Measuring smaller than dates / worried about misscarriage

[SazzieM]

Hi all,
I'm 8 weeks preg by LMP (18/8/22) and know that the deed was done on 31st august, first positive pregnancy test 16th sept. Not exactly sure when I ovulated, but on my TVUSS I had yesterday - scan confirmed I ovulated from both ovaries this cycle.
This is my second preg (have a 2 year old) and first pregnancy had first trimester nausea and a lot of fatigue. This time around I've been a more tired than usual but not exhausted like last time, and minimal nausea. Have had some insomnia, feeling hot at night, and constipation.
No bleeding or cramping. I went for an early scan at 8 weeks because I was worried about lack of symptoms (probably shouldn't have done!) and it showed an embryo and yolk sac, with a heart rate.
however - the embryo was only measuring 6+4, not 8 weeks. Obviously I may have ovulated a bit later than I thought / may be a bit confused with the fact I ovulated from both sides, but the only time we had sex was 31st aug, and given the little tadpoles last for a max of 5 days, im fairly certain of rough dates. I also used the clear blue ovulation sticks which showed an LH surge on morning of 31st when we had sex. Day before it was 'low fertility'.
They are repeating my scan in 2 weeks but basically said that at EPAU they see miscarriages every day, and that I should prepare for the worst and hope for the best.
Has anyone had a similar experience of minimal pregnancy symptoms and measuring small for dates, and gone on to have a viable pregnancy?
thankyou!

I did this time around. Similar to you, measured two weeks behind at early scans. No symptoms until 9 weeks by LMP and then really nauseous until 14 weeks.

My 12 week scan had to be redone 2 weeks later as I was still measuring behind, they said 'that's not a 12 week old foetus' so I was really worried soemthing was very wrong. Like you knew when we had sex, and had a positive test the day my period was due.

At my second 12 week scan the gap had dropped to 11 days, and everything looked fine still. Due in a couple of weeks now and a lovely boring pregnancy.

I've also had no symptoms and measuring behind and it's been a MC, so really hard to say I guess. But there is hope!

Thankyou for sharing your experience. I'm sorry for your previous loss but congratulations on your lovely news this time. Really hoping I'm in your shoes but have a bad feeling! Suppose you never know. They did say that my yolk sac was larger than the embryo CRL, which is apparently a not so great sign

How are you getting on, OP? I'm in your shoes - should be 8 weeks today but I'm measuring 5+6 - they could see a foetal pole etc but no heartbeat. I don't see how I can be that far out on dates, although I could conceivably be a week off if I ovulated later than I thought (I didn't test that month).
I'm going back in a week for another scan but I'm not feeling too hopeful. I hope things are going OK for you so far.

Hi, sorry to hear that, it's such a minefield! We've had another scan yesterday morning which should have been at 8+5 going by LMP. Still has a nice strong heartbeat at 150 and has been some growth, but still over a week behind.
the consultant basically said it could be due to double ovulation and therefore being later than expected, but considering I know we only did the deed on 31st august, and I had a positive test on the 16th sept, suppose we can't be that far out. It was one of those super early detection clear blue ones, not really sure how long it takes after implantation to start detecting HCG to be honest!
Basically he said that we need to have weekly scans, still have a chance of a misscarriage so I'm just bricking it before every scan that we will turn up and it be bad news 😔
why did you have the scan in the first place, was it for any particular symptoms? Crossing my fingers for you xx

@SazzieM sorry you're still measuring behind but great news that there's a good heartbeat and it seems to be growing.
I had the scan because I'm being treated for recurrent miscarriage - meant to have scans every 2 weeks for each pregnancy. I've had 6 early miscarriages but they don't usually follow this pattern. I got my first very faint BFP on the 26th September so I suppose I could have ovulated as late as the 15th or 16th and just picked it up very early. Mind you, I'd had a chemical the month before so I'm not actually 100% sure when I ovulated and whether that could have thrown everything off. Or if what I thought was a new pregnancy was just the test picking up HCG leftover from the last one?
I'm trying to hope for the best, expect the worst and be realistic about it but it is hard to remain all that optimistic.

Hello, I am in the same position. I went for a scan at the EPAU on Monday when I should have been 7 weeks but the scan showed no embryo or heartbeat, only a yolk sac measuring 6 weeks. I have to go back this Monday to see if anything has grown to if this is a missed miscarriage. It will be my sixth miscarriage if so.

When I had my DD I remember going for a private scan at 8 weeks and being moved back to 6 and a half weeks because she was measuring smaller than expected. All was fine with her but this time I'm not feeling as confident as I don't really feel pregnant any more. Since the scan I haven't felt nauseous or tired at all, just anxious.

This waiting is the worst,

Oh Unicorse, sending you a handhold. At least you have had a positive outcome from baby measuring small, and I really hope this time is the same, but it's just so awful to go through all those losses. I agree the waiting really is the worst. I hope Monday rolls round soon and brings you some positive news.

