viability scan - baby measuring a week small

[HoneyB11]

I just had my first viability scan (was originally booked next Tues but the clinic kindly brought it forwards because of my anxiety) technically I’m 7 weeks 1 day pregnant but at my scan just now the nurse said the baby is only measuring 6 weeks. She could see the heartbeat and said it was strong and all seemed ok with gestational sack, yolk sack and fetal pole.

But it’s still a concern and she’s referred us to our EPAU to book in another scan for next week.

When I asked about getting more progesterone to last me until 12 weeks, she rather insensitively said she’ll just give us enough to get to the next scan in case I don’t need any more 😢 (as if the cost is an issue!)

Obviously we’re now feeling really anxious and scared that something might be wrong so would really appreciate any advice and to hear any similar experiences.

Thank you,

Lx

[Rella22]

Hi there,Sorry I don't have experience of this but didn't want to pass by your post.

Only input I would provide is that it's always good to be cautious but those scans can be off by a little measurement wise and dates off based on when you thought you ovulated etc. Most important is heartbeat strong, sac etc. Don't panic, go back in a week and you might see it's balanced out.

I wish you every bif of success 🙌

[HoneyB11 in reply to Rella22]

As I was ivf we do know the exact dates - though it was only a day 2 embryo so not sure if it may have taken a bit longer for implantation?! X

[Boo718 in reply to HoneyB11]

Honestly I thought with ivf we knew exact dates …. My ivf baby was 10 days late so dates aren’t exact at all. xxx please try not to worry I know it’s easier said than done xxx

[JA-fnuk Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

As previous post says the most important point is the strong heartbeat ,sac etc . May just be slow starter as it is hard to work out exact dates Hope all goes well with next scan

Take care of yourself

Janet-Partner

[Yellowlove]

Sometimes they don’t realise that the tiniest flippant thing they say can cause the most anxiety in us for a long time. I have read in lots of places that it’s sometimes hard to get exact measurement at 7 weeks and would take solace in the fact that the heartbeat is strong. Good luck for next week lots of love xx

[Hopewhite]

Hi honeyB, i hope you're keeping strong, I can't believe how insensitive that comment was!, I'm so sorry that you're going through this, I've read that if heartbeat and everything else was found ok , hopefully there's time for it to grow and catch up xx, hopefully you'll get to relax after next scan, it's all very tiny at that stage so can be easily missed, also i believe in the EPU is where the expert sonographers are so they have better equipment for doing this type of thing xx, sending you loads of hope and all the best of luck xx

[Twiglet2]

I’m so so sorry I know how anxious you will be, you are right with IVF we know our exact dates but if the nurse measures were off even by a mm or 2 that’s all it takes at this stage to be out a week!

if baby was measuring only 6 weeks and she could see a heartbeat then seeing a heartbeat when it was so small is a positive too.What was measuring 6 weeks was it the fetal pole or the sac? If they see a heartbeat the size of the sac isn’t really so relevant I was told. I had similar and had to go every week for scans for a month (mine didn’t work out well) but I think in that month I’ve read every single article and online forum example out there. I would say there is defo a concern measuring so far behind with IVF but with a strong heartbeat there is defo some hope. My consultant did say embryos do what they want sometimes and come in all shapes and sizes.

the nurse comment it was defo an insensitive way to say it but I wish mine had done the same and took it week by week as I now have a £300 bill for meds I don’t need to add insult to injury with it all!

I’m really hoping at the next scan you get good news, I know it’s almost impossible but try to busy your mind with other things as I nearly drove myself insane until I decided what will be will be 💜 xx

[amydrummo]

hi lovely, I’m sorry I don’t have a positive story but I was a week behind and had a heart beat but at next scan a week later it had stopped growing. I did loads of research at the time and it is possible to be behind but a week is quite a lot. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you x

[sazzle2680]

Hi HoneyB11,

As others have said, baby is very tiny at the moment and mere millimetres inaccuracies in the measurements can throw off the dating by days.

At the early stages of my last pregnancy, baby would curl up, even when he was tiny, so it was incredibly difficult to get an accurate crown-rump measurement, which is what they use.

A strong heartbeat is the most positive sign you can have. Stick in there and stay positive.

Xxx

[Stayinghopeful1]

Hi HoneyB11,

I had a similar experience which didn’t end well but for me the biggest concern at the scan was an enlarged yoke sac as well as measuring behind. When I went to my EPU though, the midwife there told me that they can only be accurate +- 5 days at this early stage so measuring behind on its own doesn’t necessarily mean anything is wrong.

Wishing you luck at your next scan Xxx

[Ginbaby]

So I'm kind of in a similar situation to yourself. I went for a private scan on Monday and we saw a heartbeat and it was measuring at 6 weeks. I started to bleed again on Wednesday and my clinic done another scan but this time it was an internal scan and luckily it still had a heartbeat and was measuring 6w1d. I asked the doctor if it was concerning as I should technically be 7 weeks and she said she had no concerns at all but I cant help but worry. I'm due back on Tuesday for my scan which was my originally viability date. We've got this 🤞. xx

[HoneyB11 in reply to Ginbaby]

I’m trying my hardest to stay hopeful and cling onto the fact she said it was a strong heartbeat and hoping that maybe as it was a day 2 embryo it’s just taken a bit longer to implant! But this is hell!!