Any sonographers/midwives/pregnancy experts who can reassure me RE: early scan?

[cupofteaplease]

Hi all,

Well I had an early scan today, and I'm not sure how I feel now...

Basically, with the scanner, she found the pregnancy sac but she couldn't see anything in the sac, so she then used the TV probe/scanner. With this she found the baby, with a heartbeat. I felt really relieved and was feeling very, 'phew!'

But then, she said the baby was only measuring 5mm, so she said I am only 6 weeks pregnant. The problem is, which I was trying to explain to her, is that I know the EXACT day of conception (20th February), and she was saying, no it was probably the following week. The thing I kept explaining is that I left the country on 22nd February for a month and didn't see my dh, so I definitely didn't conceive after the 20th February, so how can I only be 6 weeks?

I thought I was 7+4. I'm now worrying, why is the baby small? Is everything going to be ok? She told me at this early stage it was hard to get accurate measurements, but was sure I am no more than 6 weeks pregnant, she even tried to say initially that I was 5 weeks pregnant until I explained that my husband I were in different countries on the date of conception she was suggesting!

Just because you know the date you had sex doesn't mean you know the date of conception - sperm can famously survive for up to a week.

Haven't been in your position personally but have heard of loads of cases (both personally and online) where it turned out to be alright. They don't actually seem to grow at the standard rate they reckon they do.

Fingers crossed for you.

You may have ovulated late this month sperm can live for upto 72 hours, february only has 28 days remember.

ESL- really, sperm can live for up to a week?! Crazy! So in that case, I could be 6+ something. That makes me feel better! It doesn't help that I don't remember the date of my LMP so that doesn't help...

Have a google - it all agrees up to five days with "some studies" saying up to seven days.

Yes, lack of LMP doesn't help.

On top of conceiving several days after you last had sex, you could have a late implanter. Typically the embryo implants 7 to 10 days after it's fertilized, but it could be a bit later, which may cause your dates to be off even further. It's also so so tiny at that point that accurate measurements are difficult - even being a MM off can have an effect on your dates.

Good luck!

I had a scan when I thought I was 8 weeks and they put me back to 7+4, knocking three days off. I had another scan today and they've added 7 days on again. When I queried it, they said that early scans can be out by up to 2 weeks .

I'm sure is nothing to worry about, there are too many factors to take into account and am sure your next scan will juggle your dates around again!!!

Congrats, btw!

Cupoftea, I have just written on Iggypiggy's thread, but I lost 3 days on my first scan, and a further 3 days on my second, but a hb was seen and growth had occured so they were not concerned.

As others have said, the dates of ovulation and implantation are much more relevant that the date you bd'd, and don't forget there are 2 weeks added on prior to ovulation.

The Miscarriage Association say, "research has shown that if you see a heartbeat at 6 weeks of pregnancy, the chances of the pregnancy continuing are 78%," so all is much more likely to be well than not.

HTH x

Hi cupoftea,

First of all, finding a heartbeat does, as pootle above says, give you an 80% chance of an ongoing pregnancy so that's very good news.

I just checked my notes and I was measuring 5.6 when I had my first scan at 7+4, just like you (and I'm 19 weeks now). The nurse put 'size consistent with dates' on my info sheet. There was no doubt over my dates because it was IVF.

As lastbox says, some implant earlier than others.

Have a look {{http://www.visembryo.com/baby/14.html here]] and you'll see you're within the range of normal. I love this site, you can track it every day .

Also, this is a crown to rump measurement which is not the most accurate (as your sonographer said), as it might have been scrunching up a bit.

The fact they used the probe on you is absolutely normal. At my clinic they only use the probe, wouldn't even try to find a heartbeat with an abdominal scan so early.

The most important thing is they found a heartbeat and were pleased with it. Some heartbeats at that stage are too slow or something and then they start 'managing your expectations' but you were fine, so again this is very good news.

Sounds to me like you're on your way...

I'm crap at links trying again here

Interesting site, peachyfox. This is a good one too Early Human Development.org

am with sparkly -its such a tiny size that can add/take off days - I was put back by about a week plus at first scan at 6 weeks but by 12 weeks on was back on dates I thought (like you I know when it happened ) and dd arrived per that. As peachyfox says the key thing is everything is as expected for that time line

I think it sounds very positive.

I had an early scan where they said i was less than 5 weeks and then one 2 weeks later where i was suddenly 7 weeks and 5d.

