Early scan measuring 5 weeks

[hobbschelsea18]

Hello – I’m hoping someone can help. I believe I had my LMP (last menstrual period) around 2nd April and got a BFP (big fat positive) on 15th May – I did a test at the beginning of May around the 2nd and each come back negative so I waited until I was back from holiday to take another. I didn’t have many pregnancy symptoms just sore boobs which have since stopped. Anyway, I went for an early scan yesterday expecting to be 9 weeks plus, but the scan identified a sac and a yolk sac but no obvious fetal pole seen. The sonographer said that it may be too early, but I know I did not have a period after the beginning of April. Has anyone else experienced anything similar?

If you didn't get a bfp until mid May it is very possible you didn't ovulate until the beginning May and therefore the dates do match up with what is on the scan.

I'm rather stupid so please forgive me. I presumed ovulation would occur around 2 weeks after my last period? Could it be that I ovulated close to when I expected my period and therefore the dates tally? I came off the pill the beginning of March and therefore my period / ovulation etc. could be messed up. The pregnancy tests (I did a few) were definitely showing as negative prior to me going on holiday (7th May). But upon my return I had a BFP. Thanks for your response, I don't have many people to talk too I feel silly posting on here but it helps me gain more understanding with these things

You ovulate 2 weeks before your period is DUE

If you also had recently come off the pill your cycle is probably right up the spout and a 6 week cycle would not be unusual

Early pregnancy is a stressful time. I suspect the sonography said to come back in 2 weeks? Everything crossed by then you see good progression and at 7 weeks a heartbeat 🤞

With your BFN on 7th May that makes even more sense that you are in fact not as far as as you thought 👍

It's very possible you ovulated much later than you thought. With my eldest I ovulated very late, had an extremely light period, and was 5+ weeks by the time I found out.

Thank you for your response once again, the sonographer suggested I contact my GP or Midwife who will refer me to an Early Pregnancy Unit in which they will probably carry out an internal. My boyfriend is panicking like mad and has questioned whether I could have got my dates wrong, but I know my LMP was beginning of April. It is interesting that my BFP was 3 weeks ago and so I’m holding on to hope that something unusual has gone on with my cycle, I presumed I was further gone and that all will be OK. Fingers crossed 😊

If you BFP was 3 weeks ago, this means you should be at least 7 weeks I think. As I was under the impression when you get the positive its when around when your period is due making you around 4 weeks at the time of getting the positive.

How strong was your BFP? Was the colour much darker than the control line or lighter?

As you've recently come off the pill I think it's highly likely that you ovulated much later than you think you did.

However, perhaps it got picked up earlier so you could just be 6 weeks and in a couple weeks the baby will catch up. I have heard some people measure a week behind and then next scan measuring correctly again. Good luck! The waiting is the worst!

You could also take CB digital to see if pregnancy is progressing. That is what I did early on...it went from 2-3 weeks to 3+ week a week later.

@Mamabear12

That's wrong. If test was 3 weeks ago she'd be 5 weeks now if she was only say 14 days after ovulation when test was positive.

I'd also take into account that measuring early is not accurate.

Mines an ivf pregnancy and at my 7 week scan I measured behind but they dismissed it and by my next scan I had caught up and dates were bang on

The scan op had was also external and at this stage of early pregnancy they are also quite inaccurate.

Ah, well perhaps its only that way for me...as I counted myself 4 weeks gone from when I got positive (day my period was due), and confirmed it via scan at 6 weeks. This was also the case with my two other dc. However, I do have a 28 day cycle and they count it from the first day of your missed period. So technically when you take the test you are only 2 weeks from conception, but they count it from first day of missed period, only because you can not confirm when you conceived if that makes sense. So because they count it from first day of missed period....if you have a 28 day cycle you will be counted as 4 weeks if you get your positive on day of missed period. The midwives, and private clinic I met with also calculated it this way.

Why is your boyfriend panicking so much?

spugzbunny accurately she would only be 5 weeks, but the way NHS and clinics do the measurements, its counted as from first day of last period. So at the scan they would have measured her up at 7 weeks (bc they take into account the two weeks prior to conception including your period). It is very confusing and people who have longer cycles, I think do end up measuring behind and then catching up later. The only way to really know if the pregnancy is progressing is another scan in a week or two. And an internal one. I am surprised they did not do an internal one as its easier to see when early in pregnancy.

I want to thank each of you for your responses. It is indeed difficult and confusing to tell, 5 weeks would make sense from the date of BFP (a dark sold line appeared within seconds, I repeated it a few times and each time it was a dark solid line). Yesterday both my boyfriend and I were shocked as we had been calculating it from the day of my LMP indicating 9 weeks in which we were expecting to see more and have reassurance of a heartbeat. Last night I accepted the fact I had a MMC, it’s only when looking at my Outlook calendar today I realised maybe I did ovulate later given the date of my BFP and therefore things could actually be OK. I suppose it is a waiting game now, I would have liked an internal yesterday but the private ultrasound clinic do not offer them as they don’t feel they’re appropriate, I think I am best to continue things presuming I am in fact still pregnant i.e. folic acid, healthy eating, vitamin D, no alcohol etc. and wait for a referral to see if things have indeed progressed. I feel a lot more hopeful after the responses I have been provided with 😊

@Mamabear12

Sorry you are correct. My mistake

Not everyone has a 28 day cycle, and sometimes the gap between when you ovulate and when you are due your period isn't exactly 14 days either.
You got a BFN on 7 May and a BFP on 15 May, so assume you actually ovulated after 1 May. Then the pregnancy should be around 5-6 weeks which lines up with your dates.
I'm in a similar boat - BFP late May, LMP mid April, and had an early scan last week measuring 5 weeks. Give it another week or so and if possible get a private scan? Good luck!

And actually since you just got of the pill and cycles aren’t certain, you could very well ovulated way later then you think and be right on track. It’s more accurate to count using dates only if you know your cycle and it’s clock work. For example for me, it’s clock work and also we only dtd once the month we conceived so I knew for certain. But if you have an irregular cycle and dtd a few times a month, then it’s more difficult to pinpoint. You could try doing clear blue digital to see if it’s progressed? Or just wait it out. It’s hard to wait though. Good luck. I know waiting is the worst part.

Again thank you all so much, I am reluctant to do another ClearBlue week detection test, as the results have differentiated when using them. The majority of the time I get 3+ weeks but there has been two occasions whereby I have 2-3 weeks despite it jumping back up to 3+ weeks half an hour later - bizarre. After a conversation with my Midwife she said they aren't always accurate so I think I have to think positive, continue as I have been and hope for the best in a week or two. My partner and I are extremely active (DTD) and so it would be impossible to tell - I'm beginning to think I did ovulate a lot later than usual meaning all the dates tally up. Fingers crossed - I'll keep everyone updated :)