20 week scan - head circumference and femur on the 5th

[Marmitepeanutbutterandhoney]

I had my 20 week scan yesterday.

The baby’s head circumference was measuring 155mm and I understand that puts her on the 5th percentile. Her abdominal measurement was normal at the 50th, but her femurs were also small, again around the 5th.

I am feeling extremely panicked. I got bitten by mosquitoes in a Zika country at 5 weeks pregnant so really paranoid that this has affected the baby.

The sonographer got a colleague to repeat the scan and measurements and they sounded concerned. I was in there an hour and a half, but left feeling really unsettled.

They have invited me back for a growth scan but said it doesn’t need to be until 26 weeks. That’s six weeks of worry for me - it feels way too long.

Please could anywhere share there similar stories? I am very emotional and feel so depressed. We have already lost two babies this year.

Thanks

Oh you poor thing but don't give up hope. I'm only just TTC so don't know what amnio is and also can't give any advice. All I would do is read up on everything about situations like this, maybe even contact top professionals in the field or even if you can afford go private? Will pray everything works out for xx

Thanks for your message!

We have the best doctors we could possibly have (private and nhs) but sadly they can’t make the baby grow! They also can’t give any answers as there is no way of them knowing without the invasive testing.

And reading... reading I think has put me in an even bigger tizz. There seems to be so many bad things to read.

I can’t imagine how stressed you must be. I have no experience with hc falling off the charts, but I’ll be thinking of you and if you do ever want to talk you can always drop me a message.

Have your docs said anything about the more through NIPT testing, to perhaps screen for microdeletions in the meantime? Did they say how far behind the head is measuring in terms of weeks? I only ask because if baby is measuring small, it could be like a/c is measuring 21 weeks and femur length 21 weeks but hc 19 which would be small but still relatively in proportion, if that makes sense. I just used the weeks here to make a point.

Have they been able to give you any indication of what they think has caused this? But you never know, you could go for the CT scan and the head could have caught up

Xxx

Hi sleepless,

Thanks so much for your reply.

Hmm they didn’t tell me in terms of weeks... I mean she’s looking small in all areas. AC is good. Femur is tracking along the curve although low end of normal.

It’s the BPD and HC which are a way from the lowest “normal.”

I had the TORCH today but no mention of any other testing.. back in two weeks for another scan...

I wish I had an answer for you, I know waiting must be incredibly difficult. In the mean time, I know it’s going to be very hard but do try your best to stay off google or anything like that, there’s everything on the internet and it will probably make you feel so much worse. Is there anyone at the hospital you can speak to for some reassurance or perhaps some clarity. When I was seeing fetal medicine there was the specialist fetal medicine midwife. Your trust might even have a mental health midwife ( I’m not saying you are struggling mentally, but they might be able to talk you through the coming weeks- I’ve never found consultants too human in that sense).

Do you have support around you in terms of a partner/ family or friends?

I’ll be thinking of you. You will get through this! Xx

Hi OP x

You mention being Rh- have you had anti D? Do you know the blood group of your little one?

I know with DD, growth was something they were keeping an eye on as she's also Rh- and DGS was Rh+ and is a SGA baby. Luckily, DGS2 has been deemed to also be Rh- through a blood test x

Really hoping everything works out okay for you and your little one OP

Hi Sushi,

I am RH neg, I had Anti-d when I had a cervical suture put in place at 16 weeks but not since. I have the standard dose booked in for 29 weeks.

I have no idea the blood type of the baby. Could the RH situation really be having an impact?

Sleepless - luckily I have excellent consultants and high risk midwives so I feel well supported. However, at the end of the day there’s not really anything anyone can say or do.

I just want to get to the next scan and get a better picture (eg. Are things continuing downwards).

I don’t know whether to eat more or less or rest more or less or - well I just don’t know where to put myself.

I started at 8 stone and now I’m 9 (5f5) so I don’t feel like the baby is under nourished..

My HC is 53.5 and my DH is 55.5 both i think are normal...

Thank you Cloudy!

Hi

Both my daughters measured very small on scans but my youngests head seemed to get smaller - between the 3rd and 5th percentile most scans (had lots due to IUGR in first baby) at one scan I noticed on screen head measurment was almost 6 weeks behind but they said was due to babies positioning - this would have definately been waaaay off the chart if they plotted ità. One sonographer tried to refer back to consultant but he had already perfomed 16 and 20 week anomoly scans which showed brain etc all okay and he said "this is why shops sell tiny baby hats!" At 37 weeks she was born due to placenta previa and IUGR and her head looked tiny. I was so worried but when they did newborn check midwife reasured head was proportionate to skinny body (she was 5lb 10oz) and that was that. Shes now almost 18 months and very switched on. Her head looks very average now weirdly.

I known it must be a very worrying time for you I really wish you all the bestq

Hi Gizmo, that’s very reassuring to read. Thank you. I’m so glad this turned out well with your LO. I hope to come back and tell a similar story.

We now have a private scan booked for Thursday and then back to the Fetal medicine at the NHS the following Wednesday.

I’m just trying to take it a day at a time.

How did you get on at your private scan OP I hope everything is okay?

I'm in a similar situation atm, 20 week scan HC was below the 5th so referral to FMU, went there 2 days later & FMU consultant got it on the 5th, femurs were on the 36th & an echogenic bowel. So I've been screened for CMV etc & that was all negative. However at my dating scan they dated me 4 days earlier than I physically could have been, so at least we have that reassurance that hopefully she's just dated wrong & will now measure small throughout. But obviously been over every single outcome in my head. Follow up scan is tomorrow to assess her growth (and bowel) and it's fairly terrifying. So I really empathise with you xxx

@Marmitepeanutbutterandhoney how are things going?

@Marmitepeanutbutterandhoney how is everything? I'm currently going through the same. I have been referred for an MRI so they can check my daughters head in more detail and will continue to be scanned every 2 weeks until she is born so they can keep an eye on her HC. They haven't expressed any concerns other than the fact her head is measuring behind and as you were, I'm worrying so much!

Hi there
Just wondering how you got on in your pregnancy? Really hope all was ok xx

Can I ask what happened to your little one?