Should be 7w4d, measuring 6w5d

[itssquidstella]

I’ve tried googling and can't find any results that exactly match my situation, so was hoping for advice.

I’ve had two previous MCs so arranged a private scan at the beginning of last week, where an embryo without a heartbeat was seen. The doctor said I was measuring 6w1d.

I had some light brown bleeding this morning so went to the EPU; they scanned and saw an embryo with a heartbeat measuring 6w5d. There is also a small subchorionic haematoma, which explains the bleeding.

I’ve been told I just need to wait for a rescan next week to see if things are progressing, but I can't help but think it's bad news - a heartbeat is a good sign, but measuring six days behind doesn't sound great.

Can anyone who's been in this situation share their story with me?

Hi, not in exactly the same situation but it could just be you ovulated late?
I had my first scan at what should have been 8+2 and baby measured 7+3.
It is very normal to measure different to your dates based on LMP. I'm now 32 weeks and baby has stayed with the dates for the 7+3 that was measured. If I was going by my LMP I would be almost 33 weeks now.
Hope this reassures you a bit

Hi @SnooperTrooper12345 I don't think ovulation date is really relevant - I'm more concerned about the progress from ten days ago (when I measured 6w1d) to now (measuring 6w5d).

The initial scan fitted very closely with what I thought my ovulation day was, but the embryo hasn't grown as much as it should have done between the two scans.

I'm sorry to hear that @itssquidstella it's incredibly worrying and all you can do is wait. It's so hard. I've been in a similar position, and unfortunately it probably doesn't sound like good news. It's not 100% though, but I would prepare for the worst - you can only be pleasantly surprised then. I'm sorry that you're going through this though, it's awful and cruel xx

Only experience only growing the equivalent of 4 days over the space of 10 days has not ended well. How strong was the heartbeat- that can sometimes be a sign of viability

Thanks @Spottybluepyjamas. It's the waiting that's the hardest part, I think.

@ivfbeenbusy she didn't give me a number in bpm but she said it looked strong and rapid, so I don't know.

When I had my 1st scan at 6 weeks I measured 2 weeks behide at 4 weeks. I'm now 29 weeks so it's not always bad news. Baby has a heartbeat so that's promising.

Sorry you're going through this. No personal experience but I've seen stories of slow progress that caught up by dating scan and others where they always stayed a few days behind, as well as the bad outcomes. Everything is so so tiny at this stage, and with different people measuring, even 0.1mm can make all the difference! I hope you can find ways to distract yourself to the next scan and will keep everything crossed for a positive outcome for you.

My last pregnancy I had bleeding at the start and had to have a few early scans, they dated my differently at every scan by a couple of days just because of position of baby when they were measuring. Everything was fine in the end for me, hope it's the same for you x

Thanks all. I know there's nothing I can do to change the outcome and I’ve just got to hang on for my scan next week, but I appreciate everyone's kind words and reassurance.

I had the same (a scan for early bleeding) and actually the EPU scan dated me as 5 weeks when I was 6w2days - I was worried sick! The private scan place I went to who measured accurate with my dates said the NHS scanners are often not as sensitive.

When I went back for my 12 week scan the NHS scan put me 5 days ahead of my due date. So it had changed again!

It is a lot of potential human error and difference in measuring style at this stage - they are literally measuring in mm! All worked out fine in my case even though I had huge red bleeds for my whole first trimester. Fingers crossed for you x

Thanks @GingerSunday, will see what happens I suppose.

I had almost the exact same thing! Went for private scan at 7 weeks (ish) and was about 5-6 days behind. Started bleeding the next day, turned out to be absolutely fine. I bled on and off til 13 weeks. She is nearly 11 months old now

Glad it was a positive outcome for you @starlightmagic. Unfortunately I think the lack of growth between my two scans is pointing to a bad outcome.

I have a similar situation - I had a private scan at the weekend when I should have been 7+4. Measured 6+2 with no HB seen. I’m being rescanned on Monday but expecting it to be a MMC. I’ve had a MMC before my 18 month old as well. I can update if it will help you? X

Thanks @Jangirl03. This will be my second MMC too. Fingers crossed for you.

