Anyone have a fetus with a short femur bone? UPDATE

[Blue Moon]

I mentioned in a thread on GotPregnant, but my anxiety is ramping up and I'm looking for more reassurance.  My OB's office just called and told me that my baby's femur was measuring short on my last two scans (28 weeks and 20 weeks).  I was told all was fine after each scan, and I'm not sure why my OB was looking at them again now at 29.5 weeks.  She wants me to go to MFM to have it checked.  It could be an indication of a chromosomal issue or it could be nothing.  But I googled of course and freaked myself out.  Was anyone else told this? 

Also, I'm pretty sure it's unrelated but I also found out I failed my 1 hour gestational diabetes screen.  I feel like I was just starting to get settled with this pregnancy (PGAL) too. 

Update:
I met with MFM this morning.  The doctor was basically not concerned at all and said baby seems to be developing perfectly fine!  I'm so relieved.  His femur bone measured in the 6th percentile, and unless it's under 5th percent it's not even officially considered short.  So basically my OB was just acting out of an abundance of caution because his femur length was 10%, then 8%, and now 6%.  But still within the range of fine.  I'll continue to be monitored with a growth scan at 32 weeks to make sure all continues to be fine.  Thanks so much for sharing all of your stories and anecdotes!

[chickadee77]

Oh, man Blue Moon. No experience with this, but I'm sorry you're having a rough week. I hope someone else can weigh in with something positive.

That said, I've gone to MFM for AMA, and it was actually pretty reassuring. They see EVERYTHING come through their offices, it seems, and have a pretty good gauge on what needs to be monitored and what is NBD.

Hugs to you - I hope you get some quick, happy answers and that you pass your next GD test with flying colors!

[sju1982]

No experience, just wanted to says hugs! And I'm sure it's fine. There are no other markers, right?

And ugh, sorry about the GD test. I'm pretty sure that the majority of people go on to pass the 3-hour.

[mekia]

Both of my babies' femurs measured short in comparison to the rest of their bodies. MIL says it's a Norwegian thing- tall torso, but short legs. Everyone in my H's family has this body type.

But I was not referred to anyone.

I hope this is all it is for you and that you'll be reassured at the MFM.

[Blue Moon]

Feb 27, 2017 11:47:32 GMT -5 sju1982 said:

No experience, just wanted to says hugs! And I'm sure it's fine. There are no other markers, right?

And ugh, sorry about the GD test. I'm pretty sure that the majority of people go on to pass the 3-hour.

Thank you! No other markers. NT scan and quad screen all were normal. Normal anatomy scan, and normal growth ultrasound at 28 weeks (because of scar tissue.) 

[polarbearfans]

I'm so sorry you are going through this. First, stay off google. It will cause all kinds of worry. It is tough but try to stay calm. There are many levels of ultrasounds with some more detailed than others. I had to have growth scans every 6 weeks and I saw first hand how some machines were more detailed than others, and even then still can be off. I was told the baby was measuring small barely 6lbs... she came out nearly 8lbs at 39 weeks 3 days.

Try to relax until your appointment and even then don't stress if the doctors are not concerned.

[luv2rn4fun]

No experience but wishing you all the best. We had an issue with L at the anatomy scan that required follow up with the MFM. All other genetic tests were low risk and the follow up showed it was NBD. It sure was stressful waiting though. I hope your little guy is ok...praying for you and him. ((Hugs))

[Bernadine]

My hair stylist was pg when I was- the baby showed several markers for chromosome issues, but was just fine.

Good luck!

[miamigirl]

No specific experience, but hoping everything turns out ok.

DD had a soft marker during her 20 week appointment and we had to have additional scans, it ended up not being an issue. But I totally understand the anxiety.

[kate1482]

This happened to my best friend with her last pregnancy. She ended up getting the cell free blood test for extra assurance + saw a MFM for more detailed scans. (No other soft markers). It was super stressful but turned out everything was ok. Her healthy son just turned 2 in November. I hope you get some answers soon! Good thoughts headed your way.

