Early Scan Dates caused panic!

[Allanxiousarentwe]

Hi All, hope someone can maybe give some reassurance, or experience please.
Had an early scan today. Lmp date 7+5 however I know I'm a late ovulater so I was expecting to be more 6+3. Was dreading the scan for that very reason (had the scan due to pains and previous mc and mega anxiety)
Anyway the scan measures me at 5 weeks.
Literally just 5 weeks. Everything was present CRL was 4.2mm and even seen a heartbeat which was a huge shock! But 5 weeks can't be right?!
I didn't ask questions at the time because I was also told I have a heamotoma, and my last pregnancy ended with a hematoma so I couldn't take anything in. Is this likely to be bad news. I feel like I could have handled the heamotoma news but the 5 weeks gestation has really concerned me. I don't know if I'll ever get my baby. It takes so long to conceive and I'm wondering if I have a problem! Sorry for rambling. Thank you.

The fact you seen the heartbeat is a very good sign!

When they're that small it can be hard to date accurately as it's just a rough measurement. You could go in 2 weeks time and actually be nearer 8 weeks iyswim, the dates when they're that small are such a rough guess.

Seeing the heartbeat is a very good sign. It's hard not to worry after a mc, it's why we've always had early scans but focus on the positives for now, there was a heartbeat and everything was where it should be. Go for another scan in 2 weeks if you're able to and they should be able to measure again and you'll be able to see baby progressing

When the entire pregnancy is a fraction of a cm long there's a lot of room for error. I had a scan at my IVF clinic at 8 weeks and they dated me out by 3 days and they knew exactly what date the embryo was transferred. They also told me I had a haematoma and to expect some bleeding but I've had none and baby is now 24+4 and I heard her heartbeat today. A haematoma can be pretty normal as the uterus begins to expand and a few blood vessels sometimes get broken during implantation so it's not necessarily anything to be concerned about.

Thank you both so much for the reassurance. I'm going to see the midwife next week so I'll mention this to her too.
I contemplated another scan actually but I'm not sure I can put myself through another one again, they really don't reassure me. Equally I don't know how I'm going to cope until the 12 week scan especially now it will be put back even further.
@mrsrubymonday, congratulations on your pregnancy, it must feel such a relief to be at your stage. Wishing you a lovely pregnancy!
I've read so many mixed experiences about dates being out, but usually by a few days or 1 week, mine seems excessive.
Thanks again ladies. X

Hi, just my experience.

I found out I'm pregnant last week, very unexpected. I've got pcos and endometriosis. Up until about 6 months ago I didn't have periods. Then for the past 8 or so months they've been pretty regular every month or so. LMP roughly 22 or 23 Nov, can't remember as had no reason to track. I do recall saying I'll be on my period at Xmas. I assumed therefore that I ovulated around 8 Dec.

On 21 Dec I had bad cramping and then on 24 Dec I was having hot flashes, I felt so ill on that day I remember as o was in Tesco and had to take my jacket off as I was boiling. Same thing in the morning when I took my dogs out early. Over Xmas I had really bad cramps I had to use a great patch. I thought this was period pain but I was actually ovulating and then I guess making a baby.

Anyway had a quantitative blood test last Tues and told HCG 8850. Getting cramps so went to early pregnancy unit, scan said 5 weeks showed gestational sac and yolk sac. I was having more cramps over the weekend so had another scan yesterday and was told I'm 5 weeks 5 days roughly. They could see the fetal pole and heartbeat.

I was apparently off work my dates and I actually got pregnant on or around the few days before Xmas.

My pregnancy will likely be high risk due my age (39), health issues etc. I've also got a daughter whose 21 this year so this is crazy!!!

My point is your experience isn't unusual and seems similar to mine.