Then had nuchal and was put forward another day. The nuchal is what my dates have been based on as was told thats the most accurate for dating purposes.

Thanks so much for the reassuring answers! I have just had another peek at my scan picture, admiring my little bean (!) and I noticed on the top right hand corner, under the date and the time is printed '0.7cm' does this mean that baby measured 7mm at one point during the examination?

Sorry, I'm really fussing now! I'm feeling much more hopeful than I did earlier. They offered me the option of going back in 2/3 weeks to put my mind at ease, which I might do. After all, it should have grown heaps in 2 weeks if all is well!

Oh cupoftea I know exactly how you feel!

Definitely go back in a couple of weeks if they're offering!

By 10 weeks (when I paid for another scan) my baked bean had turned into a prawn cracker!

Don't know about the figure in the corner. Did they give you a letter with the info? My said 'fetal heartbeat clearly heard' and I just hung onto those words.

Trust your sonographer over the internet though. If they say it's OK, then it's OK.

I just remembered one of my fellow IVFers measured 5mm on the same dates as me. Then by the next scan hers was bigger. Even at that early stage, like children, some are bigger, some grow earlier and all grow in spurts.

Glad you're feeling better!

Hi Cupoftea

I am a sonographer and everything that has been said is true. Early ultrasound scans are accurate to within a week or so, but if the embryo is slightly curled up etc, a couple of mm at this stage will make quite a variation to the dates you are given. Also true that sperm can survive for up to seven days after intercourse so indeed the day of intercourse may not be the actual day of conception IYSWIM

It is very reassuring that the fetal heart beat was seen on the scan and as the others have said, subsequent scans will usually come up with slightly different dates anyway. Out of interest, what was the reason for your early scan (sorry don't have to answer that but just wondering whether any pain, bleeding etc?)

As the others have said try to be positive as is far more likely that all will be well than not.

The 0.7cm will be something to do with the equipment BTW.

HTH

Peachy and elizabethsmum- thanks for your advice and input. All of these posts have helped to calm me down a little more.

I decided to have the early scan as I have been feeling dull period-type pains for 2 weeks now and I wanted to put my mind at rest- not that I really did that, did I?!

elizabethsmum- as I am now measuring for 6 weeks would you recommend going back for another scan in 2/3 weeks or just wait for my NHS scan which I assume will be around 12 weeks?

Depends whether or not you have been offered another scan I guess. If there are no concerns then pretty much no need to go back until 12 weeks. As you said yourself, early scans or indeed to many scans can often fail to be reassurring. Obviously the main reason for your scan was to exclude an ectopic pregnancy and as a bonus the heart beat was also seen so unless you have any worrying symtoms it might be best to wait.

Was this scan not NHS?

No, I booked it myself at a private clinic. I don't see my midwife for the first time for another couple of weeks.

OK- the only reason I asked is that if you had been having pains then really you would have been entitled to an early pregnancy scan within the NHS in an EPAU- usually arranged through your GP. Usually if the early scan proves to be fine within the EPAU setting then clinically we would not expect to routinely scan again until 12 weeks or so.

Hopefully your symtoms will settle down soon. If you have any more concerns then speak to your midwife about these when you see her. As for going for another scan before that time at the clinic it is really a matter for you to decide whether or not you can wait a few weeks for the next scan or whether you need the reassurance. As you have found out today, early scans cannot always provide all the reassurance you are seeking.

Good Luck with everything.

Hello everyone. I had a tv scan on epu yesterday as i have been v anxious about this pregnancy. I am unsure when my lmp was but thought i was around 7 weeks pregnant. Scan showed a 5 week gestation sac but no fetal pole or yolk sac. My hcg levels are approx 8000 and to be repeated tomorrow. I was rescanned a few hours later by a consultant who thought he could see a yolk sac inside. Far from being reassured by scan, i am more worried than ever as i don't know whether it is a missed miscarriage or a normal 5 week pregnancy. Has anyone experienced similar? Thank you in anticipation of any responses x

Just to update- had a follow up scan today and it showed that the baby has died. There was no heartbeat present and so the pregnancy has ended.

Thanks for the advice.

So sorry cupoftea... take care of yourself. xx

cupofteaplease so sorry to hear this. I hope all of us trying to be positive hasn't made things even worse.

I hope the coming days and weeks aren't too rough on you. Look after yourself.