Early reassurance scan - not so reassuring

[Katzj]

Looking for anyone with similar experiences or insights please 🙏🏻

Today I went for an early reassurance scan at a private clinic (as I’m waiting for my maternity unit referral to come through). Going by the dates of my LMP I thought I was 8w 5d.

At the scan the sonographer said that I was measuring 6w 2d. She found a gestational sac, a yolk sac and a “faint” fetal pole, she seemed concerned and said that what she was seeing wasn’t “textbook” but didn’t really go into details as to why this was. I asked whether things looked normal for 6w 2d but she didn’t seem to think so because the fetal pole was faint and said that I should return in a week for another scan. She seemed pretty negative about the whole thing but didn’t give any definitive answers.

I came away feeling anything but reassured and more and more questions kept popping into my head after leaving. She did a transabdominal scan which I later found out shouldn’t really be used before 10 weeks. I also was reading more about how there may not be much to see at a 6 week scan anyway.

im just so confused now and this is all the information I’ve got to go on as I haven’t had any NHS appointments yet. I don’t know if I should be worried, expecting the worst or what? I haven’t had any bleeding apart from a little bit of light spotting around 2 weeks ago which was after running up a flight of stairs, which lasted a matter of minutes.

I know it’s an odd one but any responses would be welcome, are these TA scans or even these private clinics a reliable indicator, especially if I’m as early as they say I am?

It's fairly common to use a trans abdominal scan after 8 weeks. I'm sorry this won't be what you want to hear but at 8 weeks with an abdominal scan my pregnancy could be seen easily. There may be occasions where the position isn't good and they do an internal but often the view will be adequate. There is a possibility the view was just poor but a date discrepancy of two weeks doesnt sounds great to be honest. There is also a possibility they were not a very competent sonographer, but again unlikely I'd have thought.

I would contact your GP to explain the situation and request a scan at EPU on the assumption the pregnancy may not be viable. I personally wouldn't wait until your 12 week scan. I hope it is better news for you.

I had an abdominal scan at 6 weeks, NHS, due to bleeding-so don’t worry about that. Those private scans shouldn’t be marketed as “reassurance”! I’d contact your local early pregnancy unit (may need to get referred by your GP), and explain the situation.

Hi OP, first of all I'm sorry that you are going through such a stressful situation.

I want to be honest with you. I went for my first scan when I would have been 8 weeks by LMP, but (and it's a big but) I knew before the scan that I would definitely be less than 8 weeks as my cycles are 40-45 days and I ovulate late.

At that first scan, I measured 6+1 and there was a gestational sac, yolk sac, fetal pole and embryo with heartbeat. It's not guaranteed that early but I was lucky and subsequent scans at 8+2 and 10+4 have all shown baby is growing right on track.

If you have a normal length cycle and should definitely be around 8 weeks then i'm sorry to say it doesn't sound good. Measuring so far behind with no heartbeat would be indicative of a MMC i'm afraid.

On the other hand, if you have long or irregular cycles like me and ovulated much later then it could be that baby is just 6ish weeks and it's too early to tell anything else (they do say it can be up to 7 weeks before you see an embryo and heartbeat).

I think only the follow up scan will give you the answers you need so please do contact your EPU. Good luck.

Hi sorry you've got this worry. My daughter went for an early scan (EPU) because she was 'spotting'/'bleeding' and having 'cramps'/'pains'. She thought she was further along - but scan suggested she was just over 6 weeks. There was no fetal pole. She is now half way through her pregnancy ... Hope you can push your worries to the back of your mind. Good luck!

Sorry you're going through this. As others have said, I would get to the EPU and have a scan / check there.

Thank you for your reply. I have now contacted my local EPU who would like to see the scan report from the clinic (but they didn’t provide one so I have gone back to request). I did expect to be earlier to be honest and the 6w 2d could make sense looking at the calendar. I just don’t know at this stage but hopefully things will become clearer once I have a follow up scan 🙏🏻

Thank you for your message and for giving me some hope! It’s hard to know how optimistic to be at this stage but I have read about a few cases like this. I’ll have a better idea when I get my appointment through with the EPU. Hope all goes well for your daughter x

UPDATE: thought I’d share an update on my post as I found other updates useful whilst I was waiting to hear. I had a follow up internal scan with the EPU and it was confirmed as a missed miscarriage. Now waiting to book in a d&c x

Sorry to hear that OP. Take care of yourself

Sorry to hear this OP. Thoughts are with you.

It's frustrating because "high street" reassurance scans are only reassuring if all is well. Would always recommend an obstetrician led private scan (more expensive but they can actually advise).

So sorry to hear this - thoughts are with you.

Sorry to hear this 💐
Thank you for coming back to provide the update

Sorry to hear this OP, look after yourself x