[statgirl]

My first had short little legs in utero--still does at 4. No issues and perfectly healthy. I never got sent to the MFM, but my OB was the ultimate in relaxed (I never had a formal anatomy scan although I had 4 or more ultrasounds in each pregnancy, mainly for reassurance and because I think my OB liked the quiet). His legs routinely measured 2 or more weeks behind, while his head measured 2 or more weeks ahead (so a big difference). He does have a big head.

Lots of good thoughts to you. I also failed my 1 hour glucose test with my second, but passed the three hour one. And--by failed, I mean spectacularly failed so bad that even the relaxed OB (whose cutoff was 20 points higher than all the other OB's in the area) even said that he would normally say to take the 1 hour one again, but I might just as well take the 3 hour one because I had GD. Nope--just a wonky gallbladder that was messing up all my digestive system.

[lillaguma]

Yes, DD's femurs were measuring really small at one point (4th percentile, I think.) We were having monthly growth ultrasounds. She had a few other soft markers for problems - a two vessel umbilical cord, some cysts near the brain at the anatomy scan, we had to get an echocardiogram while she was still in utero and she has a tiny hole in her heart. Lots of scary stuff (I was staying away from googles as much as possible!) but she turned out totally fine. Her femurs just seemed to be on a different growth track, because they caught back up.

My advice is just to trust your doctor as much as you can. My doctor kept telling me she was not concerned, despite wanting a closer look at some of these things. I'm glad I trusted her and didn't freak out, because everything was fine. Best of luck!

[CloudBee]

My high school bff experienced this with her first pregnancy. All of her child's limbs measured short until the day of delivery. Then he came out perfect. She did have to go for extra ultrasounds and testing along the way.

[sometimesrunner]

I think @bigreddog may have had this issue.

The downside of technology is that now we see so many things (and thus worry about things) that resolve on their own. So many hugs to you.

[Purple]

Hugs and crossing fingers everything turns out ok. Google is the worst!

[fryjack2]

One of my twins did. They never really were ever on the charts. We saw a MFM for many other issues and ultimately, at 5 years old, he is tiny but fine.

Im sorry you are going through this. Pregnancy is stressful enough as it is without technology adding an additional layer of stress. Its amazing how far its come but also so frustrating. Our the twin was thought to have DS ( a few markers in utero) and it was a long long wait for genetic testing to come back fine.

I hope all goes well at the MFM appointment.

[katie80]

My cousin did. Her son is totally fine- a little small, but we aren't a big family generally, so that was expected anyway. I'm not sure what additional tests they did while she was pregnant, but I know there was something (helpful, I know).

Good luck- I know how stressful it is, but it sounds like youre in good hands

[bcv513]

C's femur percentile was always way lower than her other measurements. She was around the 50th for most thing but somewhere in the teens for femur. I got monthly growth ultrasounds because I have Crohn's anyway. She's totally fine and now 97% for height! She definitely has a long torso and shorter little legs.

[estrellita]

No experience but thinking of you and hoping everything turns out to be just fine!

And on the GD thing, most people end up passing the 3 hour but if you don't, feel free to PM me! I had it with E.

[spunbutterfly]

I did. I got the radiologist report back and it said it and then noted that it's a sign of Downs. I had a nervous breakdown and called my midwife's office in a panic.

We had, for the record, already done a genetic test at 10 weeks due to AMA and it had come back clear.

In any case, my midwife assuaged my fears and mentioned the genetic test, also pointed out that my husband and I are short and that it is likely our child is just short. She also mentioned the measurements are normalized for white babies, so being Asian the US norms in measurements don't necessarily apply to us. My second child is perfect. So freaking perfect, other than being sick for the entire month of January and February.

Good luck. I cried for a good hour even after talking to the midwife I was so wound up.

[boiler717]

Not this issue but we had others that required follow up with MFM. It's so tough call thinking of you.

