7 weeks + 6 days scan (IVF) - Small Measurements

[Bubba25]

Happy New Year all,

I pray we all have a wonderful and blessed 2025.

My wife and I have been on our IVF/ICSI journey since January 2024. Our first cycle unfortunately ended in a MMC (approx 6/7 weeks when growth stopped), no heartbeat.

We were absolutely devastated, so naturally my wife & I needed some time to heal before considering a second cycle.

We then started our second cycle in November 2024. Our positive test was on 3rd December. We were completely over the moon, but cautious due to our last experience.

Soon after our test result my wife experienced alot of the common pregnancy symptoms… this time round alot more so than our first cycle, such as morning sickness (day and night), tender/sensitive breasts, food aversions & cravings, lower back & upper arm aches, cramps and also headaches. Most of these symptoms still continue to this day.

Yesterday (31st Dec) we had our first scan. As you can imagine we were so so nervous and anxious, but full of faith. The nurse explained that she could see Gestational Sac (GS) as normal, Yolk Sac also as normal, and Embryo normal, however no cardiac activity as nurse said it’s too early.

However, measurements were not as expected for Week 7 + 6 days. GS was 8.8mm and CRL 3.6mm. So I believe that’s possibly 1/2 weeks behind.

Nurse did not want to confirm if this is a miscarriage, she wants us to come back in 2 weeks for another scan.

The thought of this wait is absolutely dreadful for my wife and I, as we are like well why not just tell us if pregnancy is not viable.

We are keeping the faith and hopes as high as possible but feel so drained and fearful at the same time.

If anyone can help who has a similar or same situation please do share your thoughts.

Really appreciate you taking the time in reading this.

S+F

I'm so sorry to hear of everything you have been and are still going through to have your precious baby.
Unfortunately they are not able to say if its a miscarriage in this situation on one scan alone. They have to explore the possibility that the pregnancy is just measuring smaller and will 'catch up' as it does in some cases. If they didn't, and they proceeded to offer you management for a miscarriage, they could technically be carrying out a termination. They need a further scan to compare it to in order to give a definitive answer. So while I understand when you say 'why not just tell us if pregnancy is not viable' they just can't in case it does progress.
It does happen where dates don't add up and the pregnancy then continues to progress. I'm so sorry but I think this is much less likely with an IVF pregnancy when dates are certain. Although I have read the occasional thread where someone in your position has gone on to have a successful pregnancy so it is possible. Would you consider asking EPU to rescan sooner than 2 weeks? Would they feel a week or 10 days would suffice I wonder?
Thinking of you both at at this difficult time, it's a very tough position to be in. I really do hope you get your miracle baby soon.

2 weeks seems a long time to have you wait, I'd ring and say you are really struggling with the wait. If there's no cardiac activity by week 8 i would say you probably have your answer. Of course from there you can hang on from there another week to 100% confirm but you'd likely be 95% sure of the outcome in a weeks time.

So sorry you are going through this worry how unfair. Fingers crossed they are just slow getting going x

Thank you so much for your responses @remaininghopeful23 @Babybaby2025

The information you have shared is massively helpful.

My wife and I have explored the idea of doing an earlier scan with EPU, so we may just do so for next week Tuesday, making it 7 days on since our initial scan.

We completely understand that with IVF the dates are all tracked with precision, so my wife and I were so confused as to how we could have a possible “slow grower” baby in the making, surely if measurements and dates don’t match up then it’s not viable…

But the fact our consultant & nurse informed us to continue with our progesterone injections/pessaries over the next two weeks, when in our first cycle they told us at the first scan our pregnancy was definitely not viable & to stop using the medication, this is the hope we are holding onto with this situation.

Will keep you posted regarding our outcome. I guess our human nature is to believe in miracles when we want something so bad.

Thank you once again ❤️

Hi

Any update on this?
I am going through the same thing and quite anxious and stressed. My repeat scan is on Tuesday.

Was yours also an ivf pregnancy?

I don't know what happened with the OP on this thread but to add my story, I had a scan when LMP would have put me at 8+2 (not ivf and I wasn't tracking ovulation). I actually measured 6+1.

2 weeks later baby had grown proportionately and had a good strong heartbeat. By the 12 week scan they'd caught up slightly to 10 days behind the LMP dates instead of 15 and we've remained that way ever since. I'm now 30 weeks.

Just wanted to share that incase it helps at all, hopefully the OP will respond soon with positive news.

I'm in the same boat. Not IVF. Measured 6 weeks when should be 7+5. Was tracking ovulation, don't ovulate late, and also I tested positive quite early on, so I'm sure of my dates. Scan was 3+ weeks ago. Will update as I have my dating scan on Thursday.

Hi yes it was an ivf

I had an early scan, due to a previous ectopic which needed surgery in September, at 6 weeks where they saw good sized sac foetal pole and yolk sac but no heartbeat but said it was still early.

Had another scan on Tuesday and had only grown a couple of mm but this time the sonographer said was tricky to see as was in a corner but there was a clear heartbeat but was measuring behind again and she said to expect the worst.

Another scan on Tuesday as was a heartbeat to see. Am super scared and anxious. Been hoping and praying that all will be OK.

Thanks for your message and your words of comfort 😊

That's a long wait between scans.

My ivf clinic it's weekly unless good news or heartbeat stops 😔

@WaryButHopeful it is. The early scan was a private one though. Unless I have bleeding and/or cramps, EPU won't scan me. I did mention to my midwifery team but this is what they said. I don't have any history of miscarriage either. I think then they'd scan me, or if it were IVF.

What did the sonographer say?

I hope it goes well for you on Thursday. I'm dreading Tuesday 😞

The sonographer just sort of shrugged and said there's a heartbeat when I asked if I should be worried it's measuring 12 days behind🙄
How big is the difference for yours?

Mine is similar to yours. It's about 10 to 11 days but she wasn't too clear about it apart from saying it isn't looking too good. After that I started to cry.
Been a very stressful wait. Trying to cling to hope with every cramp or pregnancy symptom I can feel.

So it wasn't good news for me. For a few days I have brown blood, then today full on bleeding, with clots. I had bleeding in my pregnancy with my son, but this was definitely different, I've miscarried sadly.

Hey I'm so sorry to hear that. Hope you're doing better.

Mine isn't much better news. Been upset most of the day. It's only grown by 4mm in the week but still has a heartbeat which is slow at 70bpm

Not viable and will be referred to EPU.

Give your son lots of cuddles and I hope you recover from all this soon x

@WaryButHopeful i'm so sorry that you're going through this too. 😔