Short Extremeties at 28 week ultrasound

[mom2359]

I had normal ultrasound in 1st and 2nd trimester.  No problems at either one.  I declined the amnio, but did the maternity 21 test which should no risk for downs or other genetic defects.  When I went for the 3rd trimester ultrasound, the doc said the baby boy was measuring with small bones, femur in the 5th percentile.  The other measurements are all normal (head circum, abdominal, etc).  He said straight off "this could be beginnings of dwarfism".  Now I'm terrified.  I'm 5'6" and my husband is 6'2" and neither family has any history of dwarfism.  Has anyone had a similar diagnosis?  My normal OBGYN said not to worry just yet.  Could be the angle of the measurement, could just be smaller limbs (all bodies are different), he could grow once born, etc etc.  But I'm worried about the ultrasound findings.  We go back in 2 weeks for another measurement, but I'm wondering if anyone else has experienced this and what the outcomes were.  Other than the short bones, the pregnancy has been totally healthy.

[mom2359]

I went for the follow up yesterday.  His bones have all grown, so he's still growing along the curve, just at the very bottom percentile.  Doctor said this can rule out dwarfism since he's still growing along the curve.  He still wants me to go back at 32 weeks (2 weeks) to check again, but it sounds like everything will be fine.   Just will have a small baby, who will grow!  Thanks for all the help.

[mom2359]

thanks everyone! we go on thursday the 30th for another ultrasound to check the growth progress. hopefully it will be along the right curve, just on the small side...

[babysheets828]

Drs are wrong on these things all the time, I know THREE people whose drs told them their kids would definitely have down syndrome, one even insisted she terminate hers, she refuses and she now has a healthy, brilliant 7 yr old.  The other 2 children are fine too!  So as hard as it is try to stress :)

[2ndbaby162]

What a horrible Dr! Your baby will be fine. Throw away comments like that are just unnecessary and stressful on the parents. My daughters femers measured around the 20th centile and she's taller then all the kids we know including ones a year older than her. They have growth spurts in the womb and continuously when they arrive so don't worry x

[mom2359]

Thank you!  I am 5'6" and my husband is 6'2".  The doctor did say "maybe it's because you're so petite"...but I'm NOT petite!  I feel that everything MUST be fine, but I am very worried by the numbers showing so small.  They aren't saying it's downs...he said "could be the beginnings of dwarfism".  I'm glad everything worked out for you.

[lady1876]

Plz excuse s typos. Using mobile

[lady1876]

These doctors irritate me. They told me my babys nasal bone was missing and a spot on d heart and that's 2 mark down for down syndrome, they ayressed me the hell out. I will not do no amino test, ita risky and just as how everyone isn't alike , babies dont measure d same. They did a blood draw to test for ds since i said not to the amino, and everything was negative and normal. Dont worry, trust god and pray, dont allow this to worry u too much. Easier said than done i know, but it also happened with a family and with a friend and all was well

[tomorrow264]

My first son had short femurs when they did my anatomy scan but was 20inches when born. Which is in the normal range. I'm 5"1 and my hubby is 6"1. He's now 12 and a little on the short side but there is/was nothing wrong.