Confused about how I'm not as far as I thought

[firsttimemum2018]

Hello, it's my first time here. Hoping you can help a very confused lady out!

Me and hubby have been ttc for a few months and since 26th Jan I got my first positive (and 5 more positives since).

So the first day of my last period was 24th Dec, that would make me 7 weeks pregnant today by my calculation... Amidst my excitement, I booked an early scan for some reassurance (I've had no symptoms, no nothing and I'm a worrier!) thinking as I was atleast 6+6 we should see a heartbeat. This was yesterday, but we saw absolutely nothing. So I took a clear blue digital test and it said I'm 2-3 weeks pregnant (so 4-5 weeks in doctor speak).

This is where I am really confused and wondering if someone can help. I think I conceived around 10th jan which would have been my fertile window but in actual fact I must have conceived the week or two after. Does this just mean I must have ovulated really late on this occasion, even though I usually have a regular 32 day cycle? And am I still counted as 7 weeks pregnant due to last period or does this change? Sorry if this sounds really stupid, I just can't get my head around it!

Until something's seen on scan the only concrete thing you have to date a pregnancy with is the first day of your last period. That's not to say that dates don't change, as early development of the baby follows a predictable path and you have a slightly longer cycle than average and the embryo could implant later than usually expected so it may be that it was just too early to see anything on scan because you aren't as far along as you thought.

The other possibility, sadly, is that the embryo isn't developing as it should. Was this a private scan or in a hospital? Ideally you need some follow up - with a positive pregnancy test but nothing on scan then blood tests for HCG levels are helpful in trying to work out what's going on. Was anything like that suggested?

Thanks for your reply. I guess I'm just mostly confused because I don't get how I could have conceived so long after my last period.

It was a private scan, I'm booked in with the GP on Friday (after a long 3 week wait!) so fingers crossed it all goes ok.

I would be following up with the midwives. The GP unfortunately probably won't do much for you. They can give you a pregnancy test, but you can do that at home. They won't be able to scan you unfortunately.

Did your private scan offer you a re-scan? I know when I had mine done and baby didn't measure to dates (was 3 weeks off, with no heartbeat), they offered me another scan in a week or two if I wanted it to check on growth at no charge.

If you weren't checking your ovulation, it's very possible you aren't as far along as you thought you were. I knew exactly when I ovulated and exactly how pregnant I was and unfortunately that pregnancy ended in mc. I did have a further scan to confirm in the EPU with referral from my midwife, but that's because I had some bleeding as well. Your best bet is to get in for a follow up scan and that should answer some questions. Fingers crossed for you.

Thank you.
Yes they're letting me rescan in a few weeks time, although Sod's law I'm off on holiday at the end of the month so won't be until late March when I'll know if any progress. Will just need to stay positive and try to be patient.

If you got a + at say 10DPO - realistic, I have had a squinter at 8DPO before when tracking ovulation - on 26th Jan (how long are your cycles?) you could've been as early as 3+3 weeks at that point 16 days ago making you 5+5 now. It could mean the embryo is sadly not developing or it could just be a few days or a week out.

Fingers crossed for your rescan in March.