6+5 but only gestational sac measuring <5 weeks – honest opinions?”

[BoldReader]

Hi all, I’m hoping for some honest opinions as I’m really in my head and struggling.
I have a daughter born 2023 and I’ve had 2 previous missed miscarriages (may & Oct 2025- both at 10w but measuring between 6/7w, heartbeat seen before 2nd mmc), so I’m finding this pregnancy quite anxiety-inducing from the start.
My LMP was 13th Feb. I got my first positive on cycle day 29 (faint), and lines progressed after that, clearblue digital progressed to 3+. My hCG also rose (151 → 517 over 6 days), so things initially seemed okay.
I had an early scan today where, based on LMP, I should be around 6+5. However, they could only see a gestational sac measuring just under 5 weeks, with no yolk sac.
They’ve booked me for a repeat scan next week, but didn’t say much else.
I know dates can be off, and I may have ovulated late (possibly around CD19–21), but I’m struggling to work out if that would explain this much of a discrepancy.
I suppose I’m just looking for honest experiences:

• Has anyone had a scan like this that turned out okay?
• Or does this sound more like things are not progressing as they should?

I’d really appreciate honesty rather than false reassurance — I just want to prepare myself either way. Thank you 🤍

A late ovulation could explain it, especially with only having a faint positive at cycle day 29.

I would not count myself out yet, but also be trying to keep my expectations low. So sorry you're going through this. The waiting and not knowing is the worst part.

Thank you so much for you reply. Hard to stay positive after the 2 MMC but I was really hoping this time would be different. I've had the recurrent miscarriage blood tests and everything was normal so I just don't know what changed between having my daughter and now. Thank you again

So LMP 13th Feb
Faint BFP CD29 (14th March), so that could be 8dpo at earliest.
If 14th March is 8dpo, you ovulated on 6th March, which makes you 5+3 today. The scan could therefore only be 4 days out.

The yolk sac can apparently sometimes be seen around 5 weeks, but not always (according to Google).

So I guess the answer is it's possible, but in your shoes I would be cautiously hopeful rather than confident. Hope it turns out okay.

Thank you for your reply💕 I think if I counted right cd29 would be 11th march, not sure if that makes a difference

Hi all,
Just wanted to update after my scan today as I really appreciated all the replies before ❤️
This time they were able to see a yolk sac and a fetal pole, measuring around 5+6. There wasn’t a heartbeat yet.
Based on my LMP I thought I’d be a bit further on, but I do tend to ovulate later (around day 18–21 of a 30–32 day cycle), so I’m wondering if that could explain things slightly.
Compared to my scan last week (where it was just a sac measuring under 5 weeks), it does seem like there’s been roughly a week’s worth of development, although I know early measurements aren’t always exact.
They’ve asked me to come back in a week for another scan.
Trying to stay realistic but also taking some reassurance from the fact there has been progression. Feeling very in limbo again though, especially after previous losses.
Has anyone had similar at this stage — measuring behind and no heartbeat yet — and had a positive outcome?
Thank you again for all the support 💛

@BoldReader I am so happy this worked for you. Sadly I hated the exact same and they are certain it’s a blighted ovum but I am really happy to see your outcome. Don’t know why but for some reason it makes me feel less bad.

For me it wasn't good news. I wasn't tracking so didn't know my exact ovulation date but my hyperemesis had started just after 4 weeks so I knew it was unlikely that being 10 days behind was good, they could see a heart beat though so there was a little hope. I was brought back for a scan 2 weeks later and there was no heartbeat and growth of less than 2 weeks. They confirmed the loss at scan a week later and I naturally passed the pregnancy the next day. It was my second miscarriage at 10 weeks in 6 months but at ~6 weeks gestation. 10 weeks after this loss, however, I started to feel nauseous again. I hadn't had my period so I took a test, got a pretty decent positive. I did a clear blue week's test and quickly got a 3+. The epu did a HCG test which was 100,000 and a scan the next day which was 8+3 and a beautiful heartbeat. He is now 7 months old.