16 weeks pregnant and baby has ‘short’ long bones

[Archiejbw]

Hi All!

I went for my 16 week early anatomy scan today and I was told my baby boy has short femur bones (2nd centile). No other soft markers were found though. Has anyone experienced this or is anyone going through this too? If so, what was the outcome?

The doctor at the ultrasound clinic told me it could be anything from my baby just having short legs to dwarfism, I’m slightly freaking out 😔

[Aly92]

I’m so sorry for how your feeling right now. Yes things may be a little different but as long as the baby grows up knowing they are loved that’s all that matters.

[Mizydoscape]

Hello! My little one had short femur bones at 20 week scan. She also measured large in the abdomen. She was a small baby when born at 37 weeks. She is now 8 months and her legs are fine and a normal length.

[ReturnofSaturn]

Hm I remember them saying my boy had short limbs on the scans I had.
Also a huge head.
I was worried for a time.
But he came out completely normal, he does have a big head, but it doesn't look odd at all.

[babycornplease]

I was told my dd had no femurs... she turned out alright!!

[User721]

I was told at 20weeks my ds had femurs on the 3rd centile with a very large abdomen. His legs did look a bit short when he was born but they are average sized now age 6

[user1471523870]

Same experience here and so much worry. It turned out baby had IUGR, basically the placenta wasn't delivering all the nutrients and baby was smaller than average. Apparently mother nature in those cases decides to direct the nutrients to the head or the abdomen rather than the limbs.
He's 18 months now, still tinier than many, but absolutely perfect and his legs are long:).

[Archiejbw]

Thanks ladies for your responses. Gives me some hope.
My boy is below the 1centile. I’ll wait and hope that the 20 week scan is ok otherwise they want me to do an amniocentesis.. I’m in 2 minds about that.
I’ll report back at my 20 week scan.

[MisssC3025]

Hi wanted to give you our current experience. Told at 20weeks short limbs. Sent to foetal med unit in Luton told short limbs very small chest expected lethal form of skeletal dysplasia. Wanted a third opinion went to London to be told same thing. Had amnio and came back clear for a specific lethal SD. Told still that he does have a form of SD which looks lethal because of severe chest size, but won't know until he's born which type he has. We have decided to go forward with pregnancy and just let nature take its course! We are utterly devastated and have spent the last 12weeks very anxious. Have 8weeks left and worried sick.

I do hope and pray your boy is okay and that he hasn't got a lethal form of SD or any form tbh. Just hope he's just small like some others have shared.

🙏🙏

[Archiejbw]

Wow, thank you so much for sharing your story. I am so so sorry that you are going through this. The anxiety and sadness must be overwhelming. The unknown is scary. I do hope that when you deliver him, they were wrong and he is a healthy little boy. Please come back and let me know how you go.
I've been in tears since they told me my news and im sad too. for myself and my husband but mostly for the baby.
I see a specialist next week and then i have a scan with nuclear medicine (im in Australia).. I wil know more then.
Take care of yourself, and sending you hgs across the world.

[AmelieTaylor]

I know it's anecdotal, but...

My friend went through hell in her pregnancy. They said the baby had one long legand a large head. Offered her a termination (they decide against it) rest of pregnancy kept being told the baby had these issues. She was SO scared going into delivery ,she had a stressed birth.

Baby perfect. Yes he had a long leg - but the other one was long too! & everything was in proportion and he's now a very healthy strapping lad whose head is only big because we tell him he's a star!!

Obviously get safe & available tests but try not to stress yourself out xx

[RaindropDreams]

I'm going through similar 😢 at my 20 week scan they told me baby's head was small and I was sent to fetal medicine. I had a detailed placenta scan due to history and they then said baby was

[greenemerald]

I'm currently 31w and short long bones was picked up at my 20w scan. Since then referred to fetal medicine and been having very regular scans. Baby has been consistently measuring 2nd centile. In our case it's due to placental insufficiency and baby is IUGR. I was offered amnio too but decided against it. Consultant says she thinks it's unlikely to be a genetic condition and baby just measuring small due to the placental problem but I guess we'll know for sure in time! It's likely I will be delivering a few weeks early but it's going ok at the moment. I know it's hard but try to stay positive! They will monitor you closely and short long bones may just be due to a smaller baby.

@user1471523870, if you don't mind me asking, were you induced early? And what did baby weigh at birth?

