fetus measuring small?

[jnett]

I had an ultrasound last week which measured my baby at 6 weeks 6 days.  According to my last menstrual period, it should have been 8 weeks (so one week off).  I have longer menstrual cycles, so it could have been a later ovulation/conception...?  Has anyone else measured smaller than expected with good results?

[pcarsey]

I am measuring 2 weeks behind my LMP. And everything is going great with the baby so far. I just ovulated late or something. As I bet you did too. Does your doctor seem concerned? If not and everything seems to be going good, baby with a strong heartbeat and all then I wouldn't worry too much. Good luck to you!!!

Patty

[jnett]

Thank you so much!  I had a miscarriage this spring, so I'm a little jumpy.  How far along are you?

[pcarsey]

Currently, I'm 9 wks 4 days. I too had a miscarriage (tubal pregnancy) in May. So I was a little jumpy and confused for a while too. And.. that is why I ovulated late and why the dates aren't adding up. The first month I had a 45 day cycle and then the next I only had a 25 day cycle. I got pregnant actually on CD32 in August. So yeah, it can be a whole lot confusing. But I think you and baby is doing fine as long as there is a good strong heartbeat and you aren't in extreme pain for some unknown reason or bleeding! So.. CONGRATS!!!

[stephie4]

yes, mine is measuring a week smaller too.   i'm thinking ovulation days were off.

[jnett]

I don't seem my doctor until 11/08, so I don't know if she is concerned.  I've only seen the nurse and ultrasound tech so far.  They acted weird about the small for date fetus, but I don't think they considered that I haven't had 28-day cycles.  I don't think one week off is that big of a deal, but then again, my last pregnancy was smaller than expected on ultrasound and it did not end well. I'll have another u/s on the 8th, so I'll keep you posted. Let me know how your pregnancies go as well. Good luck ladies and babies!

[cpatow]

HI,
Same thing with me. I went in for an u/s at 6wks 3days and they saw no fetal pole or heartbeat so of course I was sad and disappointed. Went in at 7wks 0 days, saw fetal pole and heartbeat and they said I was measuring a week smaller, approx 6 wks. Went back in for another u/s at 9wks 2 days (I think) and the baby measured one week smaller there, too.

They told me as long as the baby CONTINUES to measure consistently one week smaller and doesn't drop off in growth then that's all fine and great. Could be just variances in ovulation dates as mentioned.

I'm 11 weeks today and I go back in a week from today for my major u/s (nuchal test, etc) so I'll post when I know how the baby is measuring then.

Christina

[jnett]

Christina,

Thanks so much for sharing! I've had a successful pregnancy before and don't remember it being this scary at all!  I  also had a miscarriage this spring, which might be why everything is freaking me out.

Please do post a note after your ultrasound next week!

Jeannette

[Snickle_fritz]

I am so glad that I happened upon this blog/website!!!! I have several unsuccessful pregnancies but also have 3 beautiful children.  Just last month found out that I am pregnant (totally) unexpected and just went in for 1st ultrasound...am measuring at 6wks 2 days and according to my dates I should be 8wks. Plus they have found 2 yolk sacs (twins). I go back in one week to see if they grow or if they are just a "troubled" pregnancy.  I pray that they are just small or that the dates are off. It is comforting to hear that this does happen and things to do turn out okay. Thanks for being open and honest with symptoms. -Kristen

[jnett]

Just an update -- I posted this in October.  I am now 24 weeks pregnant with no problems.  The baby is growing fine, but measures consistent with the first ultrasound and not my last menstrual period.  I think I just conceived later in my cycle.  Hopefully that is encouraging for you.

I'm sending positive vibes to your pregnancies.  I know I've seen other posts since mine about measuring differently than your LMP predicts, and often everything turns out just fine.

TWINS!   I know it's hard to be excited when it is still early and things are unsure, but...How exciting!

