Pregnancy 'dating' question

[Stargazer]

If my cycles weren't completely regular for the last few months (due to breastfeeding my now one year old), and I got pregnant (my lmp was 8-5-08), would that make me less pregnant or more pregnant than going by the date of 8-5-08?

We had a sono, and the baby looked too small, and the Dr asked if I had been regular yet, and I said I had been, but then later remembered that I hadn't been *completely* regular yet. I remember that I started at the beginning of July, but don't know if it was the 1st or what, I only remember that it was the 5th of August, so I hadn't seen anything by Sept 5, so I tested.

So, if I was on a 35 day cycle, could I be off by enough for the baby to be a week younger than I thought?

Does all that make sense?

Thanks....

[tifttu]

I didn't quite follow, but then I couldn't remember my own phone number earlier today. Anyway, even if you're totally regular but with a 35 day cycle, the dates are going to be off because the LMP dating will assume that you ovulated on day 14, which you probably didn't thus making you "less pregnant" than the date they're using. A sonogram should be able to date the age of the baby better than LMP.

[Stargazer]

The sono had trouble for a few reasons. My uterus was tilted, which supposedly made the baby harder to see, it dated it 6 wks, and it was having trouble finding a heartbeat. They did find one, but thought it was probably mine, not the baby's.

At 6 wks, could it be difficult to measure the hb?

We go back this week, to see if there is a change. The doc said hopefully my dates are just off. He said the sac looked really good and thick, for whatever that is worth...

[tifttu]

I think at 6wks it can be difficult, especially since the dates are probably off. If your cycles are 35 days you could easily be nearly a week off based on a 28 day chart (that's what those LMP dating wheels use). I hope you get good news at your next appointment.

[JennMomof3]

yeah, 6 weeks is early so a heartbeat could be hard to detect. GL at your next visit, keep us posted!

[Stephanie]

When regular, I have a 35 day cycle, ovulating around day 20, so my early ultrasounds with both ds1 and this baby who doesn't want to come out were a week off.

[Brianna]

I have 33 day cycles. My sonogram dated my pregnancy 5 days later than the I got using my LMP. At my dating sonogram the baby was 8 weeks old and they had difficulty finding a heart beat. Keep us posted.

[Stargazer]

Thanks for the input. I am trying not to worry, and just assume the dates are just off.

I will let you guys know. We go back Thursday morning.

Now that I look at my original post again, I see how silly it looks for me to say 'less pregnant' or 'more pregnant'...pregnant is pregnant, right? ;) I guess you guys knew what I meant...

[kohlby]

I agree that it's very possible the dates are off. Do keep in mind that transvaginal ultrasound has an error range of 6 days off in either direction as well. As far as the heartbeat, it's iffy at 6 weeks. At 6w0d, the heartbeat was not able to be seen on my current pg - now 17 weeks along. At 6w0d, the heartbeat was able to be seen on my last pg, which I lost at 8 weeks.

[Stargazer]

I think we might be losing it. I started spotting today, and it's starting to go a tad more now... :(

[madelsmama]

I think we might be losing it. I started spotting today, and it's starting to go a tad more now... :(

Oh, no. :( I'm so sorry...

[Stargazer]

Thanks. I don't know if this is it, or not. I don't know how much to expect to bleed right away, you know? It's not as heavy as a period, and mostly when I go to the bathroom. The doctor (last week) said that if I start soaking pads, then it's probably a m/c. But, I'm not.

I'm not trying to by blindly optimistic, but don't want to jump to conclusions, either. I will call him when the office opens, to see if he can check it out.

Can anyone chime in that has had a m/c? How long until it *really* starts bleeding? And, what does it feel like?

[Whitney]

Yes, long cycles can have effects on dating your pregnancy. We could not find the baby until I was 8 weeks along. I also had some spotting in the beginning. It was mainly after intercourse. I hope everything goes well for you.

[kohlby]

Thanks. I don't know if this is it, or not. I don't know how much to expect to bleed right away, you know? It's not as heavy as a period, and mostly when I go to the bathroom. The doctor (last week) said that if I start soaking pads, then it's probably a m/c. But, I'm not.

I'm not trying to by blindly optimistic, but don't want to jump to conclusions, either. I will call him when the office opens, to see if he can check it out.

Can anyone chime in that has had a m/c? How long until it *really* starts bleeding? And, what does it feel like?

It really varies. And about half of the time, red bleeding does not end in a miscarriage. (It's much lower for spotting red and very low for spotting brown).

My experience:
mc #1 - missed miscarriage
mc #2 - went directly to all-out bleeding
healthy child #1 - slight spotting
mc #3 - went directly to all-out bleeding within an hour
healthy child #2- no spotting at all
mc #4 - went directly to all-out bleeding
mc #5 - missed miscarriage
current pg - no spotting at all

I'd ask your dr to test your hcg levels to see if they're falling. It's an easy blood test. It takes two results to show if they're going up like they should so I'd get the first one ASAP.

[Stargazer]

Well, they did a sono, and the sac had collapsed. So, we are waiting for it to happen... I thought I would be more prepared, but it is so sad. I am more bummed than I thought.....

[ima062002]

I am sorry to hear about this Stargazer. It doesn't matter how far along a mommy is, it's is always so very sad. I had one between dd1 and ds, and lost the fetus around 8 weeks. I was utterly sad and felt like I failed somehow (irrational of course and not helpful...). I hope that your babies can help you through this, I know my dd did. Her giggles and funny antics helped me smile and feel centered. I was a mom to a healthy child and I took comfort in that.

[Whitney]

I am so sorry.

[Stephanie]

I am so sorry for your loss. You are in my thoughts.