5 weeks 4 days no fetal pole

[Plumchumm]

Hi everyone,

I went for a scan a week ago at 4 weeks 5 days due to pains similar to my ectopic and spotting. EPU wanted to see me asap and did a scan. Happily they found a gestational sac and yolk sac in the right place, we didn’t expect to see anything so early. She said I was ‘5 weeks’.

The spotting went away but yesterday came back and I just had such a horrible feeling. Panicked and booked a scan for this morning. I mainly just wanted to see what the cause of the bleeding was, if everything was okay. We saw the same thing, though perhaps the sac was bigger and yolk sac much rounder. But no fetal pole.

I know I am only 5 weeks 4 days, but because my last scan the EPU said I was ‘5 weeks’ I would have expected more development almost full week later?

While there seemed to be no visible indication for my spotting, now I am worried. I’ve attached my scan below. also I’m sure of my dates as I’ve been tracked through my fertility clinic.

also I know some of you don’t like early scanning, please just be kind. It’s been a tough time.

I would take the '5 weeks' comment with a pinch of salt as it's very difficult to date properly at that stage due to the measurements being so tiny. I was also told '5 weeks' when I was actually 6 due to only the sacs being visible, two weeks later I got a more precise dating when they were able to see the baby.

If you can hang on a couple of weeks then you'll be able to get more reassurance. I know it's rubbish and stressful ❤️

Hi OP, the reason many don't like scans this early on is just because of the anxiety they cause due to it being too early too see much. There are posts every day from women just like yourself who are besides themselves with worry after an early scan couldn't give them any reassurances.

What you describe is completely normal before 6 weeks and it's very hard to date exactly at this stage as they're working in mm.... it's common for the scans to be a few days out either way so don't overthink it. The later the scan, the more accurate the measurements will be.

It can be up to 7 weeks before you see an embryo and heartbeat.

If planning a follow up scan, i'd try and hold off till you're over 8 weeks if you can. There will be so much more to see then plus, if you see a healthy heartbeat after 8 weeks, the odds of miscarriage drop substantially.

Good luck.

I agree that you should take the "5 weeks comment" with a pinch of salt. I had an early scan in this pregnancy with EPU due to spotting at 5+6 and the sonographer told me that while she was seeing what she would expect to see for that time, she couldn't put a date on it yet because anything under 6 weeks (can't remember how many millimetres that is sorry) just came up as "out of range" on her system. You're literally talking about fraction of a mm at this stage. I also think that not seeing a fetal pole at under 6 weeks (and often even under 7 weeks) is totally normal.

Regarding the spotting, I spotted in this pregnancy from 4 weeks for 8 days and then from 8 weeks for 10 days and scans have always been fine (touch wood). No cause was found and I'm now 24+3. I know it's scary to see but it can be a normal part of early pregnancy with delayed IB, a more sensitive and vascular cervix, hormones shifting and many other reasons.

Will EPU be doing a follow up scan to check progression? If not and you'd like to do it yourself privately, I'd definitely recommend waiting 10-14 days so that you have more chance of seeing something reassuring.

Wishing you all the best xx

Sorry OP I know this is stressful but I would say it’s best to wait till 6 and a half weeks as before then it’s stop early to be drawling conclusions. At 6 weeks my rainbow (hopefully) had no heartbeat and was measuring more like 5 weeks, 3 days later there was a heartbeat and growth had caught up. Wishing the best for you x

Please don’t panic! The scan was purely to see if it was in the right place because you have had an ectopic. They do the same with me, it’s very important to have an early scan in this case. The follow up scan in a few weeks will give you a much better idea.

Thank you so much all, that is really helpful. Honestly, she said that I look like I’m 5 and a half weeks, which is spot on. I think what threw me was that initial scan where she said I was ‘5 weeks’ then. But it’s reassuring to know not to take that overly serious.

I did the scan with Ultrasound Direct because my EPU were simply satisfied that it wasn’t ectopic and discharged me. They did say if any worrying bleed happened then to call them, but for now it’s just light brown spotting so will continue to monitor.

Thankfully ultrasound direct booked me in for another scan in 10 days time, and it is complimentary since they want to confirm viability. That was really nice of them, I’d recommend that company. 🩷