Early scan showing small measurements

[bobble53]

Hi. I had an early scan today (felt pain Friday so referred me to EPAU). My last period was 21st Feb and I took positive test on the 28th March, so I should be 6 weeks 4 days approx.

The scan today found a healthy sac and baby there with a heartbeat but it only measured 1.9mm and she said I’m under 6 weeks.

I’m really confused and worried now. Firstly, I didn’t think they’d even find a heartbeat under 6 weeks? And also, we know we conceived on the 10th March so can’t be 5 weeks?

I’m so worried that baby isn’t growing. They haven’t offered me another scan and not booked in for first appointment til end of month so I’m in such a state :(

Anybody else had similar and positive outcomes?

Sorry, mine was a negative outcome. Baby stopped growing and they said that maybe my dates were off. But I knew my dates were right on. Hope you have a favourable outcome.

@confused38 did you see a heartbeat too?

Sorry you're going through this. Maybe push for another scan in 1-2 weeks to see any progress. I'm afraid my outcome wasn't great either. Scanned at 7wks, it measured 6+4 and had a strong heartbeat (doctor didn't seem worried), scanned again at 8+6, measured 7+4 no heartbeat and had stopped growing. It was from IVF so my dates were spot on. I think it's hard to measure in the early weeks so don't lose hope.

I was scanned at 8 weeks. Measured 7+3. I was certain of my dates too. It’s hard to be accurate that early - by 12 weeks I had caught up to be where I thought. Now 16 weeks and all going well! Try not to worry too much as there is nothing you can do x

Thank you, such a mixed bag from searching google too. I rang the ward back up and she said not to worry and not doing another scan as everything was fine with heartbeat and nothing to suggest otherwise but it’s made me feel sick with worry now. Don’t know whether to pay for a private scan or hold out until I see midwife. The report says not to book dating scan until w/c 27.05.19 and that feels forever away :(

Under 6 weeks could mean 5 weeks and 6 days. The baby is so teeny that it must be easy to be a mm or so out either way. That's really promising they found a heartbeat as they even say at 6 weeks if there's no HB then they still don't automatically assume the worst!

I personally wouldn't be able to wait until the 12 week scan and would book a private one for a few weeks time.

You hear all the time of women regretting getting private scans for this reason, ends in needless worry sometimes! Of course yours was clinically indicated so I'm not saying you shouldn't have had it - and I booked private early scans with both my pregnancies so again not dissing them.

Doesn't sound like they are worried which is also good. The weeks ahead will be tough until you get more answers. In my experience pregnancy is just a constant worry!!

@NannyPear yeah that’s true, I could just he under 6 weeks and ovulated late maybe? I wish they’d have explained it better to me as it’s just put me in such a state now thinking it’s not growing. But the reassurance is the lovely heartbeat we saw.

Both of my pregnancies have measured behind at early scans.

The first I was scanned at what I thought was seven weeks due to spotting. There was a heartbeat but measurements put me back a week. I was asked to go back in two weeks times to check viability and he had caught up by then. He's now a 3 year old snoring next to me in bed.

My current pregnancy I went for a private scan at what I thought was 8+1 but they dated me as 7+2. There was a strong heartbeat and I held out until my 12 weeks scan last week where again, all is caught up and baby looking good. Baby is sitting on the 50th centile, exactly as my DS did the whole way through.

I appreciate I may have been really lucky having two positive outcomes, just fairly small babies.

At that stage, even a millimetre makes a difference to a few days. A heartbeat is a positive sign, but if you'd rather not wait until your 12 week scan, maybe book a private scan for a week or two to check measurements.

If you don’t actually know what date you ovulated, your dates might well be out just because of that. Also, it could be that you implanted later than usual. Seeing a heartbeat is a very positive sign, though - it does sound very promising.

@BillyAndTheSillies that is reassuring :) my scan looks like a diamond ring and Googling that is reassuring too, making me think I’ve ovulated late and perhaps 5 weeks 6 days.

