HI,

I have a question about my pregnancy. I am in the early stages of my first trimester. I thought I was 6 weeks and 1 day today, although I had a transvaginal ultrasound this morning and the doctor said the sac measured 5 weeks and 4 days. I'm experiencing challenges, and am worried, so your advice is appreciated. My story is below:

My LMP was Dec 21, 2013 - and I had a positive pregnancy home text on January 20th, 2014. It was a digital test, suggesting I was 1-2 weeks pregnant. Aside from the home test, I had no other pregnancy signs that week. I had major cramping (about 10-12 bursts of cramps a day both lasting 1-2 minutes) in my lower public (left side of body) on January 21st and 22nd. Aside from being tired, and having sore breasts, I didn't have many other symptoms that week.

On January 25, I took another at home digital pregnancy test and it came back 2-3 weeks pregnant. I was excited as I knew my levels were increasing. The only symptoms I was still experiencing was fatigue and sore breasts if I slept on my sides.

I had a sudden loss of symptoms on January 27th which have not returned to date (Feb. 1, 2014). I am no longer tired and have no tenderness in my breasts. I didn't think much of it until Friday, January 31st, 2014.

I woke up on Friday morning (Jan. 31st, 2014) throughout the night with major cramping. That morning, I had dark brown spotting when I wiped, and it continued throughout the day. I went into our hospital to get checked out and although they couldn't do the ultrasound yesterday (no technician on site at the time), they took my blood and I learned my HCG levels were only 582. Doctor thought, at that time, perhaps I was only 4 weeks pregnant and my dates may have been off. He asked me to come in this morning for a transvaginal ultrasound.

The doctor had me return for an vaginal ultrasound today, and told me that the ultrasound measured that I was at 5 weeks 4 days (although I should be 6 weeks and 1 day from my LMP) but that he only saw a sac (which was in the uterus) but didn't see any fetus. He though it was too early. He saw a sac, and a yolk sac, but no fetus, heart beat or fetal pole.

The ultrasound technician spent a lot of time taking photo of both sides of my ovaries (when she was doing the transvaginal exam). Is this common for this early of a scan? I asked the doctor about any cysts and he advised that he did see one on my ovary but didn't say anything else about it.

They've asked me to return tomorrow for a comparison blood test for HCG - and told me that they would like to see my numbers double as they found my count to be "low for 5.5 weeks".

The brown spotting has continued throughout today as well, each time when I wipe. It was very dark this morning, but is now not as dark - more like beige in colour.

We are so worried - with low HCG levels, and not seeing a baby in the sac at 5.5 weeks, and having cramping and spotting for 2 days - does this suggest I am miscarrying? I just want to know if I am going to have a lot of bleeding in the next few days, what can I do to avoid it (if anything), or what my options are.

The doctor wasn't willing to answer any questions and we are so worried. As well, how can the dates on the ultrasound suggest that I'm 5 weeks 4 days, when I'm 6 weeks 1 day from my LMP. Could there be errors in the ultrasound or could the embryo stopped growing at 5 weeks 4 days?

What about our HGC levels - 582 is really low for a 5 week 4 day baby - what does that mean? If they only raise slightly tomorrow - what does that mean? Can you be miscarrying and have a slight raise in levels? How much of a decline is needed to be considered a miscarriage? How can the sac be 5 weeks, 4 days, if i am miscarrying yesterday - does that mean it could have stopped growing 2-3 days ago?

I'm 30 years old, healthy female (from the charts, I am considered highly overweight - 5'8, and 200 lbs) but was very athletic up until a year ago. I have a knee injury and gained 30 lbs from no marathon training. I do not have any medical history problems.

I'm hoping you can help provide us with a few answers of what we may be expecting. Even with low HCG levels (582), does that mean I could be having a viable pregnancy but the child will be deformed/underdeveloped?

Thanks in advance.. :)