Expert: Catherine Beier MS CBE - 12/20/2008

Question
Hello,
I have a major issue and I cry alot about this that I am so depressed.Back in Aug the 2nd my bf and I broke up over a really big fight.Not ever thinking we'd be back together I had intercourse on the 15th night of Aug.Well when he was gone I didn't eat much at all,lost alot of weight and struggled with trying to find a new place to live.My last lmp was Aug.4th or 5th and actually lasted the whole 7days which it rarely does.Also my periods are sometimes short or long.We ended up back together and had intercourse on the 21st night.I took a pregnacy test on the 26th and it was neg.On Aug the 31st is turned light positive but quite awhile after I went back to check it.On Sept.9th I had a genstational age ultrasound done and I was told to be 4wks and 3days pregnant.So I thought as of today I would be going to my 19th wk.When I went for another ultrasound on DEC.3rd I was told that I was 18wks.Which is 20wks and almost 3days.I was also tested positive for HPV which I have to be retested for in a few mths,and my placenta was lying low.Why could I be having diffrent answers and problems?Who could have likely fathered my unborn child?Thank you for your help and advice.

Answer
Mel,

Hopefully, I can ease your mind a bit;-)


Based on your early ultrasound and the dates you gave, you most likely ovulated late in your cycle between the 22-23 of August, making your boyfriend most likely to be the father.


As for the placenta being low lying, this is not a concern at this point in your pregnancy.  The placenta typically starts out low and gradually shifts further away from your cervix as your uterus expands and your pregnancy progresses.


For this reason, among others, 18-19 weeks is often too early to really check for placental placement issues.  Typically 21-24 weeks is the best time.  Still, the odds are very much in your favor that the placenta will be well out of the way in a few weeks.   You may have another ultrasound recommended at 28-32 weeks to check this out.


The further you get in your pregnancy, the less accurate ultrasound becomes.  By the end, it can be off as much as two weeks in either direction.  Typically, your due date will not change unless there is a greater than 10 day difference.  Based on the dates you gave, you would have been about 18 weeks at the time of the Dec. ultrasound, so I'm not sure what confusion you're having there.


In the beginning of pregnancy, babies develop at much the same rate because genetics and maternal health don't start impacting the baby's growth rate much until after the first trimester.


As for the HPV, it is an STI, a sexually transmitted infection, that is passed on through genital contact, most often during vaginal and anal sex. A person can have HPV even if years have passed since he or she had sex. Most infected persons do not realize they are infected or that they are passing the virus to their partner, so you most likely had it well before you were pregnant.


Very rarely, a pregnant woman with genital HPV can pass HPV to her baby during vaginal delivery. In these cases, the child may develop warts in the throat or voice box – a condition called recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP). If you retest positive, then your doctor will discuss options to minimize contact if you have developed genital warts or other sources of transmitting the virus.


A healthy immune system is the best way to fight the virus naturally, so take care to eat a balanced diet, stay hydrated, and rest well, as well as finding ways to reduce or eliminate stress.



Best,
Catherine