GHOST- Early US Question

[blairwh58]

I had my first US friday at what I thought was 6wk2days (according to estimated date of LMP- since I didnt have one). NP saw a gestational sac that measured 5wk5d was 11.2mm and was in my uterus. She said for that estimate of 5wk5d things looked good and since we didnt know the implantation date it could be right on track. She didnt mention seeing the yolk sac, and from everything Ive read she should have seen it with the gestational sac measuring 11.2mm. She said to stay cautiously optimistic and come back Wed or Thurs of this week for a followup US (I of course picked Wednesday). Am I freaking out for no reason or should I be worried about what we saw? I havent really had cramps. Symptom wise my boobs are extremely sore and i get full very fast. Please advise- DH says I am freaking out for no reason but I just want to be prepared either way.

[patatina]

I just had your same experience in July: a 6w2d ultrasound showing a large empty sac. Your clinic seems to be handling it responsibly in that they aren't taking away your hope for a viable pregnancy--my clinic was very doom-and-gloom at this point. Well, I'm now 23 weeks along with that "empty sac" from July. She came into full view in my second ultrasound at 7w2d--yolk sac, fetal pole, heartbeat and all, just measuring a couple days behind, probably from a late implantation. PLEASE try not to worry. Check out the other thread "Is there still hope?"--some other ladies are going through this same thing right now. Fie on the early ultrasound!!!

[blairwh58]

Patatine- Thanks so much for your post and inspiring story. Do you remember how big your sac measured? I have been looking at the US pic and hoping when I go Wednesday its progressed.

[patatina]

At 6w2d (dates certain) the sac measured 18.5mm, which was absolutely huge. I imagine your normal measurements are more reassuring. Maybe that's why my clinic was so pessimistic, and why they felt they had to prepare us to lose the pregnancy. But once we had our 3rd ultrasound at 8w2d, my husband and I no longer felt worried at all. And now we have a small kickboxer in my belly whose ultrasounds and screens have all gone great.

I'll be hoping the best for you.

[riogirl71]

Blair - I see you are worrying yourself sick much like me. I had a 5w4d US and my sac was shown but could not see anything in there. It measured 7mm which now makes me think it was way too small. I got back Thursday. The internet is a blessing and a curse. Many stories of people not seeing anything and then a week or two later there is a baby! Also stories about a blighted ovum which is cruel because your body thinks you are pregnant your hormones act up and there is no baby. I am in the same boat but I decided that there is a baby in there. If there isn't, I will be devastated and deal with it. But for my peace of mind right now I have to think positive that there was a sac, and it was in a good place in my uterus. About 4 months ago we went through hell with an ectopic pregnancy and I hope that this time I am blessed. I hope you can keep the PMA too and that you can see your baby on Wednesday.

[blairwh58]

You are right- I do need to stop worrying but I guess its just not in my nature. And with the luck we have had I am nervous to think the best. We have been trying for so long and this is the closest we have gotten so I need to hold out hope that its because it worked this time. I had good betas and there was something on the US so I need to keep telling myself that. I guess I will start thinking like you and since there was a sac and in a good place I should be happy. Just hoping that me being anxious doesnt meant I scheduled the US too early. She offered Wed or Thurs so of course I opted for the sooner one...but looking back I guess a day would have added growth. Oh well. Not too much longer until Wednesday and seeing my little bean.

[Ghost]

I had my first US friday at what I thought was 6wk2days (according to estimated date of LMP- since I didnt have one). NP saw a gestational sac that measured 5wk5d was 11.2mm and was in my uterus. She said for that estimate of 5wk5d things looked good and since we didnt know the implantation date it could be right on track. She didnt mention seeing the yolk sac, and from everything Ive read she should have seen it with the gestational sac measuring 11.2mm. She said to stay cautiously optimistic and come back Wed or Thurs of this week for a followup US (I of course picked Wednesday). Am I freaking out for no reason or should I be worried about what we saw? I havent really had cramps. Symptom wise my boobs are extremely sore and i get full very fast. Please advise- DH says I am freaking out for no reason but I just want to be prepared either way.

Does not sound like much cause for concern. She did not mention a yolk sac... But did she actually say there wasn't one?

Breast tenderness is a side effect of progesterone. It is not a good indicator of the health of an IVF pregnancy. It comes and goes.

[patatina]

Riogirl - is a 7mm gestational sac actually considered small for 5w4d? The fact that our sac was so huge at 6w2d was a bad sign, according to our RE. It seemed to signal that there had been a quick implantation which should have resulted in a visible yolk sac and embryo by then.

Best of luck.

[riogirl71]

Patatina - in some places I hear anything over 5 mm, some other places that it should be 11 mm now. One of the posts here indicate that as long as you are over 12mm by day 33dpo then you are ok, that would mean my sac has to grow 5 mm in 7 days (avg growth is 1mm/day) so it is weird because the internet is full of misleading info. It is different everywhere I look. Again I am so grateful for you posting such a wonderful and hopeful story!

[blairwh58]

Rio- here we go again worrying ourselves. Just wanted to let you know I read something that to calculate how far along you should take the size of the gestational sac plus 30 (30 days=4wks). For example mine was 11 so I add that to 30 and it would make me 5wks5day, If yours was 7mm then yours would be 5wks. I read somewhere else that for 5wks it should be 6mm and 6 wks should be 14....so sounds like you were right in there. Try to keep a PMA!!! Just keep telling yourself there is nothing you can do now but enjoy being pregnant. You get to see your little one in 2 days so I will try to help you stay positive until then.

[riogirl71]

Blair - That would put me 4 days behind since I was 5w4d and it was 7mm. But right now I am trying not to worry about mm, I just hope my OB is more together when we do the next US so I don't catch that look of "oops" on his face! I want a look of "wow" this is great! I am glad I have you to help me with the PMA! Tomorrow is your big day to see your baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mellow4]

Rio, all of my pregnancies have measured 3-5 days behind in the first weeks after conception...nothing to worry about. Sometimes they just start out slow, and then they catch up or stay a few days behind. Try not to worry. Just a couple more days...then you will have your answer. I have a feeling it will be a good one.

[riogirl71]

Thank you mellow for all your prayers and support, I hope you are right! And Blair tomorrow is your big day!

[patatina]

Blair, I just posted this for you on the other thread, but I feel it's important enough to post in two places so you'll be sure to see it. Please, please read it:

I am so sorry for your news, but forgive me if I don't agree with your RE. I don't see why you should stop your meds or give up hope--yet. If your transfer was Nov. 8, then you're at 6w2d (right?), which is exactly when I had my first ultrasound showing an empty sac. My large sac was considered a bad sign. Is your sac within normal range for your dates? We had much worse betas than yours, we stayed on our meds, and at 7w2d we saw everything, and now I'm 23 weeks along with a healthy baby. Obviously I have no expertise, just my own limited experience, but at a site called "Misdiagnosed Miscarriage" there are tons of hopeful stories like mine. It really does happen. Remember the vast majority of healthy pregnancies are not monitored at this time either. They might show "empty" sacs at 6 weeks too--who knows?

Of course it's possible, maybe even likely, that you'll miscarry. I don't want to give you hope if you'd rather move on. I just happen to believe that hope is better than despair, even when your odds are not fantastic. My odds were not fantastic. Please consider asking your RE if you can stay on the meds for another week.

[riogirl71]

I posted more on the November thread but I completely agree with patatina!