[Blue Moon]

Thank you so much for all the responses and good thoughts. With so many of you having been through it, it's very reassuring to know it's not as abnormal as I thought. As I type now, baby is kicking his short little femur furiously at my tablet that is resting on my bump :-)

[noradog]

Feb 27, 2017 20:16:33 GMT -5 Blue Moon said:

Thank you so much for all the responses and good thoughts. With so many of you having been through it, it's very reassuring to know it's not as abnormal as I thought. As I type now, baby is kicking his short little femur furiously at my tablet that is resting on my bump :-)

I accidentally clicked on this thread (not a mom), but went ahead and read it since it was open. I have no experience, but your post about his short little femur kicking made me smile.  Then I felt weird for liking with no comment.

[kershnic]

At my anatomy scans (I had a lot...) I kept looking at the screen and being like "why are the limb measurements so short?? isn't it a problem that they're marking the gestational age way lower than either actual gestation or the head/abdomen circumfrences??" And the doctor kept being like "eh, whatever." My kids are now three, both perfectly healthy, and both have tracked at about the 1st percentile for height for all of the past three years. Pediatrician says some kids are just short.

[kershnic]

Feb 27, 2017 11:50:36 GMT -5 mekia said:

Both of my babies' femurs measured short in comparison to the rest of their bodies. MIL says it's a Norwegian thing- tall torso, but short legs. Everyone in my H's family has this body type.

But I was not referred to anyone.

I hope this is all it is for you and that you'll be reassured at the MFM.

Huh, I've never heard this before but it's really interesting.  My kids have a substantial portion of Scandivian heritage and definitely have short legs and normal/maybe even tall torsos.  I also have sort of absurdly short legs...  I do have Scandivian hertigage, but probably not much Norwegian specifically.

[anakenzie]

Ours came back the same way so I had a few extra scans, then they were worried because he was measuring small in general and had me do NST twice a week for the last month. Mind you, I'm just under 5ft and DH is only 5'9". A lot of dr. Appoint,ends and stress and in the end, DS is just short. I'm short, his dad is short. He was <1% in height until his 2 year checkup. Now he's a whopping 3% but is perfectly fine, just smal.

[heywhat]

My friend's kids both had this - short femur, large head. She was funny about it. She said, "Umm, guess what? My husband has short legs and a big head." Kids are totally fine and look just like their dad.

[lillaguma]

Feb 27, 2017 21:47:47 GMT -5 kershnic said:

Feb 27, 2017 11:50:36 GMT -5 mekia said:

Both of my babies' femurs measured short in comparison to the rest of their bodies. MIL says it's a Norwegian thing- tall torso, but short legs. Everyone in my H's family has this body type.

But I was not referred to anyone.

I hope this is all it is for you and that you'll be reassured at the MFM.

Huh, I've never heard this before but it's really interesting.  My kids have a substantial portion of Scandivian heritage and definitely have short legs and normal/maybe even tall torsos.  I also have sort of absurdly short legs...  I do have Scandivian hertigage, but probably not much Norwegian specifically.

Now I'm curious about this, too. My dad is Norwegian heritage (his mother from Norway, his dad American with Norwegian background) and my mom is Swedish. Perhaps it really is a Scandinavian thing? I have a long torso and short legs. 

[Deleted]

Hi, I don't go here but wanted to comment.

At my daughter's A/S, they found 5 soft markers, one was for shortened femurs (or short long bones, as the high risk doc called them). Due to the number of soft markers, I was sent for additional perinatal screening at a high risk office several times. I also had an amnio. My daughter was born with no issues, other than congenital torticollis, which was not related to any of the soft markers.

She is just a peanut. She will probably not be any taller than her 5'2" mother.

[hockeywife]

We had this issue with DS. It was a traumatic experience with near weekly visits to the MFM. Each time they told us something new: downs, nope, severe achondroplasia, then rib cage OK so at least it's not lethal but definitely some form of skeletal dysplasia, deformed limbs, etc etc.

DS was born at 36 weeks and perfectly healthy.

My advice for anyone going through this is to get the amino where they do an additional screen for skeletal dysplasia issues. The ultrasounds are notoriously wrong, even when done at the MFM.