[user1471523870]

@greenemerald, after 30 weeks they moved my scans to once a week. When I was almost 32 weeks they detected the baby's heart beat was irregular and they rushed me upstairs for an emergency c-section. However, they then couldn't tell for sure and decided to admit me. I was put on the machine to keep the baby monitored (sorry, memory fading about what everything is called medically!). Baby was fine but still showing signs of suffering. They had time to give me magnesium (to prevent brain injuries in preterm babies) and two days later they decided for a c-section. He was 32 weeks that day and weighting 1,200 gr.
He spent several weeks in the NICU, learning to suck and regulate his temperature and we went home a week before his due date.

[Mahjabeen]

Hi everyone hope you all are doing well.
I am 16 weeks pregnant and been having still bad headaches and bitter metallic mouth taste does anyone has same issue? I also have another problem I can't rest at all. If I am wondering doing things all day I get tiered but feel ok. But ASAP I rest or take a nap I feel so sick and low and unwell why is that? Does anyone els has same issue?

[RainbowL2020]

Hi All

@Archiejbw I'm going through a similar situation now with short long bones at every scan since 20 weeks, just wondering how you're getting on? X

[Archiejbw]

Hi @RainbowL2020. Sorry to hear about your experience.
I’m actually 28 weeks now, my baby as of last scan had a huge growth spurt and his legs are now considered to be in the 27th percentile. So not considered short. I have another scan at 30 weeks to double check size again.
My OB said that a growth spurt can occur at any time and their legs can actually catch up to their body growth. Try to remain positive, although I know it’s so hard.

[RainbowL2020]

@Archiejbw wow really that's great thanks for getting back to me! I'm also 28 weeks now and they have booked me in for another scan at 30 weeks too 8th July. Did you have regular scans from 16weeks to now and did it gradually go up or stay the same? My 20w scan showed long bones at 7th percentile then dropped to 3/5th then went up to 9th then yesterday dropped again between 3/5.. I'm thinking they've probably always been around the 5th and just depends who's scanning. They seem to be following the curve ish albeit the bottom line. Just hoping they catch up soon or at least stay the same on the next one. They offered me the amniocentesis yesterday but I've declined it x

[Roselilly36]

Try not to worry, at 20 wk scan with DS1 I was told they were concerned about his kidneys and that he may need an op soon after birth, I was very worried, had a scan as 32 weeks, and all was fine, never had any problems since he’s 19 now.

[RaindropDreams]

My baby ended up being born at 37 weeks weighing 4lb 0.2oz on 0 percentile. He is perfect and does not have short long bones. His assessment stated this was a concern throughout pregnancy however "no abnormalities suspected." Just goes to show these scans are not always accurate. Hope the rest of your pregnancies are smooth ladies x

[laurelhedge]

@RaindropDreams Your baby is so beautiful! Congratulations

[RainbowL2020]

@RaindropDreams thanks so much for sharing and congratulations he is beautiful! glad everything turned out well .. I had 3 weeks of heavy bleeding between 12-15 weeks which they said could have been from the placenta so I'm wondering if this has had an impact and maybe just delayed his growth a few weeks x

[RaindropDreams]

@RainbowL2020 it's funny you should say that as after a 9hr 40 min labour i was taken for an emergency section where they found a silent placental abruption and my boy had only gained 5oz in 4 weeks according to last growth scan and birth weight.

Thank you all for lovely comments, he's a little dream 🥰

[Amichelle84]

I'm going though this at the moment and understand your worry.
All had been fine up until 28w scan when they said the same to me. I went for another scan a few days later and they said they are small but in proportion to the rest of the body, baby is small and on the 3rd centile. Having another growth scan next week and hoping its grown a bit.

[RainbowL2020]

@RaindropDreams really what a coincidence! I had scans and the could see the bleed around the sac at the time and said it was haemorrhages that could of been caused by the placental attachment but they couldn't really confirm! They say you can get them with or without bleeding so that explains why yours was silent. Mine was really heavy with a lot of clots and I thought surely all these nutrients that I'm loosing should be going straight to him? I've also heard that nature prioritises the head and the abdomen over the limbs first so I'm thinking this may be why but who knows xx

@Amichelle84 sorry to hear your going through this too mine was picked up at 20 weeks and yesterday at 28 weeks was the worst reading yet but it has gone up and down in between xx

[Amichelle84]

I dont understand the measurements sometimes. Friday scan said 11th centile and scan the following monday said 3rd...