[bhoneycutt]

We had our first ultrasound last Tuesday. They scheduled it for then because they said I'd be 8 weeks along. Then the nurse told me when we were talking (before the doctor came in) that I was 7w4d. I don't know how she came up with that number. (My last period started 1/23 but it was supposed to start 1/16. For some odd reason, I was one week late in January, which was unusual.) Then when the doctor measured the baby, she said I am only 7w0d. She marked "Small for dates" on my form. Should I be worried? What does this mean? Does it necessarily mean there is problem with this pregnancy or could it be that I just ovulated a little later than they think? There was a heartbeat during that ultrasound but when I asked the doctor what the bpm was, she said it was too early to tell something like that. I know that isn't true because other people have found out what their bpm was when they were only 5-6 weeks along.

We miscarried our first pregnancy at eight weeks so I am a frantic mess since tomorrow is my eight week mark with this pregnancy.

[twinzplus3]

It means that the baby is measuring small for how far along you should be. It doesn't automatically mean something is wrong. Perhaps they misunderstood what you were asking about bpm? Or maybe she just didn't want to tell you?

[jkl123]

When do you see the DR again?

[bhoneycutt]

We see the doctor again on 4/15.

[2BoysMomma]

Small for dates is a term doctors and nurses use to size the baby. Standards show the baby should be a certain size each week. At 8 weeks, the baby is measuring 7w which means it is small for the date you are at. This is not so much a major concern as long as the baby is healthy (and mom too). The doctors usually go by the gestational age rather than the expected age because dates can be a little off. This is why they usually do a few sonograms during the pregnancy. It sounds like your ovulation may have been off by a week compared to normal especially if your period was off some, that could be the reason the dates don't match. I don't know if this will help but this site explains it: http://www.babycenter.com/average-fe...h-weight-chart

I think when I was at 9 weeks and 2 days they told me the baby was measuring 8 weeks and a few days but my last sonogram at 18 weeks and one day, the doctor said the baby measureed exactly 18 weeks.

[1stTimeMomOf2]

Nope - not a sign to worry about. My daughter was small for how far along I was for most of the pregnancy. The baby will more than likely catch up and be "normal" size - if not, the baby will just be small and as long as they don't see any other signs of problems then the baby will be okay.

[MikkiG]

This is nothing to worry about. This whole time my little one has been on the small side of normal lol. I actually didn't find this out till 2 weeks ago when my doctor said she was running a little small. It's common to be off a week or so. They can't ever be 100% certain on when it was that you actually conceived the baby. I did look back on my u/s pictures and did see that she was in fact listed at 20weeks and 4days when she should have been 21w and 1day on Dec. 7th and was listed at 24weeks and 1day when she should have been 24weeks and 4days on Dec. 31st. I have less then 4 weeks to go till she is out (hopefully unless she is over the due date). I don't know how big she was at our very first u/s back at the 18 week mark. I had to have more then one only because of a shadow they thought they had seen so even then they weren't at all concerned about her size. If that is all that has been said about it I wouldn't worry to much. I know lol easier said then done. If you are that concerned about it you should talk to your doctor and ask them.

[Alejandros Mommy]

Ditto to what has been said.

One thing that may ease your mind is that the gestational age chart was written ages ago. It does not take into account ethnicty. Some people just have smaller babies then others...also it depends on your body. My body doesn't seem to handle a baby more then 6lbs 4oz. Once both boys reached that I went into labor...one was over due and one a preemie.

[babsandwoo]

please try not to worry ((HUGS)) my first scan at 5+2 showed a sac that was perfect for dates, my next scan a week later showed i was 5+6 and not 6+2. my dating scan showed i was 11+3 and i thought i was 11, I think the scans you have between 10-13 weeks are the most accurate for indicating dates and growth

[bhoneycutt]

Thanks, everyone, for the reassuring posts. I feel much better. I was talking to my husband about it this morning. He reminded me that they said I would be 8 weeks at our initial appt. that was set for 3/21. I had to change our first appt. to 3/18 due to a scheduling conflict. So when we went in on 3/18, I should have been 7w4d. The baby measured 7w0d. Only off by four days, not seven like I had been worrying about. Since my period was screwed up in January (came a week late) maybe that screwed up my ovulation in February. Or maybe I just have a slightly smaller than average baby. I need to stop worrying though because worrying and stressing ain't gonna help my lil' bean any.

Thanks again for all the caring posts.