Scan measuring much earlier at 7 weeks - worried about miscarriage

[Gigicb]

Hi all, I’m really worried as based on my LMP and positive pregnancy test I should be 7.5 weeks but based on my dating scan am only measuring 6 weeks. Apparently everything else looks normal and the heartbeat is strong which is good but I’m very nervous about miscarriage. Has any one else measured much earlier but had a successful pregnancy?

Sorry you’re in this position @Gigicb - Im
also going through it and I’m sorry this isn’t a more positive post.

How regular are your cycles? Did you track ovulation and on what day did you ovulate? When did you get your positive test? And what size was the yolk sac on your scan?

In my case I am measuring a week behind which was absolutely impossible because my dates are rock solid. The yolk sac is also enlarged. I’ve been told that I will inevitably miscarry but because the heart is still beating I just have to wait it out, which is absolutely miserable.

Hi. Yep, when I went in for my 12 week scan, I had discovered I was only 10 weeks. I spent my entire pregnancy worrying about miscarriage etc and I didn't get to enjoy my pregnancy. I gave birth last December. 😊

I am so very sorry to hear and am thinking of you. Was the heartbeat strong? Maybe you still have hope. We only tried to conceive once around June 16 which is around when I ovulated. I then tested positive on June 29 so I was so certain about my dates

Thank you for the reassurance, that's really good to hear everything went well. Congrats.

Hi @Gigicb yes the heartbeat was strong but that’s not really an indicator at this point. I’m really sorry.

Weeks of pregnancy are counted from the first date of last period and assume that you ovulate on day 14. It’s very common to ovulate later than this and there is also a bit of leeway with implantation dates. If you’re not sure when you ovulated then it is very possible for dates to be out from the LMP date and for all to be well. There is also a small margin of error on the scan measurements (+/- 5 days). People who have measured “out” (and there are loads of positive stories online) have just got their dates wrong

So if you got a positive test on June 29th then it’s possible you were 9/10dpo on that day (how dark was the line?). That would mean you ovulated around June 19th/20th at the latest (possible from when you dtd).

For pregnancy dating purposes assume 20th June was cd14 for you, so if you plug in 6 June on a due date calculator that would make you 6+6 today at the very earliest. If you were measuring only 6 weeks yesterday then that means you are about 5-6 days out. It is just about possible that this difference can be explained by a scanning error, so I wouldn’t lose hope, but I’d also start to prepare yourself for the worst.

Chromosomal issues typically present as a pregnancy measuring behind by about a week. There is a heartbeat at first but then it stops at c.8-9 weeks. If you can go for a repeat scan in a week or 2 it should be conclusive.

What were your yolk sac measurements?

FYI if there is a heartbeat the NHS have to record it as a viable pregnancy so unfortunately you can’t take much comfort from that.

Yep I measured 9.5 weeks and should’ve been 11 weeks! Went on to have a healthy baby 13 years ago. No idea why the dates were so out, but try not to worry yourself xx

I had a pregnancy measuring 5+6/6 weeks at 7 weeks with heartbeat but unfortunately it had no heartbeat at 9 weeks. Hope for the best but prepare for the worst. In a similar position now, only 4 weeks pregnant but think I'll be having a miscarriage in a few weeks based on poor line progression. Good news is I have had 2 successful pregnancies so there is hope for the future even if it doesn't work out this time in your case. Best of luck and take care

Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge, I really appreciate it. It's terrible that the heartbeat can be strong even when things go wrong. It's almost false reassurance.

You're right that it's possible given your calculations that the sonographer may have been off by a week or so. I have my fingers crossed and I hope it's not a sign of a genetic issue.

The yolk sac was 2cm so normal and apparently everything else was normal, just the measurements were less. I'm seeing the doctor tomorrow but suspect she will send me for another scan in two weeks. It will be a very nervous wait... I'll be thinking of you, stay strong. Remember that rainbows happen after a storm.

Great to hear a positive story, thank you.

Thanks for the reassurance and glad it went well. I will try to stop worrying and enjoy.

@Gigicb that’s really great about the yolk sac - very reassuring.

