I just had my first ultrasound (I think I am 6w6d) and they have me at 6w1-2d I am very confident of my dates. There was a heartbeat of 126. Can early ultrasounds be off? I'm pretty nervous because my son always measured on track but my first ultrasound with him was at almost 9 weeks.
Any insights or experiences?
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@crazydoglady:
It can definitely be off, that's a difference of a couple of mm, and the quality of the equipment or skill of the tech may just not be there to get a measurement that precise. The heart rate is great and much more indicative.
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@periwinklebee: Is that a good heartbeat? She said that it "sounded" like a 6w1d heartbeat but everything i see says that 126 is good for even 7 weeks so I am not sure. Thanks for your insights.
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Agree with @periwinklebee: ultrasounds that early can be off. I measured 5 days behind at my first ultrasound with my dd - that was around 7w - they told me 50/50 (it was at the MFM so i think they had good equipment) and had me come back in 2w. Then i measured st my due date which was 10 days ahead of two weeks earlier (and 5 days ahead of ovulation) so definitely stay cautiously optimistic
When do you go back?
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I think it's good
- there's a nice table here: https://expectingscience.com/2015/08/26/lies-damned-lies-and-miscarriage-statistics/ which in general is an awesome article about early pregnancy.It's in the highest category for 6+3 to 7:
>120: 6.5% chance of miscarriage
110-119: 18% chance
101-109: 43% chance
< 100: 100% chance -
They measured me 6w1d when I felt I was 7w1d. DH and I only DTD once the month I conceived (I was traveling for work) so I was 100% certain of the day.
She's now a happy healthy 4 year old who was born 1 day after the Dr's adjusted due date.
Try not to worry, its still quite early!
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@bhbee: I go back in 2 weeks
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@crazydoglady: oh good! I know even that is hard to wait but by then youβll have a much better view of things. Iβm glad you donβt have to wait any longer. Wishing your little bean all the sticky dust!
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With my daughter, I measured 5 days behind (I was quite certain of my dates due to my BBT, OPKs, and the fact that I would have gotten a positive HPT 5 days after ovulation if their dating was correct). The doctor admitted that the ultrasounds were accurate +/- 5 days but still gave me some doom and gloom speech about how I had a 50% chance of this being a good pregnancy (so comforting after having come off two consecutive losses). I was instructed to come in a week later to confirm that the growth was consistent, which it was. My daughter was born healthy and I had an easy pregnancy after that. Sending all my good thoughts and vibes your way!
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I measured behind with my second pregancy (but a full week behind) and my doctor assured me that if there was a heartbeat there was only a 5% chance of miscarriage. There's such a huge margin of error on the measurements also - the baby is so tiny at that point that just a small difference in measurement can be a few days' worth of growth. My pregnancy did end in loss but the heart rate was much lower than 126.
ETA - I posted a thread about this exact thing a few months ago if you want to look through my posts. There were many, many reassuring stories.
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@periwinklebee: This is really interesting and it's something I've never seen before. My miscarriage occurred in that range with a heartbeat between 101-109 but my doctor thought my fears were unfounded.
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@crazydoglady: I'm 9w right now--I chart and my charts are like a german army; I am completely confident of my ovulation date. I went in right after New Year's Day for the first scan at 6w6d, and I was measuring 6w1d. The OB told me the heartbeat was 120, but I later noticed on the little printout that it said the heartbeat was 112. She thought it was a good visit and in the range of perfectly normal, I thought it was not good. Then my husband told me to stop thinking that I knew more than the OB because I read TCOYF and I tried to listen to him, which is hard because I'm a control freak
I waited two weeks, and went back at 8w6d--at that visit (which was this past Tuesday) I was measuring exactly 8w6d. My OB didn't even measure the heartbeat, she has been doing this for 25 years and can eyeball it by listening, and she said it was good, and I believe her. So I understand completely why this makes you nervous, but at least at my OB's office, if you're +/-4 days, they don't worry, it is *really* hard to get a completely accurate measurement that early. I would feel totally good about a 126 hb, that is completely in the normal/happy land -
You can be absolutely positive when you conceived, but the amount of time in implant can really vary. Did you get a positive pregnancy test fairly late? If so, the egg might have just taken it's good sweet time to implant. With my first pregnancy it implanted very late and I didn't get a positive test until 18 dpo. This pregnancy there was literally only once I could've conceived. Baby implanted right away and I had a positive by 8dpo and am measuring ahead. I wouldn't worry
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I measured 6wks exactly at my 6+3 appt and we couldn't even hear a hb just saw a flicker. She measured behind by a few days for another few weeks and with IUI we were at least fairly certain of dates. At 6+6 we had a hb of 125. She caught up by 10 wks and at my nt scan she was measuring a few days ahead.
