High Quad Test and Small Femur

[NervousFrank16]

Hi all, I think I’m just looking for reassurance or to hear from someone with a similar experience!
35, IVF pregnancy, no living children - previous early miscarriage. Unexplained infertility.
Baby wouldn’t cooperate at 12 week scan so had to come back at 15 week for ultrasound and quad test.
Technically all measurements are within range however femur is right on the line (so 6th percentile?), told everything is normal. Husband and I both tall - 6ft1 and 5ft8. However all of my family are short - sister is 5ft.
The quad test has come back high risk for T21 at a ratio of 82 to 1… rationally I know this is only a 1.3% chance, however combined with the short femur (that midwife etc not worried about) I am worrying myself silly. I have elected for NIPT, but just not sure how to get through the next 10 days…

None of the hormone markers on the quad are massively out of the ordinary, but do follow the pattern of T21.

would love to hear from anyone with a similar story.

Im very much not an expert here, but the femur part of your OP made me notice because I had part of this issue 15 years ago. When they first measured the femur it was considered short and so was I think the humerus. We were put down to come back again for more ultrasounds and assessments and when they measured again the bones were within the normal range. When I was asking about this, they said they click quickly and the measurements have room for error. When they measured more slowly and carefully the bones were within normal range and all was fine.

I’m so sorry you’re going through this waiting period feeling so worried. All you can do is try and really look after yourself while waiting for the NIPT and be in as healthy a place as you can be until then. Make sure you eat well, stay hydrated and get yourself out and about, listen to some audiobooks and try and fight down the anxiety that will be clawing at you. I have had lots of scary times during pregnancy and I have so much sympathy for you, it’s awful waiting and worrying. Sending lots of love.

Thank you for your reply. From what I can see (on google - I know I need to stop!) the short femur appears to be common and babies turn out absolutely fine. It’s the two things combined that have be worried… and I’m just so so cross with myself that we didn’t pay for NIPT at 10 weeks!
we are due to go on holiday for a week abroad - I am not sure if this is a good or bad thing!
my husband is so so positive and balances out my worry - he sees it as over 98% change everything will be fine. Wish I could be more like him!

All you can do is go on holiday and try all you can to let it wash over you. Try some mindfulness apps, watch comedies, whatever you can to keep the stress at bay. It’s awful waiting for tests. I went through so many and would be forgetting things and glazing over during the waiting period my brain was fried! It’s normal to be worried ❤️