Sorry, I misread your post!
I see what you mean now! Sorry.
Fingers crossed for you!
I know that the earlier you are, the less accurate the dating is so hopefully it's a case of the original scan being put dating wise and the newer one being more accurate.
I hope you get your answers ❤️

Fingers crossed for you
I had a similar thing but not exactly the same went for first early scan, there was a heart beat but was measuring behind where it should have been for my dates - from memory perhaps 7 ish days? I didn’t think I could have been that wrong with my dates so didn’t have a great feeling but sonographer was very positive because of seeing a heart beat.
Came back a week later for a rescan and sadly it wasn’t good news.

I remember googling at the time in that waiting period and it just seemed to be about 50/50. So I think you’re wise to prepare yourself it could be a bad outcome but also could be fine. Measurements can be inaccurate at that early stage.

I’d try not to worry too much, the reason they don’t date you until 12 weeks is because the babies are so small and hard to measure. X

Thanks @SnooperTrooper12345, I'll know next week but the next few days are going to be torture!

@RuggeryBuggery I’ve had similar before in terms of measuring behind but this is the first time I’ve seen a heartbeat so it feels worse, somehow. Am preparing for the worst.

@savethewales I know measurements can be inaccurate early on, but this is a whole six days out, which feels like a pretty big margin of error!

I know what you mean 😞
They always are very positive about a heartbeat and I’m sure have told me things like 80% chance it’s going to be fine now, but to be honest I have had two now where I had early losses after seeing a heartbeat at 6/7 weeks.
I think it is a good sign definitely but unfortunately doesn’t mean all will be well.
(Btw I have 3 wonderful DC with 2 mc in between so a very happy ending for me, dc3 conceived a couple of months after the mmc)

It could go either way, just keep hoping all will be well. Good luck

I had an early scan with our twins, they measured 6 days behind my dates. Tiny bit of spotting at 9wk as son kicked me when swimming but all was okay and their growth caught up by their dating scan.
I had a private scan in July at 8+3wk, baby had hb and measured 7+4wk. I had spotting start 4 days after scan but was hopeful because of the twins. Sadly that one did not work out and I mc at 9+3wk.
Currently 11+5wk and going well so far, counting down to my dating scan in 5 days.

Thanks @Chelyanne. I wish next Friday would hurry up and arrive so I can move on if it's bad news.

@RuggeryBuggery yeah I know a heartbeat is meant to be a good sign, but when the measurements are so off it makes me think there's a problem and it can't end well. I don't have dc yet so feeling quite hopeless at the moment - my body just can't seem to get it right :(

@itssquidstella I hope you are as ok as can be. Waiting is crap. I’m so sorry you’ve had these experiences and worries.

I’m not sure if I’ll be reassuring or not, as I’ve had very similar experiences go both ways, multiple MMC’s, my LG born healthily in Dec 2019 and I’m now 25 weeks pregnant.

With both my LG and my current pregnancy - I’ve had early scans as I’m high risk. In 2019 there was a concern that I was ectopic (following a previous bout of sepsis from an incomplete MMC so I was scanned every 10days-2weeks) and my dates never “matched up”, it seemed that baba would fall behind (up to 7/8 days) and then jump and get closer to what I expected again. From my initial scan at 5 weeks, to the date they finally decided was due (at 12 ish weeks) there was a 10 day difference (ie my due date was 10 days later)!!

This pregnancy I’ve had similar, less scans, but an early scan at 7 weeks predicted I’d be due 6 days later, than my NHS scan at 12 weeks, at which they couldn’t get NT so brought me back a week later and again My due date was pushed a further 2 days. Pregnancy now going well.

Sadly, I’ve also had the pattern of seeing heartbeats, and then loosing the baby. It’s heartbreaking. I’m afraid I have no info on anything I’ve done differently on those that have stuck, for me, I haven’t taken aspirin/progesterone. I haven’t done anything differently. In fact, in my later pregnancies I’ve been far more relaxed about exercise, food and all of the “rules” and bump as I realized trying to predict what I did “wrong” each time was driving me crazy.

I hope this is ok to post. Hope you can be nice to yourself over the next week of uncertainty. Can you tell a friend or two so you have some support IRL? X

Thanks for such a kind and thoughtful post, @MissingCoffeeandWine. I’ve spoken to my mum and a few of my closest friends so I do have support, but I don't really feel like talking about it helps - it won't change the outcome.

I know it could go either way and it's interesting to hear people's stories, whatever the outcome. I do feel quite pessimistic if I'm honest, but all I can do is wait.

Thanks again for your post x