Scan shows not as far as I thought, advice please

[lola04]

Morning,

I found out I was pregnant a few weeks ago, and as I am 40, we booked a private early viability scan to check that all was looking OK.

I had my last period on 8th April, and I am pretty regular, according to the calculations that would make me 8 weeks pregnant now.

However, on 20th May, before I booked the scan, I did another test, but this time, it was one of those that shows the weeks. It said 2-3, which means I was 4-5 weeks pregnant at that point. That was about a week less than I thought I was according to period date.

So by my calculations, I am approx 6-7 weeks pregnant now - is that correct?

We went for the scan yesterday. They had me at 8 weeks as went by last period day. She said I am not measuring as 8 weeks, I am measuring as 6 weeks and 5 days.
She said it was too early to tell if ok or for heartbeat and the fact I should be measuring as 8 weeks was concerning.
I had been spotting for 2 days and she kind of pulled a face at that and because I haven't had morning sickness, she made a face at that too!
She said it's possible that I am not as far along as I should be or that the pregnancy has stopped progressing.
I felt like she was being very sympathetic and that she thought the pregnancy had stopped.
We have had to book another scan for next week to see if there has been any growth.

Obviously now I am panicking and fearing the worse as I know how hard it is to fall pregnant outside of that window so logic tells me that the pregnancy must have terminated.

Any experiences? Sorry for long message!

I'm really sorry you're experiencing this.

I don't want to give you any false hope, but I measured 6 days behind where I expected at an early scan. At my 12 week scan, he was still 5 days behind period dates. Unless you're tracking ovulation, it can be very hard to tell when you conceived/the pregnancy implanted. I also had some spotting at 4, 6 and 9 weeks. Everything was fine though.

I really hope you get a good outcome, but unfortunately it can go the other way too. Is this your first pregnancy?

I have a 17 year old, had her quite young and didn't expect to have any more so this was certainly a surprise.

Had a completely different experience with her though, I had no idea I was pregnant until about 16 weeks,no morning sickness or anything. So these early stages are a new experience and the dates thing has completely threw me.

Did you track ovulation (with temps not opks)? If not, you can't be sure of your ovulation date and may have ovulated a few days later this month.
Alternatively of course it could be that things aren't going to work out, but it's really too early to get too gloomy I would have thought.
Fingers crossed for you.

The last menstrual dating method has an error margin of +/- 2 weeks.
Scans are much more accurate to date pregnancy, error margin is only days with the earlier scans being more accurate than later scans.

You thought you were 8 weeks by LMP, when the scan showed 6 weeks and 5days,

This is all in the normal range and nothing to worry about.

If you didn't have morning sickness last time then please don't worry about not having it this time. I'd really be hoping for the best in your shoes.

Yeah don’t worry about morning sickness being there or not. Not everyone gets it. Also the spotting could have been implantation bleeding which is common. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/24536-implantation-bleeding

Odd that the nurse didn’t know these basics. I feel she may have worried you unnecessarily.

As others have said, it all sounds perfectly normal. With all 3 of mine the dates have been different. They only changed my due date if it was more than 7 days out from the scan though.

Thanks for all replies.

Myself and my partner just felt that she wasn't reassuring and are now worried which may or may not be necessary.

She was focused on that I should be measuring 8 weeks but was only measuring 6 weeks and 5 days.

Combine that with her frowning when I mentioned the spotting and there was a bit on the instrument she used for internal examination, we just got the impression that she believes the pregnancy has terminated.

It's frustrating as I hadn't read into the spotting too much or the fact my test was showing a different week to the LMP, but now I am !

If the pregnancy has terminated, I have no idea what even happens next. Would I still show as pregnant on a test?

Sorry you are going through this. Did the scan show a heartbeat?

Yes, unfortunately a pregnancy can still show on a test even when the pregnancy stops progressing. All you can do is go back in a week and see if there has been growth. It is a really horrible time to wait, I've been there.

You just got to try distract yourself and keep busy and see what the next scan brings.

