8 weeks pregnant but estimated at 4-5 weeks...

[Lily2188]

Hi here,

I just don't know if I'm losing my mind or not... I went for an early scan yesterday (private) and according to my LMP, I should be 8 weeks pregnant now. But the lady said I was more 4-5 weeks pregnant. She was pretty confident that everything looks perfect and healthy, just couldn't see any baby or heartbeat obviously, just a sac. She was not worried at all.

But I came home and just looked at my cycle and it doesn't make sense to me.... My LMP started on the 14th July. Last intercourse 1st of August, so technically only could have conceived up to 5th of August. Had positive pregnancy test 17th August. If my calculation are correct I should be minimum 6-7 weeks if counting from LMP date and taking into account conception date.

Have I missed something??? I'm going nuts, crying all night, just doesn't add up, and maybe she made a mistake.. I don't understand how she's so confident when I'm 3-4 weeks behind what I'm supposed to be 😰

Is that the only time you had sex? Maybe you ovulated later and sex at a later date?
call your early pregnancy unit, explain what’s happened and your concerns and they may offer to see you

It would make sense if you have long or irregular cycles and ovulated/conceived later, is that possible or have you had no other intercourse since that time?

If you're definitely over 6 weeks then you should have seen at least a yolk sac and fetal pole by now

Yea only had intercourse once, I honestly didn't even think there was a chance for me to be pregnant cause just a lot happened and we were not really on it...
That's why it doesn't make sense... I think she might be wrong then and probably baby stopped growing at 4-5 weeks...

Unfortunately this often happens with false reassurance offered that dates can be wrong. I think you are sadly right to assume this isn't a viable pregnancy based on your dates. I'd request referral to EPU for review, on the assumption this will be a miscarriage. I'm not sure why any healthcare professional would tell you otherwise based on your cycle dates, intercourse and positive test. It might be worth feeding back to the private clinic where you had your scan if you feel able to in the future. I am sorry, early pregnancy and loss is so difficult.

I am really sorry to say I had similar and it did not lead to the result I would have wanted.

My partner rang another private US place, as mine is closed until 3pm. And explained the situation and my worries with my dates but the lady didn't seem worried either.. So I just feel really lost now...

I'll wait 3pm and ring back my place and try to get a better explanation...

Thanks for your kind messages. I'm praying that I'm just overthinking and missed something...

Was there just a sac seen? Or sac with yolk sac inside?

Just a sac, she couldn't see anything else, but she said it was normal since I'm estimated at 4-5 weeks, you wouldn't see much more at this stage. But she seemed very positive that everything otherwise looked healthy and in good shape.

Sorry OP, I think you're being given bad advice by both these clinics. This is not uncommon, training and capability varies hugely in the private sector. I'd strongly suggest you engage with the NHS at this point and get seen by EPU. Could be wrong but I'd think it highly unlikely you will see a positive outcome with that much of a date discrepancy.

I do think sometimes these private clinics either have bad training or they don't want to be the ones to give bad news.
I went once for an early scan and i track ovulation so I knew my dates and I should have been 7 weeks. They told me I was 5. I explained I knew I wasn't and they pretty much did the same. Told me I must have got my dates wrong, congratulations, off you go.
I booked in with my local EPU who did 2 scans 2 weeks apart and confirmed miscarriage.
Recently I've had IVF and had my viability scan at 7 weeks. My clinic could only see a sac. But they are more honest and referred me immediately to the EPU as obviously it's not viable.
There are some cases of women measuring smaller and it turns out fine. But when its a big discrepancy and you're definitely sure of your dates it's normally not a good sign unfortunately.

Yea, that's what I've been thinking that they don't want to say much...

Let see what she says when I ring back and will also speak to my midwife. I have an appointment with her this week too.

Thanks all for your advice 🙏

I’m sorry you’re experiencing this.

I think you should ask them if you are 4-5 weeks pregnant, how you could possibly have got a positive test on the 17th? As that would mean you had a positive result before conception! If you’re 4-5 weeks pregnant it means you would have conceived 2-3 weeks ago, and as you say, that is impossible if you last had intercourse almost 6 weeks ago.

As others have said, I would try get seen at your local EPU. Sorry you are having to deal with this. I went through something similar last year and had to have two scans a week apart at the EPU to confirm the miscarriage, but I knew my dates were exact as I’d had fertility treatment.

Sorry you are experiencing this, going through something similar. I am afraid I think this could be bad news. We often know our cycles well, and when we ovulated/had sex but I feel like sometimes the private scanners just brush over this. Please book in with EPU, hoping for a positive outcome for you x

@Lily2188

This happened to me- when I went to my 12 week scan it readjusted and was 3 days from my original due date.

