7-week ultrasound: fetus is "smaller than we'd like" and I'm terrified

[corgikelly]

Before I start worrying myself sick googling, I thought I'd see if anyone had positive experiences that will make me feel better.

I went for my first ultrasound today (7 weeks exactly). The good news is that we saw a fetus and heard a heartbeat (well, actually, the technician did - I saw a grayish blob and heard something that sounded like intestinal gas). Bad news is that the technician said the fetus is a bit smaller and the heart rate slower than she'd expect at 7 weeks.

So I have to go back in a week for a followup to see how things are developing.

I haven't had any bleeding, and all my bloodwork has been good. But I'm worried sick...first pregnancy at age 37, and I just keep calculating the odds and freaking myself out.

Has anyone had a slow starter that turned into a normal pregnancy?

Corgikelly, DON'T start googling!

The technician may just mean that you're dates could be wrong? i.e not as far along pregnancy as you thought.

I know it must be hard but focus on the positives, there was a fetus and it had a heartbeat

Good luck.

Like IMM said, there WAS a foetus and a heartbeat, so that gives you a good chance.
Fingers crossed for you.

No point worrying yourself, nothing you can do anyway, so you might as well try and stay in the positive.

WBM

Are you sure of the dates? A week or two makes a big difference in the early stages.

How are you feeling? Any nausea?

SIL was told that the baby was a bit small right from the start, she was born 4 weeks ago and is still a tiny little thing.

Thanks for the positive thoughts (and the anti-google messages!). Because I conceived with IUI, we know to the hour, basically, how old the the foetus is.

I am definitely trying to focus on the positives and when the clinic calls with my bloodwork results this afternoon, I will actually ask the questions I was too freaked out to ask the technician HOW big is the fetus? WHAT was the heart rate exactly? At least that will give me grounds for comparison (and for googling, if I do go down that slippery slope). Plus, the technician didn't speak much French and my Flemish is rubbish.

No nausea -- the only pregnancy symptom I've had has been fatigue, and I'm someone who glories in a nap even when I'm not pregnant!

I almost felt as though i had written your message.
With IUI you might know when fertilization took place but not implantation! I went for an early scan at 6+4 weeks and the scan measured me 5 weeks. I went back for another scan a week later and it was again a week behind my dates. I'm not at 20 weeks and the bub has caught up on the dates.
I know how hard it is not to worry and i still worry every day and panic before each scan, so i understand!