Four days behind at 7+1 scan

[TheBirdintheCave]

I had a MMC in April so am utterly convinced that this pregnancy will go the same way and I'm currently trying to gather some statistics on how likely it is that I'll miscarry between now and Christmas.

Can you comment on the outcome of your pregnancy if your dates differed at early scans?

I confirmed O by temping so could only really by out by a day or two.

I've had two scans due to some on and off brown spotting throughout week six. This has now stopped.

Scan 1 at 6+2: Private. CRL 3.60mm (only one measurement taken). Sonographer estimation 6+0. Heart beat seen.

Scan 2 at 7+1: NHS EPU. CRL 7.11mm (three measurements taken and averaged). Sonographer estimation 6+4. Heart beat seen.

To me there seems to be not enough growth for six days between the two scans when the baby should be growing by 1mm a day at this point. Logically the conclusion is that growth is slowing down and this is something to be concerned about.

Neither sonographer seemed bothered about my concerns.

Any stories, good or bad, will help me to have a better picture of where this is headed.

Thanks!

Hello@TheBirdintheCave I'm sorry you're going through this. I can't tell you either way, but I am in a really similar position so I thought I'd reply so you know you're not alone.

I've had 4 MC's so had a 6 week scan at EPU, they couldn't see anything and brought me back in the following day after HCG levels were high. They were worried I had an ectopic. Scanned by a consultant and they found a 5 week gestational sac, and yoke sac. I went for another scan yesterday and I was measuring 6w2d with a heartbeat, which means I've had 9 days growth in 12 days. I don't know exactly when I ovulated as I only noted EWM, but I am definitely dating smaller than I should be by at least 7 days based on the idea that I ovulated a day or so after the EWM and when I got my positive test.

I have another scan in just under a week to see what's going on and currently just trying to forget about it and focus on work.

From everything I've read on Google (I really should get off Google!!!) I think it can be 50:50. There are tonnes of stories of situations like this where it ends up fine and the embryo catches up, and there are tonnes of stories where it unfortunately ends up with a MC.

When I spoke to a a nurse at Tommy's clinic (I am under them for recurrent miscarriage) they told me, it's not as good as they would hope but it definitely isn't a write-off situation yet.

There are lots and lots of stories and comments both from medical professionals and from random people on the internet about how hard it is to measure at this stage because 1mm can make the different of days when it's all so small. The best comment I saw was "trying to get an accurate measurement at this stage is like chasing someone round a football pitch with a tape measure trying to measure them".

It's so shit and I'm so so sorry you're also going through this. Try not to worry too much (easy to say I know) because really there is absolutely nothing you can do. The Tommy's nurse said they worse thing I can do is sit there worrying about it and stressing myself out, as that really won't help the situation. Drink lots of water, try and get decent sleep, rest up and try to relax as much as possible.
xx

@StarLover123 Thanks for replying :) I'm sorry for your losses. One was hard enough I can't imagine multiple experienced of that :(

For me it's an age thing too. It feels like our last chance as I'm 36 and we will probably have go go straight to IVF if this doesn't work out. We have a toddler son who I am so grateful for but we are desperate to give him a sibling and the age gap is just widening all the time x__x

Then there's Christmas... I've already cancelled anything festive as I just want to pretend it's not happening.

Fingers crossed your baby is ok and you see lots of growth at the next scan! X

I can feel your anxiousness through your message. Firstly I would say, no one can give you the answer here. It can go either way at the minute, but, right now, you have a heartbeat and the CRL has doubled in-between scans and that's a great start. Part of the issue with having scans in different places, is you don't know which measurements they are using to get their dates. And if both clinics have used CRL to date the pregnancy, do they work off the same charts to establish the date of the pregnancy. As others have said, the difference is a millimetre - it's tiny. This is part of the reason that pregnancies aren't officially dated from scans performed under 10 weeks.
I hope you get your answers before Christmas and are able to enjoy yourself a bit, it's a really stressful time

Hi, I’m so sorry that you’re having this worry. I’m currently 9.5weeks - I was having twins but unfortunately we’ve lost one to vanishing twin syndrome.
when I had a scan at 6+4 (they didn’t spot the twin here), I measured 6+0. I was told a 5 day difference is perfectly normal.
I then had a scan at 8+2 where they spotted the twin that hadn’t developed, and I was measuring 8+2. So please don’t worry, my baby caught up in only 12 days. Even at my 8 week scan they told me a 5 day discrepancy is normal.
It’s different for everyone, but if you’re worried then a reassurance scan in a couple of weeks will hopefully be helpful for you!

@MummyJuly2023 and @overwork Thank you :) We have no other scans planned until 10 weeks now so I'll just have to wait :(

Originally it was going to be 8, 10 and 12 but then the spotting changed all of that.

It started again just now 🙄 I think it could be because of the scan yesterday though as this happened after the last one.

