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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to ask if your baby's leg fat folds are symmetrical?!

90 replies

Hallomother · 07/05/2020 13:57

This might sound mad but after talking to a friend, I've noticed that baby DS has asymmetrical fat folds on his delicious chubby legs.
His legs are the same length, feet same size, no problems straightening or us pushing them gently up to his chest/cycling his legs etc.

One of the legs is slightly chubbier and has a bigger knee fold that the other, if you see what I mean. Apparently this can be an indicator of hip displaysia (not sure if I've spelt that correctly) and he was breech, but he had a hip ultrasound at 6 weeks and had all his rotations checked at 8 weeks and all came back clear.

Just wondered if this is common or not? I hadn't noticed previously but from pics it seems like he's always had it, even when he was very very tiny and barely had any fat on him!

Also, how deliciously squishable are baby legs?!

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Original poster
Hallomother · 07/05/2020 15:49

thank you @lollipoplola that's a really good point. I think I'll speak to our GP if they have space as they're doing email pics/video calls and if they think it's fine because he's already had his hips checked, I'll leave it be

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lollipoplola · 07/05/2020 15:59

@Hallomother DC2 was breech and absolutely fine. It's natural to worry when there's a risk factor there but what I have learnt from DD3 is that if there's any doubt on the ultrasound they will rescan and refer you to paeds.

Benby · 07/05/2020 16:18

If you lie your baby on his tummy and straighten his legs down and check those creases these are what the phn use to look for potential hip problems.

My eldest dd's creases were never bang on nurse always checked but never referred us anywhere. But my dd is hypermobile and she intoes even noe after lots of physio so not so sure my phn didn't miss something all those years ago

CatSmize · 07/05/2020 16:22

My DS's were asymmetrical so he was referred for a scan to check for hip dysplasia at 3 months old. Luckily his hips were fine and he just had asymmetrical creases!

LakieLady · 07/05/2020 16:25

Those legs are so gorgeous I refuse to believe there's anything wrong with them at all.

Original poster
Hallomother · 07/05/2020 17:40

I'll do that when he's doing tummy time

Ah @lakielady they are gorgeous aren't they but then I am biased

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packetandtripe · 07/05/2020 17:40

possibly hemihypertrophy, check his hands together and look at his feet together, are there noticeable size differences. Asymmetrical folds are one sign, Get him checked just in case. But don't worry, some people have this and don't even realise it. It has a whole spectrum. In some cases kidney scans need to be done to ensure they are of equal size.

Original poster
Hallomother · 07/05/2020 17:42

His feet are definitely the same size I'll check his hands as well thanks I've not heard of that

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Original poster
Hallomother · 07/05/2020 17:43

His leg isn't actually bigger just chubbier in different places IYSWIM

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ittakes2 · 07/05/2020 18:09

What a lovely chubby baby you have so cute!

EKGEMS · 07/05/2020 18:13

As a mom of an adult child with hips that are followed closely (amongst other things) I can definitely understand the anxiety and concern! I even heard the consultant make a off the cuff comment looking at his xrays that Dad and I jumped on as we'd not heard that word before.
Your precious little one is probably fine as he's been checked by ultrasound but no shame in calling the gp. By the way he has stunning chubby legs and you're a fab mom!

Original poster
Hallomother · 07/05/2020 19:14

Aw thank you for all your lovely replies I was bracing myself for some 'are you mad?' posts!
Thank you @ekgems that's lovely of you to say. I hope your DC is ok.

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Original poster
Hallomother · 07/05/2020 20:32

I've had a little look. Feet are the same size, I think hands are the same size they kept going in his mouth Grin and he has a little extra crease on his arm on the same size as the leg with the chubbier fold but it's very faint and only there sometimes
Not sure if that means anything!

