Measuring small at first u/s... poor implantation?

[Petunia]

We just had what was supposed to be a 7w ultrasound... everything looked great except baby is measuring at 6w2d. My cycles are a bit longer than the average 28 days, more like 31-32 days... so I know that could account for some of the discrepancy, but it still makes me nervous. So I guess my question is if baby is measuring behind this early, is that an indication of poor implantation? Obviously the next question being is it a very early indication of problems to come?

[angieb]

Unless you know when you ovulated, which it sounds like you don't, then I wouldn't worry too much about it this early.

With DS, I knew EXACTLY when I ovulated, almost down to the hour thanks to fertility treatments, and he measured about 5 days behind for our first ultrasound at 6 weeks, 4 days behind a week later, and by 9 weeks he was exactly on track, by 13 weeks he was measuring several days ahead and continued to get more and more ahead as my pregnancy went on. (He was born at 36 weeks weighing 7.4 lbs.) Our daughter had severe IUGR and so I was really really worried in the early days with DS when he measured behind, and I spent a lot of time worrying about nothing. (I did not get pre-e at all in that pregnancy.)

The baby/embryo is so so little at 6-7 weeks, they are just a few millimeters big on the screen, so even the barest fraction of a millimeter off of the cursor can be the difference of "days" of measurement, that early. More importantly this early, is that you saw a nice strong heartbeat. I would try not to stress too much about measuring behind/ahead this early though! (Easier said than done, I know!)

[MomTimesThree]

I was charting so knew exactly when we ovulated... still at our first u/s at I think 5w5d I measured 4w5d.. a full week behind... I was totally freaked... but like the PP said... millimeters mean days. We're currently 17 weeks with what so far is a very healthy pregnancy! At the next u/s a week later we measured spot on. Crossin' crossables this is your one and only little bump and you have a totally uneventful nine months!

[Shannonlynn]

I would not become alarmed at this time. If anything, you need to stay calm and take care of yourself. It is very early and the doctors will keep a close eye on you. I 'm sure they will work on a plan of action. Like the others have said, if you don't know exactly when you ovulated that could change things. Just breathe mama. We all know where you are coming from.

[aajatwins]

No worrying yet!!
My last pregnancy was similar to Angie's: 1st u/s baby measured 3 days behind. 2nd u/s he measured 3 days ahead. By 30 weeks or so, he was measuring a full week ahead and was born at 39 weeks on the dot weighing 8lbs 13oz!
I think you are safe to relax until later in the pregnancy when the measuring is more exact (and even then, it's not exact ).

[laura]

I seem to remember something my doc said during #1 that all babies grow at the same rate until around~16 weeks, and then things like environment (read: placenta) and genetics start kicking in. It seems like when they're that small they are hard to get good measurements of, and I know that we suspected growth restriction with #2, but it turns out it had more to do with the fact that I had a new ultrasound tech for the 'off' measurement. Hope that helps!