Scan at 4 weeks. Pregnancy of unknown location

[Ellsx6]

stressed as anything. Missed period by about 8 days so took a cheap test - negative. Symptoms got stronger so took clear blue 12 days after missed period - positive. Took a further 4 test cheap and how many weeks clear blue all positive and 1-2 weeks. Before scan did another how many weeks again positive 1-2. According to last period I’d be 6 weeks and 2 days BUT last cycle length was 40 days I always have irregular cycle lengths and periods so may be later than I think. Booked early scan today - came back as pregnancy in unknown location, I came home and did another cheap test in evening positive again. Sonography said I should take a test tomorrow and if positive call hospital and ask for blood test. I am worried sick. Could I just be less weeks than I think and not show on scan yet?

That was supposed to say I may be earlier than I think!

You need to get bloods. Obviously with an irregular cycle you will never be entirely sure of duration, but still you need bloods to confirm what’s happening. Sorry you’re going through this

I will give the hospital a call first thing tomorrow morning of course. First baby and I’m petrified I’ve lost it. No bleeding or anything so just praying I’m earlier than 6 weeks so didn’t show on scan

You’ve not lost it or done anything wrong, sometimes these things just happen and it’s heartbreaking. In all honesty I think even if you were 5 weeks they should generally see something. I’ve had two miscarriages so empathise with your situation.

A heartbeat isn't normally seen until 6 or 7 weeks

Scans will often come back as PUL or PUV before then.

According to past period being on 9th may I should be 6w2d but unsure that’s accurate due to irregular periods and cycle lengths. Sonography said that she couldn’t see any tissues or anything suggesting pregnancy either. Hoping I’m just earlier than I think. Only had intercourse 5 times between last period and now. 4 of them being on my estimated fertile window and 1 being 5th July😅

I do appreciate your desire to confirm pregnancy on a scan but remember most don't scan until they are 12 weeks (or if at all!) and so would never have been put through the stress of being told the pregnancy is in an unknown location - as most would be told the same if everyone scanned so early. It is more than likely that baby is way too small to detect at this point. Private clinics offering early pregnancy scans in my opinion exploit expectant mums experiencing anxiety and fear of loss. They know it's likely they won't be able to confirm anything just yet, especially at 4-5 wks!! because baby is so so tiny and they want you to come back for another scan later.

Focus on what you can control. Unfortunately a scan cannot influence a positive outcome in pregnancy. What you must focus on is your own peace and health. You have positive tests, and no symptoms of miscarriage. Eat, drink and rest well. Congratulations!

Yes, @amispeakingintongues mosf people don’t have scans so early and therefore don’t have this stress. But the scan has already happened now. As someone who had a missed miscarriage diagnosed at the 12 week scan I am very much for early scans subsequently.
a PUL can be dangerous so it’s important OP gets to hospital and has her bloods done asap

Assuming I won’t be seen until Monday now as I doubt they’d do a blood test and have any results over the weekend. Probably won’t know anything for about a week if they have to do a few 48 hrs apart 😒I think I’m around 4 weeks. No symptoms of miscarriage so just going to run with it there’s nothing more I can do at this point what shall be will be

Thanks for the reassurance, I did think it was a little silly to get a scan the day after first positive test but in all honesty this is my first ever pregnancy and I wanted to see something to confirm to myself. This was unexpected so thought I wouldn’t be to upset if the outcome wasn’t what i expected but seems I am. I think I’m 4 weeks. We’ll see😌

I would say the reason is likely getting a scan one day after a positive test which I’ve never heard of. It’s normally minimum of 6 weeks for a scan and with your long cycle who knows if ovulation was quite late. Hope all turns out okay

My ivf clinic scanned at six weeks and one day, no earlier. And they knew exactly when fertilisation had occurred as it was in a lab. I would say in a natural conception with irregular cycles anything before 8 weeks would not be worthwhile and likely to generate more questions than it resolves.

Pregnancy of unknown location just means the hormones are rising, but nothing can be seen yet, so a successful uterine pregnancy can not be confirmed- it does not automatically mean it's not in the correct place as yet. A follow up scan in a few weeks, would then confirm actual location once the featus can be visualised on ultrasound.

It just sounds like you had a longer cycle last month and therefore ovulated. If the last time you had sex that cycle was 5th June and you got pregnant that time then you’d only be 4 1/2 weeks. If the weeks indicator goes up and lines get stronger then you know you’re just very early in pregnancy.
Good luck!

Did another test this morning, line is the darkest it’s been yet and came super quick! I will call the hospital and book a blood test now as suggested by sonography

Just a quick update! Called midwife and told her about another positive test and that I was recommended to get a referral to epu. She said there shut until Monday and to call back. Had an arm ache since late last night which I know can be a symptom of eptopic. I’ve not had any other symptoms of eptopic though! Strange

In the nicest way possible, you need to just wait it out and keep calm. Arm ache is not ectopic symptom entirely on its own, it’s shoulder tip pain and a sign of a ruptured tube, it would be super unlikely for you to have gone straight to that without seeing anything in your tubes on a scan.
If you had a negative test at 8 days post your missed period and then positive (with 1-2 weeks on clear blue) only a couple of days later, you almost definitely have ovulated late and are about 4 weeks pregnant, which means you absolutely will not see anything on a scan yet. The quicker you rush into another scan is only going to worry you as you’re still at least 2 weeks off seeing anything substantial.

yes agreed! I will most definitely not get another private scan for minimum 4 weeks time I feel like I’ve ruined this for myself If anything as I felt really happy and positive before the scan now I’ve filled myself with worry! You live and learn.. I will now just wait until I get a call Monday as I’ve been referred and follow nhs advice on blood test /scans ect as I feel if I rush back private in 2 weeks I may only make things worse for myself as some can’t even see anything at 6 weeks!

Maybe you are generally too early.. only a blood test to check your hcg levels will be helpful at this stage, believe me this was me last year..it was sadly an ectopic pregnancy and I had positive tests and diagnosed with pregnancy of unknown location... I think.on my third scan they finally found baby stuck in my tube xx

Did you have any symptoms of eptopic or anything? How many weeks was you at first scan when was unknown location?

I only started to bleed which is what prompted me to get checked out as I didn't have that in my first pregnancy... I was 6 weeks and they found it and removed it around 7

I had a blood test last night due to elbow pain (me and doctors believe it’s because I’m a nail tech and lean on my Elbow all day but due to pul scan they wanted to blood test anyway just in case)
as I have only 5 dates of possible times I could’ve conceived gynaecologist looked into it and thinks I’m only 4 weeks .. as my periods are irregular it’s not so easy to figure out from LMP as could be very inaccurate. He did an abdominal exam and said he felt nothing unusual and none of my pregnant symptoms are a sign of anything going wrong. Today HCG came back as 96 which he said would be right if I have just gone 4 weeks and ruled out missed miscarriage as if that happened should be between 5-50hcg. I’ll be back tomorrow evening for another blood test and where they hope it would’ve doubled. He’s told me to just rest eat well and drink enough and it should be fine he is not concerned at all that somethings going wrong unless obviously I have cramping or bleeding! I feel more relaxed now which is good. We will see

Good update.,Pregnancy is a massive mental battle so you don’t need extra early scans to add to the stress. Best of luck!

@Ellsx6 that’s all very good and reassuring news. I wouldn’t be surprised if youve always had slight elbow pain with work but have now become hyper aware because you know it’s a symptom of ectopic. Hopefully after tomorrows bloods you can relax