Jeannette

[Ashley1692]

I also had an ultrasound measure me way off just two days ago.  I have never missed a period in my life and my last date was March 10th, putting me at 10 weeks on Monday, May 19th.  However, no heartbeat was found, sent me down to do an ultrasound, only for the doctor to tell me that my baby was measuring at 5 weeks and 5 days!  Impossible because I found out that I was pregnant 5 weeks and 4 days ago and according to the "weeks" I would have conceived 2 weeks or so after that, meaning, that I would have conceived 3 weeks and 5 days ago, around.  

So we were unable to determine if the baby was still alive at that point because a heartbeat could not be detected.  It has to be 6 weeks along to tell that????  2 days short I guess.  

I have heard of baby's measuring smaller than you think you are, but this is almost way too small.  Anyone had a similar experience?  

[jesslee83]

omg, i hear you!!!!! i am still swearing that i am almost 23 weeks, but baby only measures 18! and it's annoying me b/c i've been faithful to my DF for the whole period of our relationship(well, in oct 2005 i was between him and someone else, but he knew gave me time to decide-there were complications lol-etc all that), and the dr says i HAD to concieve between jan 25-feb 4 of 2008, and i keep screaming NO NO NO, because df wasn't in the country!!! and i missed my period in JANUARY!!! and df is not questioning paternity at all(we're trusting in this area very much so lol), and he agrees with me, that he felt movement at what the dr says would have been only 12 weeks! ok, it may have been gas, but i've felt it also! and i don't get gassy.....and i originally saw a midwife when *I* thought i was around 10 weeks, and she put me at 11.5 +/- days/weeks, with a FHB of 147, but my dr says no she is def wrong and that she doubled MY heartbeat!!!

*******i know this is the 35+ community, i'm only 25, but when i did a search for this, it gave me this thread, sorry********

[andymommy]

I had u/s on 11/11/08 and was told that embryo was measuring 6w4d but by LMP, I should have been 8w5d.  Very nervous.  Have had 2 mc's, last one on 8/15/08-had D&C.  Had one cycle before trying again as I'm not getting any younger.  Dr scheduled another u/s in one week.  Ready to throw up i'm so nervous.  Can dates be off that much?  Especially after a mc.

[Blair815]

Same situation with me.  Went in for ultra s said I was measuring 5 1/2 weeks, but I know my dates  say 7 weeks.  Found a heartbeat in one yolk sack but saw another empty one.  Very upsetting b/c I've already had one micarriage in the spring.  Have another ultra s in 2 weeks, just praying for the best.  It really helps to know we're not alone-it can be very scary.

[Mommy_2b]

MY FETUS is MEASURING TWO WEEKS EARLIER

Hi everyone.  Today I went for an ultrasound.  The doctor told me that according to my first day of my last menstrual period, today I'm 8 weeks and 1 day pregnant.  But he told me that the ultrasound shows only 6 weeks.  Since I got pregnant with the help of fertility treatment (medication and a shot of hormones to ovulate), the fertility doctor says that it can be a sign of that the baby comes with some chromosomal problem such as Down syndrome.  He asked me to go back in a week for another ultrasound to see how the fetus is doing.  He identified the fetal pole, the yolk sach and the heart beating.  

I'm very worried as this would be my first baby and I'm already 34 y.o.  The doctor asked me not to beat myself up and to stay positive.  He told me that what is going to happen will happen and that if something is wrong, mother nature will have a way of gettign rid of this pregnancy and that it would be the best.  Oh, well, I just hope that I get to have a healthy baby either with his pregnancy or a next one.  I will let you know what happened in a week when I see my fertility doctor again for the second ultrasound.  Blessings to everyone.  

[Mommy_2b]

I meant "with THIS pregnancy" and not "with his pregnancy".  Typing mistake.  Greetings everyone.

[Mommy_2b]

Hello everyone!  Well, I'm back to post my update.

Today (9 weeks 3 days pregnant) I went for my second ultrasound with my fertility doctor and he identified that the baby is the same size as last week (6 weeks 1 day) when it was already 2 weeks smaller.

