Short long bones

[Lou9876]

At 36 weeks I have had a growth scan and they said the baby has short long bones so I am booked to see a consultant on Monday. I am quite short (5’4) with short legs but I can’t help but worry. Has anyone else experienced this?

[Lou9876]

Im sorry to hear that, I know how stressful it can be. Our little girl was born in perfect health, she was 7lb but is now 3 y/o and tall for her age! She wasn’t on the higher percentile for length when she was born (but then again I’m not tall myself) however most babies have little scrunched up legs in the womb so how they come to these diagnoses is beyond me! And like I say she is now tall so it’s total BS if you ask me!

I now know that it’s impossible to measure babies in the womb at 30weeks plus, hence all the inaccuracies, so honestly I would never go for a late scan ever again. All that comes out of it is unnecessary scaremongering to mothers. I will say that the worry that this created for me, negatively impacted by birth and I ended up being coerced into an induction which ended in a c-section (not traumatic but not the birth I had hoped for) so I really hope that it doesn’t do the same to you.

I just don’t understand why they tell mothers these things when they know how inaccurate scans can me, and also what can it go apart from cause worry to an expectant mum?

Have you been booked in for more scans? I hope this has been helpful, please don’t hesitate to ask anything else!

[Ally638]

@Lou9876 Thank you so much for taking the time to reply, I’m so pleased to hear your story had such a lovely positive outcome, congratulations on your little girl, I’m sorry to hear your birth was negatively affected, it’s definitely stressful considering all the conditions the specialists have focussed on in the last couple of days (dwarfism seems to be the one they think most likely) I have finished work now because I’m really struggling to cope, I have just had a consultants appt this morning and they are going to refer me back to fetal medicine to ask all my questions but my husband and I are just really holding onto the hope that it is all a load of fuss over nothing - I am booked in for another growth scan next week which is probably just going to cause more concern 🤦🏼‍♀️ just wish the consultants / specialists / doctors / anyone would be a bit more reassuring but It’s really reassuring to hear stories like yours so honestly thank you so much xxx

[Lou9876]

No problem at all, this forum was what gave me so much hope and strength a few years ago. These are the kind of conditions that were also mentioned to me as well and it makes me SO angry that this is how medical staff treat expectant mothers! I don’t know how far along you are or if there have been any other markers but this is EXACTLY how I was treated and it was all for nothing. Please know that you DO NOT have to go for any further scans or appointments if you do not wish to. If you do go, ask for facts, figures, statistics and know what all your options are. At this point in pregnancy, what use is it for them to just make you worry potentially completely unnecessarily! I know several doulas who could help you navigate the system/advocate for you so just let me know if you’d like to be put in touch. Sending you lots of strength and support ❤️❤️❤️

[Lou9876]

Sorry I am only just seeing this now. Everything was fine with baby - she was 7lb at birth and not on the higher percentile for length but she is now 3 and tall!
It makes me so angry the way that maternity care is so fear based. I hope all is ok with you and your little one too xx

[Ally638]

Hi I just thought I’d update for anyone who may be looking in the future - our baby was born a few weeks ago, delivered at 37 weeks exactly at the consultants advice because of all the concern - born absolutely perfect, yes she is small, 5.5lb - 8th centile at birth - but absolutely fine and growing well now. None of the consultants / baby doctors who observed / monitored / checked baby following birth could find any issues with femur or other bone length or any other issues.

[Senso21]

I remember having a 28 week scan with my DD and her femur bones were short (on a very low percentile with all other measurements around 50th)
I was never referred further for this though, and I now have a very petite but in proportion 9 year old, always been shortest in her class at school. I’m only 5 1” and her dad is shortish too so we just made a petite child. Hoping any further appts to look into this go well for you xx

[Lou9876]

I’m so glad to hear that your baby girl was born in perfect health, congratulations!! However what they put you through, and the fact that they presumably induced? your baby at 37 weeks for no real reason other than “measuring small” is absolutely outrageous!!! It is impossible to accurately measure babies in the womb later in pregnancy. This fear based maternity care is getting completely out of control and I’m so angered that SO many people are having these experiences. The worry and anguish it’s causing to pregnant people and the induction of babies so early is SCANDALOUS and needs to stop!! What evidence did they have to tell you there could be something wrong with your baby?? Don’t they get that some humans are just smaller than others at birth?!! If they aren’t telling us baby is measuring small, they says baby is measuring big and lo and behold - they want to induce!!!