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@Pollywog: I actually didn't test until 18 dpo, so I have no idea.
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Thank you all for the reassurances.
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@periwinklebee: Thanks for finding that info for me. I really appreciate it. I hope baby boy will be here soon!
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@LCTBQE: Thanks for your info and humor.
My husband was like, "the doctor isn't worries so it's fine!" And our doctor is extremely blunt.
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@crazydoglady: I know, sometimes I want to grab men by the shoulders and be like, it's not that simple, pollyanna!!! But they do have a good point in this instance. And I hope it's reassuring to you that your OB doesn't sugarcoat things and is treating this as normal
hang in there and keep us posted.
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@Pollywog: yes, this is a *great* nuanced point. I had a late implanter this time around and I wonder if that informed measuring behind at the very early scan. Wonder if that's responsible for a lot of the variation that OBs disregard.
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@LCTBQE: Gotta love the "Glad Game."
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@skinnycow: I had a similar experience. The us tech told me that it was very concerning that the hb was on the low side and that usually that meant it wouldn't be viable. I was seeing an RE at the time, who told me the tech was wrong and it was perfectly normal. So I went and read a lot of stuff and in our case the tech was right. Same doctor told me when I came back a week later and hb was even slower that it was fine again - then when I asked about the statistics he was like "oh, sure, ok, do you want me to have the hospital's chaplain call you."
@crazydoglady: The hb is awesome - so hopeful for you!
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@crazydoglady: I was just in your shoes for the past two weeks, so I am 100% empathetic to how you feel right now--but gently suggesting if possible that you try to re-frame this as a "good" or "pretty good" ultrasound--maybe not really good like you hoped, but *certainly* better than neutral, and obviously not bad. It doesn't guarantee the future will turn out right, but remind yourself that you had a perfect heartbeat and are measuring well within the range of normal. PS recommend binge-watching a netflix, distraction is the name of the game
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@LCTBQE: Thank you.
I've just been reading along with HB long enough to see it not turn out well. My husband was like, "I think the "doctor" and I both thought it was a good ultrasound...whats going on with you?" It freaked me out when she wanted to change my EDD but it's not like it's set in stone.
I think having two losses before my son is rearing its ugly head right now and so I am trying to be optimistic and just freaking let it go, but it's hard.Sorry this is so rambly.
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Wanted to update that I went back today and baby has totally caught up! A HB of 180 and measuring a day ahead!!! I am SO SO SO relieved. Here's our gummy bear.
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@bhbee: @LCTBQE: Whoops! Meant to tag you in an update.
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@crazydoglady: Yay! I'm so glad things are going well! Hopefully you can start to relax a little with this pregnancy - though I know it is never easy! Sending all my good thoughts and vibes your way!
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@crazydoglady:
Iβm so happy for you! I had been hoping to see an update today! Hope you have a wonderful weekend with that gummy bear -
yay wonderful news!!
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@crazydoglady: omg yayyyyyyy!!!!!!!! Fantastic news
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@Shantuck: @bhbee: @nana87: @LCTBQE: Thank you!! I finally feel good about things!
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It's a 4 day difference. I wouldn't worry about it.
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@alphagam84: I just updated. Babe is ok.
I waited two weeks, and went back at 8w6d--at that visit (which was this past Tuesday) I was measuring exactly 8w6d. My OB didn't even measure the heartbeat, she has been doing this for 25 years and can eyeball it by listening, and she said it was good, and I believe her. So I understand completely why this makes you nervous, but at least at my OB's office, if you're +/-4 days, they don't worry, it is *really* hard to get a completely accurate measurement that early. I would feel totally good about a 126 hb, that is completely in the normal/happy land 
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