measuring small at early ultrasound?

[porcelina]

Hi,

I am wondering if anyone may have experience with this. I have a history of miscarriage (at 5.5 weeks), missed miscarriage (stopped growing at 6 weeks, resolved with misoprostol, horrible experience, around 9 weeks), one ectopic (tube saved), and then one normal pregnancy (with some fertility assistance).

I have now become pregnant naturally (no fertility assistance) and had an early scan to check for a normal location to rule out ectopic. At 5 2/7 weeks, I was measuring 5 weeks, and the pregnancy was observed in the right place. I had a follow up scan at 6 3/7 weeks. At this scan, the baby was measuring 5 6/7 weeks. They were not able to make out a heartbeat, though they saw something that they thought *might* have been flickering. I am very concerned, given my history. First, I had an early scan during my normal pregnancy that was measured as 6 5/7 weeks when I was 6 2/7. I have very regular and relatively short (27-28 day) periods, so I have no reason to believe I ovulated late. Second, the growth from one scan to the next was measured at 6 days instead of 8.

The doctor is not concerned, because she said the growth from one scan to the next was normal, and it is still measuring within the range of normal for my dates. She said it would be unusual to see a heartbeat at this stage of development since the fetal pole was only measuring 2.7, which is apparently associated with there only being a bit of flickering, not actual heart beating...However, I have not even been able to see my doc yet since it was a new provider. I can't complain -- they've been proactive about following it closely, but I haven't been able to express my concerns directly to the doctor. The sonographer was not too concerned, because he said it could have just been the position of the baby that made it hard to see any heartbeat. Now I have to wait a week until the next scan to see what is going on.

Anyway, my question is, has anyone had early scans for two separate pregnancies, and seen different rates of growth?? Or should I just give up hope?

[2sweetboysmom]

First off, a big hug for you I also have had many losses and know the anxiousness you are feeling.
Yes I have had babies (in pregnancies which went to term) measure differently with scans at similar times. Keep hope.
The days seem so long in the early moments of a pregnancy. Take a deep breath.

[Realrellim]

I don't know if this is helpful or not, but both DD and the one I'm carrying now measured small even at the 7 week u/s. DD measured about two or three days behind what her actual gestational age was (I was charting so I'm quite certain about her "real" due date). This one measured at least two days behind her/his gestational age at 7 weeks too, and once again, I was charting so it's not a matter of late ovulation.

But, I'm tiny and grow small babies (the current one measured 12th percentile at 29 weeks and is likely to keep dropping before all is said and done) so I don't know that I'm a useful indicator of anything.

I would guess that your situation is normal and you should have more definitive answers in a week or two.

[MaerynPearl]

with DD I had to have several early ultrasounds... due to not being sure when I got pregnant. The first one was around 3 1/2 weeks (not kidding, got my bfp at 6dpo) and it showed nothing.

Went back around the beginning of 5 weeks and saw where the baby was but no baby... beginning of 6 weeks, saw baby but no heartbeat, by the beginning of 7 weeks.. baby, heartbeat, all that. The dates jumped around at each US by a few days and finally we decided on my EDD by averaging them out. Babies do not grow by the book. They just dont do that, its not in their genetics to grow x amount each day. They grow when they are good and ready to, so measuring a couple days off isn't really a big deal. A week or more off, that would likely become an issue... but growing at textbook 6 days amount in 8 days... thats really quite normal.

However seeing the flickering sounds like a GREAT sign and I am sure you will see a strong heartbeat at your next!

[porcelina]

Thanks, ladies, for the support! It is indeed so hard to breathe easy these early days of pregnancy. In addition to this pregnancy measuring almost a full week behind my one that went to term, I was also convinced my symptoms had gone away at 6 weeks. But, then I convinced myself that my severe nausea at the time was actually due to a mild stomach flu, because I also had another typical symptom of stomach flu (to remain unnamed, TMI) plus a fever one night of 101.5, which I know can be dangerous to baby -- I got it down within a couple of hours, though. I still feel almost no symptoms, no changes, no stretching in the uterus or anything. No nausea, only mild tiredness (nothing like the bone tired I remember from last pg), etc. I constantly go back and forth between being hopeful that there's a chance, and then pessimistic. Have to wait until Friday for the next scan, so I guess I just have to do my best to remain calm. Thanks again!

[etsdtm99]

based on your scans i would be very hopeful! those measurements/dates sound well within the range of normal .. i know its hard not to freak out.. i'm not even having early u/s this time because they make me freak out as much as they comfort me.. figure ifi 'm going to freak out, i might as well save my $$ and wait it out.. (no history of ectopic here though, i would want to check on that in your situation)