I had a scan yesterday - was supposed to 6 weeks + 5days. Have been spotting everyday (light, at some point with clots but this has calmed down). I was measured at 4.3mm, but there was a heartbeat. The sonographer was really unhelpful and didnt even point this out to me, until i took the report home and noticed the CRL was in less 5% percentile. and did some research. Any positive stories would be really welcomed !

I had an early scan at 8 weeks due to brown/pink spotting (had this in my first pregnancy but bright red and thankfully all fine!).

They actually put me further back then I thought I was by about 3/4 days. I actually found out then I was having twins. At my next scan NHS 12 week they brought me forward again.

Dating is never 100% accurate. Hope everything is okay for you.

I'm sorry for your loss I understand why you are so nervous.

But at this stage everything is so teeny tiny it's hard to be 100% accurate. So could be our a few days. Also temping for ovulation isn't 100% accurate either.

I had a scan at 7+1 and my CRL measurement was the same at yours. He's now a very healthy a boisterous 2 year old.

I also had bleeding my both my pregnancies early on. Both carried successfully.

There is a miscarriage reckoner with odds that I found oddly comforting in those early days.

Wishing you best of luck

Also. Temne fact you have seen the heartbeat twice is very positive

Sorry you're going through this as well @tallgirl232 :( I've got my fingers crossed for you. It is frustrating when the sonographers don't fully explain where all the measurements sit compared to average pregnancies and we have to go away and work it out for ourselves.

Thanks to everyone for sharing your stories and kind words.

I have my next scan in Jan when I'll be 9w+5d so all I can do is wait at this point.

I also posted on another post and someone else commented had the same/similar measurements to me at 6w+6d and had a miscarriage around 9 weeks.

I know every pregnancy is different so all I can do is pray.

@thebirdinthecave thank you and best of luck!

Also good luck to everyone who is also waiting / unsure.

@tallgirl232 Do you know roughly when you ovulated? Could the discrepancy be because of that?

I had the flu that week so wasnt too regular, and was expected to ovulate on the Wednesday 16th. I only did the DTD on Sunday 13, Tuesday 15 and Wednesday 16. Then about 9 days later. I was also doing ovulation testing, so I only really could have ovulated on Wednesday 16, Thursday 17 and at the very latest though rare Friday 18th. Even if I ovulated 2 days later than planned on Friday, my CRL is still small as that would have put me at 6w4days rather than 6w6days. Based on your scan, 6w4days should be around 7mm so I'm still behind at 4.3mm.
Only thing I can think of is that I implanted late. But this doesnt make sense as I did tests when I was 5w5d and bloods showed that my hormone levels were showing I was around this date or even later.

Unfortunately the sonographer wasnt too helpful, didnt even let me take a photo of the screen so I can analyse for myself! But looking at a friends ultrasound who was 6-7weeks at the time, her fetus was a lot bigger more outlined. Mine was just a blob, even though i was 6w6d.

But I've been looking online and it's possible for growth to catch-up. Which is why early scans provide reassurance but also worry if done before 10 weeks when looking at CRL. Sonographers probably don't mention small/ slow growth CRLs because it can probably go either way. Sonographers can also get measurements wrong. I've even read experiences of women who have said sonographers have said their fetus had died/ no heart beat, and 2 weeks later they return for a scan and the fetus is there - good size with a heartbeat!

I guess with me, it's just the fact the smaller CRL is coupled with bleeding/ spotting I've had for the past 13 days, on top of that fibroids that has grown from 7cm to 9cm in the past 2 weeks.

But, despite all of this, I am still remaining positive that this baby won't end in a miscarriage and will be fine! 😊 The positive is that there is a heartbeat.
This is my first pregnancy, and having a miscarriage will mean I might not be able to try again for another year as fibroids have grown too big, I am due to get a myomectomy which will mean my uterus will need at least 6 months of healing time.

When I do my 9w6d scan, hoping it will provide me with more accurate measurements. I'll have the Christmas holidays to just relax and rest before the scan on the 9th Jan, which I am remaining positive that it will be good news. Even thinking of getting my first onesie as sign of assurance /positivity! 😊

I had an early scan (not for pregnancy) at 8 weeks this time after 3 miscarriages this year and found that I was 6 weeks which they weren't worried about 🙂

@tallgirl232 Sorry to hear you've got fibroids that must be frustrating when TTC. Glad to hear you've been keeping positive! A onesie is a nice idea. We did that with my last pregnancy (which unfortunately miscarried) but it was a bit of a comfort then.

My next scan is on the 30th so not too long to wait now.

Good luck with yours when it arrives :)

@thebirdinthecave
Sorry to hear about your previous miscarriage, and thanks - good luck too!
Let's keep our fingers crossed for wonderful news and baby to welcome in summer 2023 :)
In the meantime, let's enjoy our holidays / Christmas break!