@Spargle yes, I know dates of last period etc but not sure about ovulating as I’ve never measured that. Hopefully it is just that and baby grows from 6 weeks as it’s meant to. My scan photo is reassuring if I search diamond ring ultrasound.

I’ve worried myself sick all night over this :/

I had an early scan at 7 weeks 4 days, and the sonographer could only see a "small sac" and fetal pole, no heartbeat and was looking more like a 4-5 week scan. He said it wasn't looking good for my dates (which I was 100% sure on) but I was also told to just wait until 12 week scan. I couldn't wait that long so booked a private scan for the week after, where a baby, heart beat and all, was perfectly visable, and now measuring a few days ahead of where she should have been! She's now 2 years old, and I still remember how anxious and difficult that part of the early pregnancy was. If I were you I'd book a private scan as it's a long wait otherwise and the anxiety is just not worth it. I think the measurements during these early scans can be so difficult to obtain accurately, and so much changes literally hour by hour. The fact you could see a heartbeat at an early scan is a really great indicator.

@tocotoucan that’s lovely and very reassuring. I am going to book an early scan today to have in the next two weeks I think. I need to relax for the sake of this baby x

I’m sorry mine was a negative experience too. There was a heartbeat at 7 weeks but measured far too small and there was discussion about my dates being off. I had another scan at the EPU in the days that followed and the heartbeat had stopped. Hope you get more positive news with the next scan - you ideally want this a week later definitely no longer. I’m 7 months pregnant now so all worked out in the end happily 🤞🏼

So I was told my 3mm embryo looked "just under six weeks" when I knew my exact dates and should have been 6+1. It is very difficult to measure something this small (think about even identifying the crown and rump depending on the angle). Two weeks later and measures 8+1 which was date perfect with when I'd ovulated. If you don't know exactly when you ovulated 2mm is easily within range (tends to grow 1mm a day from 6 weeks +). Try not to panic. My last pregnancy was a mmc and the growth was clearly not keeping pace over quite a number of scans but I had bleeding and no real symptoms too... there were obvious much bigger issues. Personally I would book in for a private scan in 10 days - 2 weeks x

Dates are not perfect. My dd arrived on her due date but because of the vernix and other factors they were convinced she was 3-4 weeks early!

Early scans seem to cause lots of worry but little positives in my opinion, as horrible as it is, you need to try to carry on with life and see how it progresses. I was also told that it was highly likely dd was a twin and I lost the second baby a round implantation, this would account for why you were small for dates

Thanks everyone. My scan photo was a “diamond scan” which google dates around 5w6d so hoping that’s accurate as would make sense with the measurement. Booked in for a scan next friday privately xx

This was my scan xx

I’m so pleased for you xx

This pregnancy I had an early scan, mw worked me out as being due on the 29th Aug but by my calculations should have been 3rd Sept due to cycle lengths etc. Scan said due 8th Sept so putting me way back. 12 week then confirmed this. Currently 18+3 and feeling baby moving.

Bodies are weird, and scans can't always be entirely accurate, as I was told during my last pregnancy at each of my scans.

Yes my six week scan good heartbeat measuring 5 weeks something when I should have been 6 and a half. Now 35 weeks (I had caught up to my dates within a few weeks).

Thanks guys. Nothing was explained to me at the time and I just went home and googled the CRL size and it set me in a panic as it’s way behind what we thought it should be. Hopefully I’m just a week behind due to ovulating etc. All symptoms are there and the little thing is killing my boobs! So that’s positive xx

@Cookit that’s like me. Was the CRL size small? Xx

I can’t remember. In retrospect, it was an abdominal scan and that’s probably not ideal for a 6 week scan.
I think for you - there’s a heartbeat which is the best possible news at this stage, and just get another scan in a few weeks.

@Cookit thank you. OH is very relaxed about it. Google is the worst!

I am booked in for another private scan next week to reassure myself xx