The baby is that tiny at that point that any slight tilt for the baby means the measurements are out.

Lily2188, I am wondering if this could be a blighted ovum, ie you have conceived and the sac has grown but the embryo has not developed/been absorbed. I think this may, unfortunately, be a possibility. Sorry for your stress.

I spoke again to the sonographer I went to, she's adamant there is nothing to worry about at this stage, I gave her all my dates and she still thinks it's fine. She tried to explain as best as she could, I think she said that when she says 4-5 weeks that's how it looks like in measurements, not necessarily from LMP. And also taking into account that there is a buffer between fertilization and implantation, so all of it added can push back a bit.

But we'll see, I'm still not 100% reassured, I'm seeing my midwife tomorrow, so let see what she says and take it from there..

@Lily2188 So sorry you are going through this confusing time at the moment. Lots and lots of ladies have been there and feel how you feel right now so please don’t think you are alone. Hopefully the midwife has more answers tomorrow, they should re scan you in a weeks time to confirm. Xx

Try to stay positive. I have just been on a hell ride for a week as my consultant wanted me to have a scan at GE before starting Inhibixa. I went for my scan at 8 weeks only to be told and shown that the sac was empty, measured 5-6 weeks with a weak pulsation and that it looked like it would be a miscarriage. I spent a week convincing myself that was it. Went back a week later (yesterday) and there was baby, measuring a few days over at 10 weeks. They still did not explain to me how this was even possible, but the lady scanning did not seem happy with the first lady. How can you miss a 8-9 week fetus? But she did.
It could be lack of skill, a tilted uterus, maybe even fading twin syndrome, I don't know, but I will discuss with with my consultant as I am really not happy about what I went through.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you and if you have regnancy symptoms, no pain or bleeding, hold in there and try to stay positive. I'd steer clear of early scans but maybe contact your midwife/GE at the hospital and see if they will see you.

@MumOver45 oh gosh, sounds very stressful indeed... Hope baby is doing okay though?

Bit of an update on my side, I had my first midwife appointment today and explained her the situation and she reassured me as well there was nothing to worry about yet, it's apparently quite common so will just have to be patient and wait the next scan, it's going to be a very long wait.... 😩

Yes, everything seems to be going normally for me, so I am sure baby is doing just fine thankfully and we are now excited again for our 12 weeks scan. Still reeling from the rollercoaster, but starting to relax again now.

Please do let us know how everything goes for you and try, as hard as it sounds, to relax. It seems like an endless scary wait when you have nothing to do but worry and it's horrible when it should be an exciting time. Your midwife is right to reassure you, it is normal and very common.

I had this with my first, i knew exactly when he was conceived but the scans said differently. When he was born, 3 weeks before his due date, the doctor said he was overdue so my dates were right and not the scan! Fingers crossed

OP I am in exactly the same position as you with almost the same dates. My LMP wa a July 20th, I got a positive test August 18th. Had an early scan today (NHS one due to history of ectopic) at what I calculated to be 7w5d and they say I am measuring 5, they saw a sac and yolk but no fetal pole or heartbeat. I don’t know what to do with myself. I feel it’s not going to be the outcome I want, but like you have been given advice that it could still be normal as my cycles are not reliable. I have a repeat scan for next Thursday. This is a horrible position to be in isn’t it 😭

@MumOver45 ah that's good news. Yea I'll try to stay positive but prepared as well, the first weeks are always such a rollercoaster regardless...

@jamaisjedors yea I'm wondering sometimes if it's just a bit behind in development, pregnancies can be such a mystery sometimes...

@Boymama87 oh no, I'm sorry to hear you have to go through the same as me.... It's really hard yes... My cycles can vary by 10 days sometimes, and the midwife said the pregnancy doesn't technically start at LMP, there is so many factors in between that can influence how far along we are. LMP is just a guide. At least the wait isn't too long for you, I'll have to wait another 2.5 weeks as they didn't have any slot available sooner.... 😞which is a bit pointless tbh since my planned 12 weeks scan is due 4 days after.... I cross everything for you, keep us updated! 🙏

Iv been following this post and I just looked at the dates and I'm thinking maybe blighted ovum? I just had one and this story sounds unfortunately similar- I hope I'm wrong for you though. I'd be pushing for an earlier scan though 2 more weeks will be so hard on you emotionally. I paid for a private scan 6 weeks showed an empty sac then it was just a case of waiting for confirmation then I had a d&c under nhs after 2-3 more scans at 9 weeks. It was all very upsetting at the time though

Sadly not the outcome I wanted for me. I guess at least I’m not in limbo now though. 😔 I hope others are more fortunate x