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packetandtripe · 07/05/2020 21:24

He is probably fine @Hallomother, you are not mad to ask, you are perfectly spot on to ask; folds are typically symmetrical. My own baby had hemihypertrophy and I'm not even the one who noticed the asymmetrical folds. His leg was similar to your little fellas (bigger in chubbiness!! like as if it has more flesh, rather than in length) but in his case there was an obvious discrepancy between the feet also and some in the arm on the same side of the body as the larger leg. Nothing that matters much in day to day life, no complications (but as I said he was scanned for several years, ultrasounds on organ sizes particularly kidneys, a precaution). Just check it out, but wouldn't worry about it.

pinguwings · 07/05/2020 21:26

@Hallomother DD2s legs looked similar, in fact it was a bit less obvious than your pic.

Was your manual check done by a physio? If you have their contact details it might be worth ringing them, even just for reassurance. Or go via your GP. DD2 has recently finished her treatment and it was all still running despite covid19.

Can you spread both hips equally? So if you gently pushed both in to a frog position do they both feel pretty similar?

It is likely nothing to worry about. Even if there is some dysplasia it improves very quickly when they are so young with treatment.

LokihasafryingPan · 07/05/2020 22:01

My DD arent symmetrical. HV referred us to hospital and she had an xray and examination. All fine. It can be something, but it might not. Try not to worry too much and speak to your HV or GP

ursuslemonade · 07/05/2020 22:16

My niece's rolls were asymmetrical but she also had quite a few mobility problems from birth, things like when she was on her back, her head would always turn to one side, stiff neck, her hip was not quite right..She didn't crawl or sat up on her own and had to be 'taught'.
I'm not saying assymetry always means something bad though....

TrickyD · 07/05/2020 22:18

DS2 had an extra crease under one buttock. We called it his double-barrelled bum.

He may well still have it, but since he is 47 I won’t be going to check.

It never struck me as a cause for concern.

Original poster
Hallomother · 07/05/2020 22:32

That's interesting thank you. After googling (I know I know) that was the condition that worried me @packetandtripe so I checked the circumference of his arms and legs (he thought it was a great game) and size of feet and hands and all are very same maybe a mm difference if any as he was wriggling a lot. How old was your DC when it was noticed do you mind my asking?

Thanks @pinguwings I'll try that tomorrow and I'll definitely call the GP on monday, I can email the pics over to start with. His manual was done by the GP for his 8 week general check and also a paediatrician at the hospital when he was born before we left. He had the ultrasound at 6 weeks.

Interesting you say about favouring one side @ursuslemonade he does favour one side so much so that he has a flat head on one bit at the back but he can move his head in both directions and does more so now and is getting stronger at tummy time and trying to sit up so I think mobility wise we are ok so far.

This has all been really helpful and I feel less worried now as it seems even if it does mean something, it's hopefully manageable.

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Original poster
Hallomother · 07/05/2020 22:45

I did take a pic from.behind during tummy time as well and stretched out his legs to check they were the same length which (to my admittedly untrained!) eye they are

Thanks for all the advice and reassurance

AIBU to ask if your baby's leg fat folds are symmetrical?!
OP posts:
LaurieMarlow · 07/05/2020 22:48

My health visitor was obsessed by this.

I was made take DS2 to the GP about it. The GP couldn’t see any issue.

It strikes me as the type of gong that’s overplayed.

LaurieMarlow · 07/05/2020 22:48

Thing not gong

RoLaren · 07/05/2020 22:51

Prepare to squee! 5 month old daughter, had a hip scan due to breech, and was all okay. I'm not worried about the asymmetry. Both my other children had similar. Absent of any other worries eg. weakness, I think it's normal.

Original poster
Hallomother · 07/05/2020 22:56

Thanks Laurie

@RoLaren I am quietly squeeing next to sleeping DS. God baby legs are just wonderful.
Also a fan of stipes I see Grin

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EKGEMS · 07/05/2020 23:06

Yes my son has spastic cerebral palsy but is doing ok just always faces challenges but is loved and cherished by us his parents and our families

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