Early scan date confusion

[Aspenn17]

Hi all,

Hoping for some advice as I'm a newbie to all this. Got my BFP on Sunday which we are over the moon about. Want to book an early scan to just check everything is looking ok before we tell our parents. However I'm confused about how far along I am and don't want to risk booking the scan too early and then freaking out because we can't see a heartbeat, etc. I'd rather just wait a little longer.

So LMP was 8th July, cycle is 33 days, meaning I probably ovulate on day 19, making that 26th July. So if I go from my LMP I'm 6+5 today when actually I'm probably only 4+1. Scan is booked for 4th Sep meaning I might only be 5+5 by then which I think might be a bit early for the scan. I have the option to move it to 4 days later so I'd then be 6+2 or I could just wait a couple of weeks. What do you all think? Am I working this out correctly? Thanks in advance x

I would wait a bit to be honest, even past 8 or 9 weeks. You should tell people you're pregnant if you want and don't be scared 😊 It's your family at the end of the day and will be so excited for you. I always had my scans 12 weeks ++ so never had an early one. TBH not sure of the point of one at 5 or 6 weeks?🤔🤔 what is it you're hoping for from the early scan OP? Xxx

Just to see a heartbeat, that it's in the right place, its progressing how it should be etc I guess. Both my best friends had early scans at 7weeks and said they found it really reassuring. I'm sure you're right, the longer I wait the better but I'm just anxious to know everything is ok at this point.

That is completely normal. It's difficult if you don't necessarily feel or look pregnant to wonder what's going on and is everything ok, I think every woman who is pregnant goes through it.

I'd say wait until 8 weeks or after. You'll have to sit down with some kind of calculator to work out exactly how far along you are. Do you have an app?

LMP 8 July with a 33 day cycle would make you 6+1 today not 4+1 OP.

Anything under 8 weeks you are likely to need a transvaginal scan so I'd wait a bit longer to be sure if I was you

You date your pregnancy from the date of your lmp, so in some ways you're pregnant before you even conceive, if you know what I mean. So you're just over 6 weeks at the moment.

I had an early scan at 6+5 and saw the heartbeat flickering, which was reassuring, but baby only actually looked like a grain of rice so id say to hold off a little longer if you can as you'll get a bit more out off it. When I had my scan it was abdominal and I also had to have one again at something like 7+2 on the NHS, as I had bleeding, and that was also abdominal but I know others have had transvaginal at those stages so could be either.

I'd go at about 7 weeks at the earliest based on when you ovulated (which is more accurate than LMP). That way not only can you be fairly sure of seeing heartbeat if pregnancy developing normally, but risk drops significantly once heartbeat seen at 7 weeks. however you would probably need a transvaginal scan at that point. Seeing Hb later obviously drops risk even more, it's just a question of how long you want to hold out.

Hi, I bled early in both pregnancies so had to have early scans. I was sure of my dates but the scan dates were at least a week different each time (then the due dates changed with later scans).

DS1's heartbeat was clear and obvious at somewhere between 5.5-6.5 weeks but with DS2 at the same stage there was nothing at all. Went back a week later and it was there thankfully. Both scary experiences but obviously esp with DS2.

So I would also recommend 8 weeks plus or you could end up scaring yourself witless! I think private providers have particular times when they recommend scans anyway.

If you're in or near London the Fetal Medicine Centre on Harley St is amazing, and the money goes to a research foundation I think.

Thanks so much for your advice everyone really helpful. Think I've got it now, so if anyone was to ask I would say that I'm 6+1 however in terms of the scan it would be best to wait until 7 weeks after I ovulated making new scan date approx 13th sep? (Making me about 9weeks LMP) correct? xx

I think you're miscalculating where you are based on ov date! If you have a 33 day cycle, you're only 5 days behind where you would be based on LMP, not two weeks, since LMP dating is based on an average 28 day cycle.

If LMP was 8th July, based on a 33 day cycle you're 6+1 today. You could have a scan now and possibly see a heartbeat, or wait until 7 weeks for you which would be next Wednesday.

Sounds like a good plan to me

Good luck

And when we talk about "weeks of pregnancy" we're always talking about (approximate) weeks from period, we're just making a minor adjustment based on your slightly longer cycle. You don't have to wait 7 weeks from ovulation, just 7 weeks (+5 days to reflect later ovulation) from your last period.

I booked a private early scan with DD due to having pcos. Thought I was 8 weeks, was actually 5-6 weeks. Was scanned internally but was too early. Was given a complimentary rescan for a week later. Heartbeat was detectable then.

Good luck!

Just to confuse your date guessing even more, perfect 27 day cycles her OV on day 13, yet went for my 12 week scan 12 weeks from LMP and I'm somehow 13+2! I have no idea when this baby was conceived and I was temping! MW says it must have been a quick implantation or something. My brain is genuinely baffled though!

I had a scan at 5+4. I needed to to believe I was actually pregnant. Dildo cam, saw a heartbeat. Tbh, I wasn't any less anxious about it all but I still remember how amazing it was seeing that little flicker.

@orangebird69 Dildo cam!! Hahaha 😂

Thanks for everyone's advice. Great to hear everyone's different experiences.

My doctor confirmed what some of you said, that due to my longer cycle just add 5 days to my LMP date which makes me 6+3 today and 7+4 when I have my first scan so think I'm just going to stick with it! Fingers crossed!