Femur Length just over 6cm at 36 weeks.....should I be worried?

[Glammama]

At a growth and positioning scan a few days ago I found out that my baby's abdomen is measuring at the 95th percentle whereas his thigh is on the 5th percentile. I know scans aren't always accurate and tbh his proportions sound a lot like mine but I can't help worrying that only a 2cm growth in 14 weeks is not a great deal.

Dr seems to think this is all in the normal range. Am I just being daft? He's breech and I'm going for ECV next week. Does that have any bearing on things?

[Glammama]

bump

[e14mum]

sorry glam, no advice, but bumping for you!

[emkana]

Glammama, it's difficult to say from such little info, but I just wanted to tell you that my ds had similar measurements and it turns out that he has a type of dwarfism.

What are your baby's other measurements like, specifically the head?

[Glammama]

Hi, emkana. We couldn't measure his head as he is sitting up, facing my spine. Dwarfism had occurred to me but when I asked the SHO at the hospital he said there was nothing abnormal. I will be scanned on Wednesday before the ECV so I will ask again. How is your son doing?

[Chaotica]

I'd presume each case is different, but my DS was scanned for growth when breech and transverse and femur seemed shortish and growing v. slowly while abdomen was huge. When born, it turned out that the scans had underestimated his size quite dramatically (more than 2lb out) but that he was quite a broad baby with shortish legs. Legs have grown much after birth though and he's now over 90 for both height and weight.

In short -- no problem. But they did want to monitor me for diabetes because of his large abdomen. He was born by cs at 39 weeks for other reasons but it does seem in retrospect that the doctors were right to keep an eye out for him.

[SlightlyMadShrek]

It is difficult to measure abdo accurately as the sonographer has to get the right 'plane' to measure.

It is quite possible that the abdo measurement is not actually on the 95th percentile.

[Glammama]

Thanks for all your messages. I think I'm just being a bit paranoid and perhaps my fears about him being breech/the ECV/birth generally are spreading to other areas. As long he's healthy I don't care how short he is. I'm 5ft 2 and my abdomen measurements are probably on the 150th percentile, pre-pregnancy

[eandh]

Hi I had similar measuremements with dd1 (cant remember them exactly as she is now 3.5) anyway she was also breech and facing my back, I had an ecv (didnt work as half way of turning her she popped straight back up,vry stubbirn like me she had the cord around her neck so I am gratful they didnt turn her)

anyway they always noted about her short leg measurements and when she was born her legs were like frogs (bent up from being breech) as soon as you straightened them they'd go back to frog shape, tilla round 3 weeks and they sorted themselves. For 2 years she was always on the small side (trousers in her size to long etc) she hit 3 and has had a massive growth spurt, in fact she has bypassed 3-4 trousers and now needs 4-5 for the length (and a belt for the waist as she is a skinny minny!!) so I wouldnt worry to much

PS they had her weight out said she was around 6lb she weighed 7lb14oz said dd2 was 8lb she was 6lb14oz!!!!

[emkana]

Hi there, my son is doing well, you can see a picture of him in my profile.

Might well turn out that it's all normal in your case, dwarfism is after all very rare, fingers crossed for you.

[Cedes]

It is so worrying when the measurements don't add up - when we had a scan we were told our son's femur length was too short for his head circumference - the sonographer cheerfully told us not to worry, he may just be a dwarf!! Turns out he was born 6 weeks early and was 53 cms long - and he is still way above average in height....the worst part was that I worried so much for the rest of the pregnancy for nothing...these measurements can be quite far off the mark, my advice would be to put it out of your mind...too much bad information is worse than no information at all!!

[Toriwoo]

Please Help! Had midwife appt on thurs and been told I have a small bump (I was 38+1 and measured at 34 cm) and have scan booked for thurs. Does anybody know how small is too small? Should I be really worried? Doesn't sound like a bad thing to me, in terms of getting baby out! However am feeling anxious when I know I should try to be relaxing and enjoying last few days/week of peace!

[curlywurlycremeegg]

Toriwoo, a lot of things could affect the height of the bump, has it measured small before? If not then has your baby's head engaged between the two midwife apppointments?

[Toriwoo]

Very new student midwife checked baby position and said head was free, 2 weeks previous it had been 4/5 engaged. Usual midwife didn't check position this time. I'm having all my normal baby movements, I have read few bits and pieces about small measurements (curse of a healthcare background!) I've always been 1 cm less than the gestational week and am still in between the top and bottom lines on the graph. Just desperate for everything to be ok

[curlywurlycremeegg]

So a scan was ordered without the qualified midwife palpating?

