Scan dates don’t add up - measuring 4 days behind?

[katie416]

Hi everyone, just wondered if anyone could give me any insight / share experiences? Good or bad.

I had a scan at EPU last Tuesday due to a bleed and they measured me at 6+6 weeks CRL 8.5mm, baby all fine with a heartbeat, no reason for bleeding seen on the scan.
Had some more spotting over the weekend but EPU won’t rescan due to my positive scan last week, so booked a private scan for this evening. Baby still has a heartbeat, still no reason for bleeding on the scan, but only measuring 7+1 weeks CRL 10.3mm.

This just doesn’t seem right to me? It’s 4 days behind where I should be and grown less than 2mm in 6 days. Do I need to prepare myself for the worst? 😞

Private scans can be so different to NHS ones so I wouldn't worry about that, but I would possibly "increase" my symptoms and get another epu scan if I was seriously worried.

Measured on different equipment with a different technician you'll get different results. Seeing a heartbeat is an extremely positive sign, don't worry.

@Kellyaust I’m in with EPU tomorrow morning as they want to check my cervix to see if that’s where all the bleeding is coming from so I might mention this to them but don’t know if they’ll be too happy that I’ve gone for a private scan as I know it’s not really recommended 😕

@BertieBotts Thank you, I did think this could be part of the reason but it’s just the fact there’s been hardly any growth in nearly a week.

They won't take any notice of it they seem to just brush off private scans, my private scan is how I found out my baby had stopped growing, went to epu next day they confirmed it but wouldn't accept to private scan as an "official" scan. You can tell them but don't be surprised if they brush it off x

I measured 2 weeks behind right up until my 12 week scan, when he was about 8 days behind. He’s currently kicking away at 26 weeks😊 the tiniest measurement can knock it out by days. Best of luck for your next appointment!

That early even a mm difference can change dates massively. Try not to worry.

That’s still really early OP so the size of the baby is tiny! I thinks it’s extremely normal / usual to have different measurements between different machines / sonographers etc.
Hopefully EPC can reassure you next time but I wouldn’t say the slight difference in days is any reason for concern in itself.

I had a scan about 8+5 and they told me I was only measuring 7+4

When I had my 12 week scan at 13 week they measured me at 13+5.

You could catch up. Even a mm that early can throw the measurements

I had a scan at the EPU and private clinic 6 days apart. On the Tuesday I measure 6W 0D then in the private scan I was 7w 4D (which I can't be) then they took another measurement and I was 7w 1D. I asked about the differences and they explained the machines are different and it is still so early it is hard to see everything and get accurate measurements to the day. That is why they wait until roughly 12 weeks to provide a due date

My daughter measured 6 days behind until 12 weeks. She’s 18 months old. My current pregnancy measured 8 days behind till 12 weeks!

Just a quick update but not really a conclusion yet. EPU actually rescanned me the day after the private scan and I was still measuring 7 week 1 day (so not even any progress from the private scan) but as there was still a hb they said there’s nothing they can do and I’ve just got to wait until my 12 week scan now unless I have any really heavy bleeding. Still continuing to spot on and off but it isn’t yet progressing into anything heavier so I honestly don’t know what to think.
No idea how I’m going to make it through another 5 weeks as the anxiety this is causing me is unreal. I want this baby so so much but I’m at a point now where if I’m going to miscarry I just want it to happen because I can’t bear the waiting and worrying 😞

Didn't want to read and run. No advice, sounds an awful situation x

Hi OP, try not to worry too much as everything is looking good with a HB. I had a visit to EPU and they dated me a week behind what I expected to see, had my 12 week scan last week and back on track and align with my original dates.

At that early stage, it's hard to measure such a tiny wee thing and a mm can huge a huge difference.

@Un7breakable Thank you x

@ScottishStardust Thank you, I’m glad everything was all well for you 😊 I don’t think I’d be too worried if the second scan was the only one I had, it’s the fact I had 2 within the space of a week and there was hardly any growth in that time, not as much as you would expect anyway, that’s what is worrying me 😩 Hoping everything will be ok but it’s just a wait and see x

@katie416 My advice after two MMCs that were measuring behind on early scans is not to wait until 12 weeks. I'd book a private scan for week 9 or 10 and you should get a better idea of where things are at then. If I'd waited until 12 weeks finding out about the miscarriages would have been far more devastating.

Thank you @TheBirdintheCave. Sorry for your losses. How far behind were you measuring if you don’t mind me asking? X

@katie416 The first one was two weeks behind so we knew pretty instantly that that wasn't going to pan out. The second was five days behind but I knew exactly when I ovulated (OPKs and temping) so I was 100% sure I was going to lose the baby, even when the EPU refused to listen to me. By week nine we had a private scan and there was no heartbeat any more.

@TheBirdintheCave I was doing OPK’s and at the first scan I was measuring 2 days ahead of that, so this second scan has me measuring 3 days behind the OPK’s but 5 days behind the original scan. I suppose like you say I’m not going to know until I go for another scan x

@katie416 Ok that's interesting to note that you were a bit ahead but now a bit behind. Sounds like it could all still work out for you then and it might just be the way the sonographers have taken the measurements :) For peace of mind though I would have another scan before the 12 weeks. I hope everything goes well! 😀

@TheBirdintheCave I have a follow up appointment at gynae when I should be 10 weeks as I had a cyst on my ovary back in March and I was told they would want to rescan me to make sure it’s disappeared, so will possibly find out then. Thank you for your well wishes 😊x

I was a week behind at a private scan and come the 12 week nhs one baby was only 2 days out.
Your days can be out and it's normal to be out tbh.
Go by what your 12 week scan says.

With my son it was covid so I couldn't get early scans. I'd done opks so knew when I ovulated plus only had one opportunity and I measured 3 days behind at my 12 weeks scan. He's 2.5 now.

I’m just updating this for anyone looking in the future, it might be nice to have more of a conclusion.
Had another scan this morning as even more bleeding over the weekend. Baby now measuring 8 weeks 3 days according to this scan so 2 days ahead of last weeks scan EDD and only 3 days behind original scan EDD so possibly could have been over measured, pretty much in line with my LMP / ov dates. So pleased. Need to give my head a shake now and try and calm down and enjoy the rest of the pregnancy x

Hey, that's great news! :D

Oh, that's a relief! Such good news 😊