what you've said, the doctor you saw didn't sound like a particularly astute person and so I'm not surprised that he didn't make this connection!

The important thing is that your pregnancy was confirmed and it's not ectopic. I hope that your next scan (would that be happening today?) is a more positive for you!

fluffy slippers i have just dug out my early scan notes and at 6 weeks 5 days my sac measured 7.9mm so i would say you have nothing to worry about, i didnt have an internal scan it was a proper ultrasound one.
good luck!

Congratulations fluffyslippers, I know what a relief that must be!

I think sometimes medical staff don't think of the emotional impact of medical comments they toss out lightly. Saying "this might not be a viable pregnancy" really means exactly the same as "it's too early to tell anything from this scan, so we'll scan you again in a week", but which one you choose to say has a huge impact on the poor pregnant woman you're scanning.

hi i did a test on monday it was positive so i went the hos today because i wanted 2 get checked asap as i have had 3 misscarages, the last one was 2 years ago.iv had no period since beg july so thought i was a few weeks but doc said today they couldnt see anything and had to do bloodtest to see if i was pregnant they said if hcg is over 25 i defo pregnant anyway it was 162 so i am n my boobs r killing. i av to go for more on friday to see if its gone up then a scan nxt week. i am so worried as they mentioned ectopic pg because my period was in july but i have had no bleeding apart from a bit of brown dis in july and no pains but i cant help but worry. can anyone reasure me or been through the same i just want it to work this time round thanx tracey xxx