You are here
stunted growth or double ovulation?

I live in The Netherlands and am pregnant. Today I went for my first echo (the so called "vitality Echo"). This gave a somewhat ambigious result and I am not sure whether to feel delighted or slightly concerned:
There is a hearbeat (which is a sign of life!), but the maternity nurse claimed that, on the basis of the size of the embryo (5mm), I am only 6 weeks pregnant (=42 days) and must have conceived around the 18th of March (PS: at 6 weeks the embryo is in fact only 4 weeks old, as there are 2 weeks added to account for the start of my last period).
This will not have worried me if I had not been charting for some time (around 8 years with 3 years of data on my app).
According to my last Cycle-chart, my last cycle started on the 21ste of february 2020. My temperature regime went up 19 days later, on the 11th of March. I registered ovulation pain on the night of 9th of March. I also felt ovulation pain on the 10th. This then was followed by the usual steep climb in temperature. Both these cues suggest that I ovulated, and conceived a week earlier than the nurse suggests on the basis of my echo.
I showed the nurse my chart and she didn't really know what to make of it, but she did suggest that either (a) I must have ovulated later than my chart suggests OR(b) I had a second ovulation a week later, or (c) the embryo is not growing adequately.
We have planned in a control vitality echo in another 2 weeks. This should determine whether there is a stunted growth (which would not be a good sign).
My question to you is: are "a" or "b" even likely? I have never heard of double ovulation (whith a delay in the second ovulation of around a week) and it seems to me pretty unlikely that i DID NOT ovulate around the 10th of may. After all, there is a really distinct temperate regime increase. And I have never experienced a temperature increase that was not followed by menstruation within 14 weeks.
For your reference, some personal information: I am 37, I am a twin (fraternal), I have irregular cycles (throughout my life), ranging between 25-40 days, but usually around 30. I occasionally have a very long cycle (40 days), but this happens only about 1/10 times and usually correponds to some distruptive evennt (illness, or holidays, or partner away for long). Generally a short cycle (say 26 days) is followed by a somehwat longer one. I do not take medicine and I TCOYF for birthcontrol. Have been doing that for more than 10 years. Has worked fine for me. roughly 12 years ago I got pregnant (was not using TCOYF at the time) and had an abortion.
I hope this information can help you make sense of todays echo result. Happy to share my last chart if this helps.
Many thanks in advance
Anne
Since 9/2015annevansue
Since 9/2015
Since 8/2019ChartingwithAndrea
Since 8/2019
There aren't enough temps on your chart to know if ovulation may have occured later. Secondary ovulation is possible. Two eggs can be released in one cycle, sometimes creating fraternal twins.
Being that I am not a medical professional, I can't really add anymore to that. Hopefully some women who may of had expereince with this will add some helpful information. I would also recommend seeing if your medical provider can offer any more clarity around your questions.
Best of luck to you!
Andrea - OvaCue Specialist
Since 9/2015annevansue
Since 9/2015
Could you explain what you mean by " there are not enough temperatures to determin whether ovulation occured later"? I have quite a clear regime shift. What would you be looking out for when trying to spot another ovulation?
I am also wondering about what you are saying about secondary ovulation. As far as I know - based on the book by Toni Weschler (taking charge of your fertility) - secondary ovulation can only occur within a day of the first ovulation. Because the progestron released after the first ovulation prevents other eggs from being released (ovulating).
So it remains a mystery to me how my 'calculated day of conception' (based on the echo) could be the 18th. I am wondering whether there is a margin of error in this aging method? Do you know?
Thanks
Anne
Since 8/2019ChartingwithAndrea
Since 8/2019
All I stated was that secondary ovulation can happen, not when it may or may not have happened.
Again, these are really questions for your medical provider as they are the ones that can take ultrasounds and run other tests. We are unable provide feedback beyond helping to intrepret your chart.
Best of luck to you.
Andrea - OvaCue Specialist
Since 9/2015annevansue
Since 9/2015
Since 8/2019ChartingwithAndrea
Since 8/2019
There is a wonderful group of women that have a Miscarriage Support forum on here. You might consider posting in there as well.
Again, I am so sorry for your loss.
Andrea - OvaCue Specialist
Since 8/2016toxxikk
Since 8/2016
Since 11/2019gemsie
Since 11/2019
Sorry again for your loss.