First of all, congratulations. Seeing the heartbeat is a great sign. My baby girl is almost 4 months now and we had quite a few early scans with her due to previous mmc and ectopic pregnancy. The first scan when I should have been roughly 7 weeks based on lmp and 6 weeks based on my dates measured me at only around 5 weeks and no heartbeat was seen. I went back two weeks later expecting the worst but measured 8wks+4 with her wee heartbeat flickering away. Just a mm can make all the difference in those early weeks and depends on the sonographer and equipment too. Good luck with your pregnancy going forward.

@carebear99 congratulations! How are you coping? Are you having any further scans?
@mrstd88, huge congratulations to you. What a relief it must feel. I'm so sorry to hear about what you had been through prior to your happy ending though. Thank you for the reassurance, the fact our dates were similar (lmp of 7 weeks, you knowing it was 6 and them dating you at 5) makes me feel a little better as that's just like me! I wish I didn't know my dates.
I'm finding all this so hard. I definitely need to see the positives!
Thank you!

Hi @Allanxiousarentwe thick you. I think I'll go for a private scan, it's probably a waste of time but it makes me feel better. How are you doing now? A private scan may be an option for you

@Carebear99

Hi *@Allanxiousarentwe* thick you. I think I'll go for a private scan, it's probably a waste of time but it makes me feel better. How are you doing now? A private scan may be an option for you

* thank you

Was this a private scan?

When you book with the midwife she'll ask your LMP. Based on that you should receive a scan date between 11-13 weeks after LMP. In your case this may mean they scan and find you're a week or two behind - if they can do the scan because it's too early they'll book you in again a week or two later.

They won't go by dates on a reassurance scan because they're not so reliable, and they'd run the risk of you being scanned and actually being 14w+, which means they can't do the usual checks.

This happened to me with my first pregnancy, I knew the conception date and had several early scans for recurrent bleeding. I kept on being dated further and further behind and got more and more worried. Fast forward to my dating scan at 12 weeks and I was dated to within a day of my conception dates.

There is a reason that dating scans are always done a little later. Please try not to worry, the heartbeat is a great sign.

@carebear99 I have thought about a private scan. I just don't think I can at the moment. My last pregnancy ended after the 12 week scan so this time part of me just feels like I should wait it out. Even though that feels like torture.
@winterowl no it was an EPU scan, the midwife booked me in as reassurance and to check on some one sided pain/cramps etc. I explained about my dates but she had to go from my lmp. I'm seeing the midwife next week so I imagine she will give me a 12 week scan date then? I'm just hoping it's not in 7/8 weeks and is more like 6, that extra week will make such a difference! So huge thank you for that I hope your right!!
I had a feeling I wouldn't get any reassurance from the scan. I feel like I'm carrying a bomb and waiting for it to go off anytime now (I know I'm sounding dramatic!)
@teezletangler thank you so much for sharing. I'm sorry that happened to you, what a worrying few weeks. Can I ask how did you cope? I feel like it's such a long time ahead of wait and see. I normally walk my dog alot but been told to take it easy because of the heamotoma. I feel abit trapped in my own mind!
Thank you again to everyone for sharing. It really does help! X

Hi OP, my dates changed a lot in the first trimester, I thought I was 8 weeks, measured at 6 then by the time I was 12 weeks (based from the 6 week timeline) I measured nearer 13. Its all a bit vague this early on. Thag little mismeasure is now 18 months old x

@omgithinkilikeyou thank you for your message, that's really reassuring, I'm so pleased that everything turned out for you!
It's such a worrying time! Thank you! 😊

[quote Allanxiousarentwe]@carebear99 congratulations! How are you coping? Are you having any further scans?
@mrstd88, huge congratulations to you. What a relief it must feel. I'm so sorry to hear about what you had been through prior to your happy ending though. Thank you for the reassurance, the fact our dates were similar (lmp of 7 weeks, you knowing it was 6 and them dating you at 5) makes me feel a little better as that's just like me! I wish I didn't know my dates.
I'm finding all this so hard. I definitely need to see the positives!
Thank you![/quote]
Thanks OP hope all is going well for you 😊

I think I may have a further scan at the weekend, I'm between 7 and 8 weeks now