Last week its heart was beating and today it was not anymore.  I got so sad and cried.

Now tomorrow I'm starting the medication to get rid of the dead fetus (1/2 cms.)  I'm thinking of trying again in a few months and hopefully I will be able to have a baby.

Blessings to everyone.

[gene83]

Hi....I am sorry for your loss, i can completely understand what you are going through.  I too went for my first ultrasound last week, baby measured 6 weeks when it should of been 9 weeks, I went back a week later and the u/s tech said baby was even smaller.  They never detected a heartbeat, don't know if fetus was too small or not alive anymore, they don't say much.  I go see my Dr. tomorrow, maybe he will give more details. I have a little hope, but I know it is probably false hope, no bleeding or cramping, just a broken heart.  

[Nickytigerpants]

just want to share my experience: 7.6wks, fetus measuring 6.6wks with heart beat on aprivate scan, diminishing pregnancy symptoms. went to GP, beta hcg dropping, scan showed 7.1wk baby a week later, no fetal heartbeat. anyone rarely posts an outcome so wanted to share mine

[Christinecpht]

First ultrasound was on February 15th. According to my calculations I was 6 Weeks 3 days pregnant. I have never gone in for an ultrasound before 8 weeks pregnant and I did not think they would do an ultrasound that early. When they took me in the room, I could see the monitor and a black hole. I told her I couldn't see the baby. She told me I wasn't far enough along and measured only 5 weeks 5 days along. I am pretty sure I know my cycles and dates so that worried me, but didn't seem to worry the Dr. at all. They said to come back and they'll do another ultrasound.



Anxiously waiting until February 24th, this time the monitor was not turned on and the ultrasound tech didn't say a word for the longest time. Then she said she was trying to get a good measurment on the heartbeat. I asked her, "Is there a heartbeat?" She said, "Yes". Although the baby is only measuring 6 weeks 2 days now, the heartbeat was 108 and again the Dr does not seem worried about anything. I still wonder how accurate the measuring is. If the baby is developing too slow, or if it's just tiny??? I know they can be off a bit with measuring, but it still seems wrong to me. So, Dr says I can come in again for another ultrasound March 3rd.

[Quintenswife2003]

It could be the late implantations ladies

[tracys_40]

I went in for my ultrasound yesterday.  I was suppose to be 17 weeks and 3 days but the baby was measuring 1 week smaller.  I am really worried because I have had 3 miscarriages in a row and I just want a healthy baby.  Is it possible that everything is okay?  I know exactly when my period started and I'm sure exactly when I conceived so my dates should be right.  Tracy

[nyevebebe31]

I went to my obgyn for my first ultrasound today- seen a glimps of heartbeat but had trouble viewing it again. My dates from my last period and the ultrasound measurements do not match- about a week off- should I be worried? My obgyn asked for me to do blood work to check my hormone levels and another in two day because the hormone levels double every two day. I will know something in two days but until then- should I be worried? I am 5 1/2 weeks pregnant according to the ultrasound and I am sure about when my last period was. No bleeding. HELP/

[ChristineMP]

I would not worry at this point. Measurements are not exact...so much depends on the skill of the technician and the quality of the ultrasound...Often the ultrasound machines in an OB office are portable and those do not give the clearest pictures and thus it is more difficult to get accurate emasurements.

The fact that you have a heartbeat is a good sign and means your risk of miscarriage is much lower.

So...relax :) (((hug)))

[tamtam305]

Hi everyone
the same thing happened to me last april and i was pushed into a DnC and ive never forgiven my self since as now id never know. i swear i was only 5 weeks but cause they think they know it all they hounded me to have surgery, my point is i think we know in our hearts and following your own instinks in matter's  like this is the best way sometimes.
take what they say into account of course but if its not ment to be then i feel your body will rid the baby its self, i certianlly would never go for a d n c again.