NHS vs Private Scan 11mm

[Lilo2]

Looking for any similar experience or thoughts on my post.

7th June - tested positive for pregnancy

9th June / NHS Scan - sent to hospital EPU due to pain and to check for ectopic pregnancy. Nothing in gestational sac and asked to come back in 3 weeks (ectopic ruled out)

17th June / Private Scan - told 1 pregnancy measuring 6weeks at 2.5mm with sac, yolk, feral pole and good heart beat 😍

3rd July / NHS Scan - return for NHS scan (following 17th June). Advised baby has only grown to 8.7mm and a second baby is found measuring 7.6mm; both with sacs, fetal poles, yolks and heartbeats.
Following this expressed concerns around the amount of growth having taken place between 17th June and 3rd July (only 6.7mm) - believing I would then be at just over 8weeks in my pregnancy, but they said they were discharging me from EPU and that the gestational age was 6 weeks and 6 days.

I was really unhappy with my appointment on the 3rd of July, so today Saturday 8th July, I went for a private scan.

In the private scan the sonographer was an experience nhs employee who was working privately on the weekends. She showed us pregnancy 1 and it was measuring at 19.9mm!!! She measured it in front of us and explained everything. She said that she could not find the second pregnancy and did not believe it existed. She confirmed pregnancy 1 at 8 weeks 4 days. Which is 3 day behind in growth ( believes I was 9 weeks).

I asked if a baby could grown 11mm in 4 days and she said it was not possible.

I’m shocked and extremely upset with my NHS appointment on the 3rd July. I do not know what to do or think. Am I having twins, I have no idea but from what I saw today it doesn’t look like it… the fact pregnancy 1 had a strong heart beat and we could see the little legs and arms has made me so happy! I have no idea what to think about pregnancy 2 or whether I should worry that pregnancy 1 is growing 3 days behind..

Sorry for the long post!! Any feedback or experiences welcomed.

Sorry, meant title to say 11mm discrepancy!

I can't help with your direct experience, but I had a scan privately and it measured 1cm, and then 8 days later had an NHS scan and measured 8.8mm..... now I'm waiting for another scan on the 19th (NHS)! Both of these 2 sonographers showed me how they were measuring... I can only assume the different equipment causes a difference in measurements! First scan had a really week heartbeat, second one was really strong. None of it makes any sense to me so I'm in limbo.

@moosey89 so sorry for your experience it’s so frustrating isn’t it! I really hope you get some answers soon and everything works out. I am going to call the EPU on Monday and see if they will do another scan. It’s so hard because I know the NHS are under strain but it’s really effecting me not knowing about pregnancy 2, so I understand how you are feeling as well.

Oh gosh what a whirlwind for you! I'm sorry this is happening. I've not much advice on the discrepancies in terms of seeing two sacs etc, but just wanted to pop on for reassurance that measuring three days behind isn't isn't issue at all. I was told up to a week either way was fine. My 12 week scan put me three days ahead, which considering I had an embryo transfer (and therefore knew the exact gestational age) seemed crazy.
The measurements are tiny in real terms though and make a huge difference to gestational age so I imagine any discrepancies, even things like position, at this stage are huge.
Doesn't explain their mystery twin though!

It might be that there was a second baby but if they don't make it then your body can reabsorb them, especially if their twin is doing well. I think it's called a vanishing twin. It's also incredibly easy to get scan measurements wrong when you're talking about something that's no bigger than a penny. It depends on the angle of the baby and how much fluid amongst other things. I would focus more on the fact that you're pregnant, baby seems to be growing well and is in the right place. Lots of positives there! Congratulations 🥰

@Lilo2 thank you - if I were in your situation I'd be going back as well. These early weeks are so difficult and stressful as it is without added complication. Whatever happens I hope you have a happy and healthy pregnancy xx

I had a private scan on a Monday and measured 5+4. The following day I had a NHS scan at EPU and she measured me at 5 weeks exactly and asked me to return in 2 weeks.
2 weeks later I returned to EPU to be told I was now measuring 7+3 (still 2 days behind where I would have been going by private scan) and was discharged.
I went back at what should have been 12 weeks on the dot and measured 12+6 and so 6 days ahead of my first EPU scan and 1 day ahead of the private scan.
As others have mentioned mm can make huge differences in early pregnancy and it’s one of the reasons you don’t have your dating scan until 12 weeks(ish)
Easier said than done but please don’t worry too much, you’ve seen the heartbeat, arms legs etc and you’ll get an official due date at your 12 week scan and then your baby will show up whenever they want anyway!

@Olivia199 thanks a lot I really appreciate your message x

@TeddyBeans thank you and the vanishing twin this could potentially be the case - very interesting. I will defo aim to stay positive. Thanks x

@moosey89 they really are, my anxiety is bad enough in real life as it is already! Really wishing you all the best too x x

@Mynextusername yss, completely agree and going to try stay really positive!! X

They will have your scans from NHS on file. If they won’t rescan they should at least review what the frames are showing and can go from there I’d hope.