How are you both getting on? When are your next scans? The waiting is HORRIBLE, I just keep trying to focus on the positives and not let it consume me. I've stayed off Google / the internet except this thread and actually that has really helped. Had some really pale pink spotting on Thursday eve / Friday morning which made me so worried, was convinced it was the beginning of the end but was only a smal amount and stopped on Friday morning. Such a minefield of emotions xx

Glad this thread has helped a little, it has me too. Hope all is well with your spotting - reassuring you've had nothing all weekend but it's all just endless worry isn't it? I confess I woke up for a wee at half 4 this morning and ended up in a very ill-advised doom-Googling session. All the worst case scenarios. In the cold light of day I know I can't control any of it and it's better just to be zen about it all but it's really hard in the moment!

My next scan is Friday - how about you? I guess I'll know then whether things are progressing. @Unicorse has a scan today, hope she's OK x

Hi both, I have been doing a lot of doom googling in the early hours too @ladycarlotta. I'm really good at staying off Google during the day and then lose all self control at 2am.

Sorry to hear about your spotting @SazzieM but great that it's stopped now and not progressed.

So I went back to the EPU this morning. The embryo can now be seen and a flickering heartbeat BUT it was so close to edge of the yolk sac that the sonography couldn't get proper measurements. She made a 'best guess' at the baby measuring 5+6 which is smaller than last week but did say she couldn't properly see to measure and so it was impossible to date accurately. I have to wait yet another week and then go back.

I really tried to get her to be honest with me about the chances of the pregnancy being viable as I'd rather not wait for a week with false hope. She said she'd tell me if she could but the baby is in such an awkward place that there's no way of really knowing. I am pleased that heartbeat could be seen as there was nothing last week but still resigned to this not a viable pregnancy. Mixed emotions really!

When are your next scans?

Sorry @ladycarlotta, just seen your scan is on Friday. Will keep my fingers crossed that you get positive news x

That's great news that there is now a heartbeat!! Could your dates be out?
really hope all is well at next scan. I know these early ones are so sensitive and mm make a difference x

I was fairly sure of my dates as I was tracking ovulation but I also tracked with my DD and she measured 10 days behind on early scans too.
I really don't know what to think, I was so convinced that there would have been no progress today and I'd be told it was a missed miscarriage, especially as I haven't really felt any symptoms at all in the last week.

oh that really is great there's a heartbeat now - but stressful that there's no conclusive answers still and you've got another week to wait. Must be torture. I think you should definitely take the development of foetus and heartbeat as a win though. Heartbeat is huge in terms of viability. Solidarity! It sounds tough.

So if it helps, I would say that I only developed symptoms the last week probably, and I'm 9+4 by LMP today. or 7+4 as measured by my scan on 18th oct, so maybe 8 weeks if we assume another 4 days growth. They told me I'd ovulated from both sides so may have had another LH Surge, and apparently you can have more than 1 LH surge so if you stopped testing after you noticed it first, then maybe you missed a second?! My symptoms this week have been sore boobs and a bit of growth (were totally normal feeling and their usual small selves before) and feeling exhausted in the evenings. Still no nausea.
I have been hypothesising until the cows come home trying to explain reasons for being off dates / looking up lack of sx etc etc and think all I can do now is wait until my next scan which is on Thursday morning.
when are they scanning you again? I defo agree that a heartbeat this time is better than no heartbeat last time - it's progress!
Carlotta when is your scan? Keep your chins up! X

Thanks both. I am definitely taking the flickering heartbeat as a good sign but remaining cautious.
That does help @SazzieM, it sounds like we're in very similar positions. I've also been trying to work out dates and days.
I have definitely had the evening exhaustion. I also get super bloated in the evenings, I look like I'm five months pregnant. Fingers crossed your scan on Thursday goes well and baby has done lots of growing. I am back next Monday morning (Halloween!) for my third scan.

I reckon it's smart to stay cautious. Managing these expectations is the only way to stay sane.
I've been feeling nauseous, sore boobs etc for quite a while - finding the nausea pretty hard these last 2 weeks or so. But usually in my pregnancies the exhaustion kicks in quickly and this time it's only just appearing now. I keep falling asleep in the afternoon (luckily wfh!) - going to be super annoyed if I've got all these symptoms and the pregnancy hasn't developed.

Scan is on Friday and I'm starting to allow myself to hope which is probably dangerous.

@SazzieM Hope your scan went well this morning? Thinking of you x

Hi, unfortunately wasn't good news for us today. The scan really sadly showed no heartbeat anymore, they think it stopped about a week ago. Feeling pretty devastated. Going in for a surgical removal tomorrow. Really sending so much hope your guys way xx

I'm so, so sorry to hear that @SazzieM, such sad news. Have you got someone with you today for support? Xx

Oh @SazzieM I'm so very sorry to hear that. Sending hugs through the ether, I hope you can have a chill weekend doing whatever you need to do xx