It’s all so stressful. I would contact your early pregnancy unit and explain you are measuring behind and started spotting. They will have protocols for different stages including doing two lots of HCG bloods to see if it’s rising and scanning a second time after a certain time frame. They would usually expect to see the beginnings of a fetal pole and heart beat from 6 weeks but this can be 7. Also at 40 only a small number of embryos will be genetically viable and sadly it’s around this time they stop developing.

she should have suggested you contact the EPU. Everything crossed for you another scan or positive blood tests. Keep the private repeat scan until you have advice from the EPu

So sorry you're going through this anxiety. It's so tough.

I had early scans with this pregnancy due to 3 early losses last year. My first scan was at 7+2 but I was measuring a week behind at 6+2. Sonographers weren't concerned and said a week or so can be very normal. However we did also see a heartbeat. I've remained on the week behind trajectory throughout - currently at 30wks now so I must have ovulated/implanted late. Everything crossed for you that you get reassurance at your next scan. The waiting around is just horrible. Sending hugs x

Sorry you're experiencing this anxiety. I'd definitely recommend getting a scan at the EPU rather than just privately at this stage, as they are generally better for diagnostics.

Some trusts allow you to self refer or you may need to speak to your GP. Fingers crossed for a positive outcome

When did you test positive OP was it just the test on the 20th with the weeks indicator?

In both my early scans I was measuring around 5/6 days behind and then when I had the 12 week scan I was measuring a week ahead on the first one and 3 days ahead on the second one. First pregnancy I had no sickness whatsoever, that is definitely not an indicator of how the pregnancy is progressing, in my second pregnancy I had awful nausea, every one is different. Sorry it was less than reassuring, I couldn't tell by your OP whether you saw a heartbeat or not?

I have had this sort of experience twice.

The first was a Missed Miscarriage which unfortunately meant I had to have some medical assistance to start the termination process.

The second was with my current pregnancy, I'm now 28 weeks and by 12 weeks the baby had caught up so to speak.

I had another scan a week later for growth check, mine were all through the NHS as with the first I'd gone in for spotting and they arranged this

With my first DS, I had my first scan when from LMP I should have been 9 weeks, they dated me at 6+2. I had no pregnancy symptoms whatsoever so similar story to yours. He has just turned 5. I wouldn't give up hope yet.

I've recently had a very similar experience to you.
I had an 8 week scan (due to medical condition), where from LMP, I was 8+1. In the scan, I was measuring 6+4, so knocked back by 11 days.
A good heartbeat was seen on the scan, but I was so disheartened at being pushed back by so many days, I was adamant it must be wrong.
Once I'd settled down a bit, worked the days back, 6+4 put me at approx 2/3 days before I suspected I'd conceived.

Did you see a heartbeat on the scan?

No I was early may, about 10th I think, just after my missed period. I did a test that didn't show the weeks, then before I booked the viability scan I did another test to see what the weeks said.
On 20th May is said 2-3 which now know means 4-5weeks.
That didn't tally up with my LMP

No, she told us it was too early to definitively say if that was because it was too early or because the pregnancy had terminated.

I've read so much and a lot of websites say a heartbeat should be detected from 6 weeks so I'm assuming that's why she looked so sympathetic,she knew but couldn't confirm until next week scan.

Have you been in contact with the EPU?

I have same experience. First was my first DC and second was a missed miscarriage. I had a successful pregnancy after that though. You won't know until you're a little further along unfortunately and they can compare first scan with next one.

That wait is very hard. Take care.

Thanks all.

I am going to the EPU today for a scan and been advised that they will probably rescan in a week.

The spotting, my age and size/date difference aren't alarming on their own, but combined with no heartbeat at the early scan is a huge cause for concern.

In my heart, I think I know what the outcome will be unfortunately 😞

@lola04 sorry you're going through this, glad you are going to the EPU. Hope you've got people around to look after you.

All the best for your scan today. It could be that the person doing the scan at the private clinic just wasn't able to detect the heartbeat for whatever reason. Hopefully you will at least get some more answers.