Measuring behind at 6w4d

[97FTM]

Hi all

wondering if anyone can help I am worried sick. Had an early pregnancy scan yesterday at what I thought was 6w4d but measured 5w3d. Saw yolk, heartbeat etc. Was transvaginal. Sonographer just kept saying congratulations, was no mention of anything wrong. I didn’t realise how bad it was to be measuring behind this much until I started googling when I got home so didn’t think to ask at the time.

Almost certain that I conceived on 14 Aug. Periods 28 days and LMP was 29 July. However, due to a date miscalculation of my fertile window I did end up taking the morning after pill on 15 Aug (baby is wanted but timing not great!)

so I’m thinking either the baby is not growing as it should and I’m at risk of MC. The measurement may be off as it’s so early. Or the morning after pill caused a delay in my ovulation - although I’m not sure I could’ve gotten pregnant in the days following. Could the sperm from 14th have somehow survived and fertilised the delayed ovulation?

I don’t even know who I’d speak to / where to turn next. Feels like it’s just a waiting game to see if bleed between now and midwife appt? Still not heard from hospital to get a midwife appt. Feeling quite lost. Partner just keeps saying everything is fine, they didn’t say anything is wrong and there’s an heartbeat. He’s over the moon and I can’t stop panicking.

Any advice welcome. Thanks.

Hi OP, I know it's a worry but it's very common to measure out at that early stage. They're literally dealing in fractions of millimetres so very difficult.

They've measured 5wk 3d but to be honest, it's excepting rare to see a heartbeat until 6-7 weeks so it's unlikely that you really are only 5 weeks!

Unfortunately it tells you nothing about the pregnancy as it is still too early and all you can do is remain positive and wait until your next scan. At this point you have a healthy embryo with heartbeat causing no concerns.

Good luck

Realistically it could go either way at this point. As the PP said its unlikely you're only 5 weeks at this point as normally you wouldn't see a heartbeat.
In my own experience I had similar that ended in miscarriage. Measured 5.5 with heartbeat but knew I was 6.5. Follow up scan 2 weeks later revealed no heartbeat and no further growth. I never did bleed naturally and had surgery at what would have been 10 weeks.
But plenty of others will go on to have normal healthy pregnancies. All you can do is wait and see at the next scan. Chances are it will be totally fine.

Usually heartbeat isn't seen before 6 weeks, and at this stage it's quite difficult to measure length accurately.
I can totally understand the anxiety though, can you contact your local early pregnancy unit they may be able to advise or look at scanning you a little earlier? Or they might advise to wait until your next scan if no bleeding or bad pain. Best of luck with everything x

Thanks everyone. I am supposed to be abroad with my friends next week for a few days so really panicking something might happen while I’m away.

I am trying to get an appt with a private consultant so hopefully can go when I am back from my holidays, by my calculations around 8 weeks. Will be so scary to go with the possibility of no growth.. its so hard to stay positive :( I’m surprised the sonographer didn’t mention this at the time

Sounds like a measurement error as it’s virtually impossible to see the heartbeat at a ‘true’ 5w3d gestation.

Thank you I really hope so… holding on hope that there was a heartbeat! The measurement was 3.1mm. I must admit I was in and out very quickly, hoping it is just an inaccuracy..

Not sure if anyone can make anything from this but this is the scan pic they sent me after

This was mine at 6+1.
Apparently everything was there that should be including embryo and heartbeat.
I'm now 12+3

I had a similar situation and sadly a later scan revealed no growth and ended in a miscarriage, this didn’t happen naturally and had to take medication. Please go to an EPU rather than private, I hope everything is ok for you, but if it’s not the private scanners can’t help.

As much as I know you want an instant answer, it's been 2 days since you started this thread and you really need to give it 10-14 days for another scan to see if there has been proportionate growth and everything is progressing

This is mine at 6+2.

Realistically, there is nothing anyone can do if the embryo isn't viable.
They won't even admit you for monitoring until you're past 28 weeks, so I would really work on finding your path through the anxieties of early (& late) pregnancy.

I know it's super hard. I had several miscarriages before we got our sticky bean (who is now almost 1), so I completely empathise. I was a wreck, and it got worse with each miscarriage. But finding some way to reduce or manage that anxiety will be really beneficial for your wellbeing.

I totally understand your worry. I had the same worry.
I was measuring exactly a week behind at 6+1, 7+1. I knew exactly when I ovulated as I tracked with monitor and OvuSense I also only had sex once.
I was congratulated and told its normal to measure behind at that stage. I wasn’t really listened too.
sadly my baby’s heart stopped at 9 weeks and found out at 9+5.
I wrote the same question as you and was given many happy ending replies as well as sad. I was told that chromosomal issues usually measure behind and stop between 8-9 weeks. There is no way to tell though.
however a private clinic told me the baby had no heartbeat only to be found when I went to the EPU. The private clinic may have it wrong for you too.
there is no way to tell if everything is ok or not and you have to stay positive and believe that everything is ok. Hoping everything continues positively xxxxxx

Thanks everyone. It’s not sounding good then I suppose. I am supposed to be on holiday for a few days at the end of this week. Not sure what to do. Should I call my EPU tomorrow? Can they / would they even do anything? Or do I just wait a couple of weeks and then contact them? I feel really confused overwhelmed and lost with the next steps..

It's really not possible to say how things are going to go after only a couple of days.

At this moment in time you had a healthy embryo with a heartbeat. That's a great sign and there is a strong chance all will be ok but a lot can happen in early pregnancy (especially between 6 and 8 weeks). If a heartbeat is seen after 8 weeks then the chance of MC drops significantly but before that, it can go either way. There is nothing you can do but wait unfortunately.

You will get anecdotes from both sides. Ladies who measured behind in the early stages and went on to have a MC and other ladies who measured behind in the early stages and have gone on to have a successful pregnancy. It is impossible to tell in your position at the moment.

All you can do is try and distract yourself while you wait and keep positive.

When i had that first scan at 6+1, my dates from LMP should have been 8+2 so I measured 15 days behind! It wasn't a surprise for me as I have long cycles and was pretty sure I had ovulated late but it was still a worry. I'm now over 12 weeks, had 3 scans and so far so good. I've caught up a little from those early measurements but am still 'behind' by 10 days. LMP is only a guide.

You could try calling your EPU but it might depend on how yours works whether or not they'll see you without a referral or bleeding.
When I had a missed miscarriage before they wouldn't see me unless I had either of those things.
It is still possible for things to be fine. As you've said you took the morning after pill and i believe that is designed to delay or stop ovulation. So it is possible that has happened. It's also possible the scanner just couldn't get accurate measurements. I think unless you know exactly when you ovulated (which you don't) I wouldn't worry yet.
I also don't know if the epu would scan you yet seeing as you've just had a scan. They normally advise waiting at least a week or two. So as annoying as it is with your holiday and the not knowing it might be best just to wait it out.
It won't hurt to call them and ask though but I just wouldn't expect too much from them at this point.
So in short, be prepared just in case, but I think in your case there's more of a chance it could be OK with your circumstances.