[Toriwoo]

yes, I have scan booked for this coming thursday - which is on the day my consultant is there but waiting a week for the scan seems a long time, but could be midwife wasn't that concerned?

[curlywurlycremeegg]

Toriwoo, sorry not sure if I am clear, did the qualified midwifer actually check the measurements the student did at all or just order the scan after the student measured you as small for dates?

If the head was partialy engaged it is unlikely that it has "unengaged". If the head is fully in the pelvis it is sometimes easy to mistake the shoulders for an unengaged head and if the head is engaged then you would be measuring smaller than dates as the fundal height would have dropped as some of your baby is now in the pelvis IYSWIM. If they were very concerned then you would have been refered to the day ubit straight away.

[Toriwoo]

Midwife checked measurement with tape measure but not baby position. The midwife was very chatty and said 'probably nothing to worry about but we need to check fluid levels and placental blood flow'. So of course I did my reading when I got home about consequences of the above and have been worried since. I haven't had a lot of faith in my midwife throughout pg, always makes me feel like It's a bit of a nusiance that I go to appointment. DP cross that I always read about stuff then worry, but I know he was worried too. I am having all my normal movements which has to be positive? Is there anything I can do to make the baby bigger?

[curlywurlycremeegg]

As far as I am aware most units would only refer for a scan when you have two cosecutive appointments where the measurements are 2cm below what is expected on your customised growth chart. I think scanning for liqour volume (which is usually easy to palpate when above or below normal limits) and placental function, when you have only had one ocassion when the growth is below "normal", is wrong and you may find that the sonographer will just do a quick scan to plots femur length, BPD etc.

There is little you can do to make your baby bigger, if you are eating a balanced diet, not smoking and relaxed then you will "grow" a baby that is the right size for you. Normal fetal movements are an excellent indication that all is well, when a baby is compromised the first thing the do is stop mving to conserve energy. I hope everything goes well, I would consider having a word with your midwife to let her know how upset you have been and that by the simple measure of actually assesing your baby's position she may have been able to prevent all this stress. Good Luck

[Toriwoo]

Thank you so much for your replies and advice. I don't smoke and as with most mum's, my general lifestyle etc has taken utmost priority in helping to develop baby. I have been so worried the last couple of days that I have could've done something to make the baby small. I will try and keep positive and let you know. Thank you so much curlywurly. You've been a big help today :-)I am truly grateful

[3madboys]

toriwoo, in two of my pregnancies my bump has measured small and i have had an extra scan to check on baby and the fluid levels etc, the hospital said one of the babies would be about 6 or 7lb, he was 9lb 3oz, and the next time they said about 7lb, he was 9lb 5oz but my bump always seems to measure slightly small for dates, like you the head was engaged both times, i didnt realise that would make a difference.

anyway just to say dont worry yourself too much, hard i know, but i am now expecting no 4, and for once my bump measures just the right size, and now i am disappointed that i wont get the extra scan

[sox364]

All the ways to measure are rather hit and miss!Scanning for size is well known to be as is the tape measure test.Some bumps are huge, others tiny it all leads to a baby and usually a healthy one at that! i have felt loads of tummy's during my training and never really got the feel for whats what inside threr! its terribly hard to visualize so the student may be good but still a learner of very limited experience.all my 4 children were born different to the expected date, all but 1 born a different sex than that predicted by carrying shape and heart rate guesses! they were also different weights that scans etc predicted.
With my 4th 6 different midwives, 2 drs and the consultant told me i was having a breech, but i said i did not feel kicks up high but low down and so they got a portable scan out to prove it as they were telling me i should have a CS. I was right, they were all wrong and we had to conclude that my ds had an extrememly firm bum!

BTW The scanner has to ID what they see as the bone ends with a tiny cross and then again the other end of the bone. As bones are soft and ended with cartilage which looks very similar on scanning inevitably these 'markers' are not often spot on.
Baby could also have a big abdomen at the appt but is not ness that big normally, some bladders can fill up before baby pee's in utero depends upon babies position etc, so 'swelling' abdo size. there are lots and lots of possibilities!!

There is no way stress helps a baby and even in the smallest chance that something is wrong there is nothing you can do but let the drs do their thing and do your best to look after yourself properly! so, feet up, relax and eat healthily.

[Toriwoo]

Thank you sox364, all of your information and advice has helped DP and myself over the w/e to relax a bit more. We are looking ahead to scan without dread. I am feeling more relaxed and enjoying my little ones movements and being pampered by DP! Thank you again, you've all helped.
Best wishes x