Ive absolutely trawled mumsnet and various other forums about this issue in the past and it’s basically 50:50 - for every Mc there’s a healthy baby. Fingers crossed for you it is the latter!

Thank you, and to you, sending my well wishes ❤️

Update: my doctor is not worried at all about the timing discrepancy because everything else including heartbeat and yolk sac look good. So that’s a great sign! She said it’s very common for dates to be out and that my HCG also matched the dates of the scan

Could luck @Gigicb - have they booked you in for a repeat scan?

I don’t want to pour cold water on anything but both the NHS sonographer and separately my GP told me everything was absolutely fine with my pregnancy despite the dates discrepancy (and even though in my case the yolk sac was also enlarged - which should have been a red flag for them, it’s great that yours isn’t).

You just need further scans to see how things develop over time, so make them give you one if they haven’t already. Fingers crossed for you!

Thank you! Yes I'm booked in for another scan in a week's time. It's a nervous wait but I'm trying to stay hopeful after my doctor's reassuring comments. How is everything going for you?

In my early scans I measured over a week behind. They changed my due date by 10 days as baby wasn’t measuring up. They said it’s common for dates to be wrong. Im 40 weeks now plus 2 and baby has been on the bigger side recently. I’ve met 3 other women in 3rd trimester who all had their dates brought back 1-2 weeks in early pregnancy as baby was measuring behind but all was good with them.

Unfortunately I have a sad update. I found out today I lost the baby. Even though she had grown as expected and measuring 8 weeks, there was no heartbeat, meaning the miscarriage only just happened. Thinking of anyone else going through this.

Im so sorry @Gigicb - I really hoped this wouldn’t be the outcome for you.

if it’s any consolation it sounds very similar to mine which my doctor said was the classic pattern with a random chromosomal issue (measuring behind, heartbeat, growth in line with delayed dates) so it’s really just horrible bad luck and the odds are in your favour that it won’t happen again.

Thank you for the kind words and I hope you're doing okay. My doctor said the same, that given the size it most likely was chromosomal. It's really heartbreaking just waiting for the bleeding to start and I still feel in shock that this has happened particularly after seeing bub had grown so much over the past two weeks. I just have to find the strength to move forward and think about a future where a healthy pregnancy is on the cards for me ❤️

@Gigicb i am absolutely sure you will have a healthy pregnancy in future. This was just bad luck.

You probably know this but you don’t have to wait to miscarry naturally - you can opt for surgical or medical management (pills) to bring things to an end sooner. I would personally recommend surgical as it gets it all over and done with quickly. I’ve always wanted to move on from mine as soon as possible - I know from friends that waiting for it to happen naturally can sometimes take weeks.

Thank you for the kind words and I have the same belief for you, I trust that the universe has healthy pregnancies planned for us ❤️ I only started needing brown discharge yesterday so am concerned it may take a few weeks and an considering a D&C next week if it doesn't happen soon. How long after did you get the procedure? Do they let you keep any of the tissue, and do you feel okay after the procedure?

@Gigicb I know you asked someone else but just wanted to add my experience. I'm so sorry you have lost your baby, it's such a devastating thing to experience. I had surgical management about a week after my miscarriage was confirmed. I'd been bleeding for a couple weeks by then. We had different options what to do with the baby/tissue. We could either be given it ourselves and do our own burial, or they could be included in a shared burial with other babies that had been miscarried. We chose to have a shared burial and although we had to wait a few months for this, it really was beautiful. My baby I miscarried at 10 weeks (measuring much smaller) had a funeral and a mini casket which they shared with 9 other babies. There were readings and poems and they lowered the casket down and we were able to throw some dirt down and say goodbye. I would say it was very healing. Not all areas do this unfortunately but if I ever had the misfortune of going through that again I would definitely choose the same thing. My periods were very light and short following the procedure and mu cycle was only 23 days, but 6 cycles later and I have fallen pregnant again (only 5+5 at the moment so very early days). I am glad I chose the surgical option because it allowed me to feel more in control of the situation. There is a miscarriage section of this forum under 'body and soul' that I found so supportive whilst I was going through this.

Sending you much love and make sure you look after yourself/take time off work/do whatever you need to do.