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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask for a handhold? Worrying news about unborn baby at 31 weeks

498 replies

ladydorito · 17/04/2023 08:31

Hi everyone, I'm posting here for traffic, I'm really sorry.

Yesterday I had what I thought was a "routine" growth scan following a period of changed movements at 30+6 weeks. The "good" news is that baby has moved into breech which explains the change in movements.

The bad news is, having had their femur length measure short but not worryingly so throughout pregnancy, baby's femur is now on the first percentile. This, coupled with a large head measurement (on the 92nd percentile) has resulted in a referral to fetal medicine. The specialist can't see us until Wednesday and I just have no idea how to get through the next 48 hours.

The team at our hospital were lovely yesterday. I spoke to a registrar who went through what the various causes of this could be. I'm short (5"2) with particularly short legs (although I wouldn't say 99 percent of people have longer..
) and was born two weeks late weighing only 6lbs so there's a decent chance I'm simply carrying a short baby like me.

But we've also been told this could be a soft marker for undiagnosed Downs or one of the other trisomys. The idea of getting this far in pregnancy and having that missed makes me feel sick. We could cope with a baby with Downs, it isn't what any mum would hope for but they will be showered with love always. But the idea of the baby having one of the non life compatible trisomys has worried me to the point I've been throwing up this morning.

Skeletal dysplasia has also been mentioned - I thought this just meant what I understand as dwarfism, which DH and I would be totally fine with, it would obviously be an adjustment but not life limiting or even massively life changing from what I have read. But now I've fallen down the rabbit hole and am reading about other dysplasias that are incompatible with life and again, the idea of bringing a child to term who will not survive is just beyond unbearable.

I can feel little one kicking me as I type and I feel like I've failed them so much for even thinking about the worst case scenarios. This is our much longed for first baby and after a terrible first trimester with a hematoma that just bled and bled, we really thought we were at the point we could enjoy pregnancy.

In a twist so cruel it's almost funny, all our nursery furniture is due to arrive from Mamas and Papas this morning.

I'm so sorry about how long this is but I think I'm just asking for a handhold or even advice from anyone who has been through similar.

Thank you so much. X

OP posts:
FabFitFifties · 19/04/2023 19:32

Another lurker - so pleased you've had a reassuring day!

AppaTheSixLeggedFlyingBison · 19/04/2023 19:33

Brilliant news OP ♥️

Shuntsarentscary · 19/04/2023 19:33

Wonderful wonderful news! Now put your feet up and take some time to rest and relax! Xx

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 19/04/2023 19:33

Great update x

Snowpatrolling · 19/04/2023 19:34

I had this with my youngest, was told every worse possible outcome.
like you quite late so was a wait and see what I pushed out. Turns out she was a short ass like her mother! I’m 5ft. However she’s 11 now and towers above me!
I hope you get good news to out your mind at rest. Sending good vibes x

Floralnomad · 19/04/2023 19:34

Great news , hope the rest of your pregnancy is uneventful @ladydorito .

bloodywhitecat · 19/04/2023 19:36

That's wonderful news, I hope you get to enjoy the rest of your pregnancy now.

LaBrujaPiruja · 19/04/2023 19:37

Wonderful news! 😘

Beachdaysandsandypaws · 19/04/2023 19:37

Wonderful news op. Thanks for updating and really pleased everything is ok. Xx

MrsMitford3 · 19/04/2023 19:37

Such wonderful news. Admit to checking in a few times for update.

Enjoy setting up your nursery and look forward to baby pics. x

freyamay74 · 19/04/2023 19:39

So happy for you that it all went well. Relax now and enjoy setting up the nursery.

VeronicaTimeTurner · 19/04/2023 19:39

Good news indeed. Enjoy the rest of your pregnancy 💐

Oneborneverydecade · 19/04/2023 19:41

Lovely update, wishing you a happy and healthy rest of your pregnancy and beyond

Thedogscollar · 19/04/2023 19:43

Been following this thread.
Lovely update. Good luck with everything OP.

sparebooks · 19/04/2023 19:44

This is such great news. I only just saw this thread but do know what you're going through, as we had it with my 2nd who was born last year. Femur was barely measuring on the chart at 28 weeks. I spent the whole of Christmas not sleeping and googling types of achondroplasia. We were also referred to fetal medicine who, as in your case, were reassuring. (He was also breech interestingly).

He was born and was very little! But perfect.. a year on and he sits on the 50th centile in weight and height, no problems at all 🤷🏻‍♀️

Purplestorm83 · 19/04/2023 19:44

That’s amazing news, so pleased the specialist was able to reassure you! Hopefully you’ll have an uneventful rest of the pregnancy and labour 😁

nomoredriving · 19/04/2023 19:44

Just wonderful news xx

2chocolateoranges · 19/04/2023 19:47

I’m so glad today has been positive.

Binglebongledingledangle · 19/04/2023 19:47

Fantastic news!

WimbyAce · 19/04/2023 19:48

Brilliant news xx I remember obsessing about scan percentiles and googling as they said my baby had a very small head at one stage. I think the measurements can be so inaccurate depending on baby's position. Glad you have had reassurance.

lucylantern · 19/04/2023 19:48

That’s amazing news OP.

I had a similar situation a few years ago, I got very worrying news at a scan only to find out a couple of weeks later that everything was ok. It was nearly 4 years ago now and I still remember it like it was yesterday, so can imagine how you must be feeling tonight.

Hope the rest of the pregnancy goes well 💐

Peachlollipop · 19/04/2023 19:51

So thrilled for you. Now you go and enjoy the rest of your pregnancy!

ElizabethBest · 19/04/2023 19:54

We had this with DS. At 6, he’s over the 99th centile for height, most of it leg.

his head is still fucking massive though!

Fam23 · 19/04/2023 19:55

So pleased to read your positive news. Enjoy your final weeks of pregnancy 🥰

Channellingsophistication · 19/04/2023 19:56

Truly wonderful news !

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