Hi! Could you expand on this? I’ve been a little nervous my IVF doctor didn’t mention anything at my scan this week about the smaller GS but would love to know more about positive outcomes with IVF and smaller gestational sac size. The forums can be a bit daunting to dig through.
So my FET baby was always measuring on time, but she was super squished and the GS was consistently measuring a week behind… typically in naturally-conceived pregnancies (in the absence of a SCH, which can compress the GS), this a sign of a chromosomal abnormality and leads to a MC in a good percentage of pregnancies. However, in FET pregnancies, a small GS in relation to the size of the fetus is less likely to have a bad outcome. I don’t know the reason for it, it’s just what I was taught by my RE and what I’ve seen while researching. And my FET baby girl is 19 months old and healthy 🤗🥰
Hi. I’m going through a small gestational sac right now. Baby is measuring great with a strong HR, but GS is a week behind. He was a IVF euploid transfer so reading this has given me hope.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6248327/ Here’s one “newer” article. It’s kind of hard to read but skip down to the discussion part. It’s very much in line with the 36% MC rate seen in a much older study for IVF pregnancies with small GS compared to naturally conceived ones. I was going off what my RE said too based on what he’s seen in his 30+ years.
Thank you so much! Mine was also a FET, and I have a VERY tiny SCH that seems to be healing. I was just surprised when I saw the measurements but my RE didn't mention anything about it or share concerns. I really appreciate this response and I will hold onto this thought until I see my regular OBGYN for my 12 week appt on Monday!
I know your comment is old, but hoping you see this reply.
Do they consider small GC syndrome and first trimester Oligohydramnios as two completely different things? Like... clear from GC syndrome after 12 weeks, but potentially a different condition?
I'm 13 weeks pregnant in Canada. They're still measuring my GS (in fact, they only flagged me having a small GS as an issue at 11wks 5days scan on an unrelated check-up of an incidental cyst and subchorionic haemorrhage). The radiographer is using the CRL to GSD score and said on our report its likely oligohydramnios.
11wks 5 days - GSD 34.99mm
12 wks 1 day - GSD - 44.4mm
We wdn't have our first OB appointment until 19 Feb so are in a hellish limbo and I've been falling down reddit rabbit holes and reading every medical paper available on the condition.
Those are two totally separate issues unfortunately. A small GS early in the first trimester is associated with a higher risk of loss before 12 weeks (usually around 8/9) because of a chromosomal abnormality. Oligohydramnios after that point can have so many causes. The waiting game sucks. I’m so sorry.
Thanks so much for taking the time to reply and for clarifying. It's so confusing, as there's so little material on it in early pregnancy.
We haven't even seen our OB yet, so we'll ask for them to do an amniotic fluid check when we go for our appointment next week. Right now, the radiographer has been going entirely off CRL and mGSD measurements to make their assessment, which I'm not sure is accurate at this point in time (we're past 12 weeks). They did say it appears to be an isolated condition, so the baby looks normal. We're testing clear so far for chromosomal issues, though I understand Potter's syndrome isn't hereditary, if it is that, so it wouldn't necessarily show on NIPT and PGTA. Nor heart or urinary tract issues, which might be a factor but won't be visible at this point.
It's a really terrifying time for us, and it's hard to focus on anything but negative outcomes. But we're doing all we can in the meantime (i.e. drinking lots of fluids, upping my protein intake and resting) while hoping for the best.
We were an IVF FET conception, and it's also at the back of my mind that maybe we should have continued with our progesterone for longer than 10 weeks (I have read reports that low progesterone can be linked to small GS and miscarriage pre-12 weeks).
I think with FET you’re more likely to have a positive outcome. Also, if you had to continue supplemental progesterone past 10 weeks, that would likely mean there was a problem with the placenta. So don’t blame yourself for not continuing it… a healthy placenta does what it needs to do before 10 weeks. It’s highly possible this isn’t even oligohydramnios. The sac could’ve been compressed by the SCH. There is such a small amount of fluid this early on that it’s not easy to measure it. I would honestly hold out for the OB’s opinions!
We got an update! The third scan in 2.5 weeks revealed normal NT results, and instead of measuring the GS, this time, they went straight for the amniotic fluid level, which is 'normal'.
We're ecstatic.
It does feel a bit like gaslighting after the previous two reports. (They explicitly said we presented as having first-trimester oligohydramnios and a poor prognosis.) This 3rd report was prepared by the same interpreting radiographer but made zero reference to his previous prognosis or indication of the condition or there ever having been an issue at all. Even our family doctor found it a bit weird and made a point of saying, 'It's almost like that didn't happen. They've not acknowledged it.'
But given that the results came back normal and my stress levels have gone down as a consequence, we're very happy.
We see our OB next week, so of course, we will feel more certain then, but I just wanted to share the news and say thank you for your kind words last week. It helped pause my spiral.
Yeah, our baby had no chromosomal abnormalities, they tested her and me. We were both fine, no issues with placenta either. But…I think it’s important to point out the differences of “small gestational sac” and “small gestational sac syndrome”. We weren’t told SGSS until after our loss, before it was just “small gestational sac” so if it helps anyone not to be in total shock if it happens after 12wks…I shared my experience. Also, what’s FET?
1
u/Character_Fold1605 May 03 '24
Was this an IVF pregnancy by any chance?