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RP from 3rd tri: LO's arms and legs 3-5%...I am terrified

julessixerjulessixer
in Babies: 0 - 3 Months

hi everyone,

I posted on 3rd tri board about my son's growth ultrasound. I was sent for a growth ultrasound at 35 weeks b/c i was measuring a little small (33 weeks at 35).  Turns out my son is in the 13% for overall growth.  I had another regular appt today at 37 weeks, with a different dr, and she told me that the reason he is in the 13th percentile is b/chis arms and legs are measuring in the 3-5 percentile.  His head and his stomach are measuring 25-30th %

She told me short arms and legs are typically soft markers for downs syndrome but the were all but able to rule that out within 95% certainty with the genetic testing we had done at 14 weeks.  Also, she felt they could rule out dwarfism b/c they didn't detect any skeletal abnormalities.

I asked for another ultrasound, but she said they wouldn't send me for one, b/c it wouldn't be "medically significant" She said that all of his organs look great and I am growing week to week by their measurements.  Pretty much she said the only thing to do is wait until he is born to make sure he ok.  I haven't been able to stop crying since I left the drs, I am just terrified something is terribly wrong with our son.  Its not even so much the he is measuring in the 13% that I am scared about, its the extremely short arms and legs measurements. 

Does anyone have any experience with short measurements in their babies arms and legs?  What did your drs tell you?  

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Re: RP from 3rd tri: LO's arms and legs 3-5%...I am terrified

  • anabell0920anabell0920 member

    Exactly the same! I can't remember the exact measurements but his arms and legs were measuring WAY smaller then the rest of him. They did two extra u/s to rule out dwarfism and any other problems. They said more than likely he would be a shortie like me and his daddy ( I am 5 ft, dh 5"6). At my 40 week appointment his limbs were measuring at around 34 weeks (u/s done for me being overdue)! I was still worried but knew that no amount of worrying would change anything and all the extra stress sure wasn't helping him! Guess what he was born PERFECT! 6 lbs 11 oz, 18.5 inches, today at 2 months he is 11 lbs 11 oz, 22 inches.

    I know it's scary trust me but your gonna love your little baby no matter what and nothing is gonna change that and just remember u/s are estimates! Good luck!!  How tall are you and your SO?

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  • julessixerjulessixer

    Thank you so much for sharing that with me...I needed to hear something encouraging and seeing your beautiful, smiling son gives me hope.  We are both average height, I am about 5'7'', and my Dh is about 6ft.  My mom and my brother are both on the shorter side though...esp my brother who is shorter than me, about 5'5''. 

    did they send you for any other testing beyond the u/s, or mention any other possible disorders/ birth defects?  (beyond down's and dwarfism?)  I asked her, and she told me there were other possibilities but that would just scare me more! 

    Congratulations on your beautiful son, and thanks again for sharing your story with me.

     

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  • jkmccall22jkmccall22

    My experience may not be much consolation, but with DS, his femur measurements were weeks (3 or 4) behind the rest of his measurements on my last couple of U/S (they never measured his arms).  I was worried, too, but my OB never really seemed concerned.  I'm 5'7" and DH is 6'3".  DS was 20" at birth, 24" at 2 month checkup and is currently 32" at 14 months.  He's tall for his age, but has a long torso and shorter legs.  DH is built like that, as well, so I am guessing that's where he gets it from. 

    It does no good for anyone to tell you not to worry.  We're mothers...that's what we do :)  However, in my research, most of the information stated that there would likely be other indicators of any abnormality aside from short limb measurements and that gave me some comfort.  T&P that the remainder of your pregnancy goes smoothly!

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  • armywife76armywife76 member

    Ok, I know you're scared and that this is a little different, but just wanted to tell you my story in hopes it will help. We were told our baby had an omphalocele where his intestines would be outside his belly. We had a high-risk pg with u/s almost weekly, fetal echo's, MRI's, amniocentesis, etc. and were told up until three days before our son was born that it was stil there and that he would have to have surgery immediately after birth. We were also diagnosed with IUGR, less than 10% for growth at 36 1/2 weeks and they estimated him at 5 lbs.

    We delivered by c-section at 37 weeks at a specialty hospital 3 1/2 hrs away from home since he required a level 3 NICU. He was taken to the NICU after birth and not only did he weigh almost a pound more than they predicted, but his O had COMPLETELY healed! He didn't have to have surgery and we went home 4 days later. I pray that everything is ok with your baby and try if you can to stay positive because u/s's are not exact and chances are everything will be fine. GL!!

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  • anabell0920anabell0920 member
    imagejulessixer:

    Thank you so much for sharing that with me...I needed to hear something encouraging and seeing your beautiful, smiling son gives me hope.  We are both average height, I am about 5'7'', and my Dh is about 6ft.  My mom and my brother are both on the shorter side though...esp my brother who is shorter than me, about 5'5''. 

    did they send you for any other testing beyond the u/s, or mention any other possible disorders/ birth defects?  (beyond down's and dwarfism?)  I asked her, and she told me there were other possibilities but that would just scare me more! 

    Congratulations on your beautiful son, and thanks again for sharing your story with me.

     

    Thank you and no problem! Nope no other testing other than the U/S's they said dwarfism was ruled out because it would have been evident very fast and that any other problems didn't seem likely but there was no way to be 100%. What is funny I forgot about all that stuff right when he was born and when my friend saw him she mentioned how he looked no different than any other baby with his limbs/ body proportions. I know it's natural to stress but try your best to enjoy all those belly moves! I miss it now that he is here! Good luck again!!

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  • zapgurl44zapgurl44 member
    I also have a similar story. I measured small my entire pregnancy.  My LO was diagnosed IUGR at 32 weeks.  They delivered me at 37wks because DD fell off the growth curve.  They said she would only be about 4lbs at birth.  She was 6lbs 8oz!  I worried everyday until the day she was born if she was going to be OK.  I think there is a large margin of error with the U/S measurements.  I might be mistaken but don't they do a blood test in 2nd tri for down's and also at the anatomy scan there are other markers that show up for down's.  Lots of T &P's for you and your LO.
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    BFP #1 9/6/2009 EDD 5/29/10. Missy Moo born 5/12/10 after 3 months of bedrest due to PTL, IC and a bicornuate ute causing IUGR
    BFP # 2 1/28/12 EDD 10/6/12 No heartbeat seen @ 10 weeks, Autumn
    BFP #3 8/18/12 EDD 5/2/13 No heartbeat seen at 7w3d, Mae
    BFP #4 01/31/2013 EDD 10/15/2013 No HB seen in our little girl at 10w2d due to trisomy 12, Abigail
    BFP #5 6/27/2013 EDD 3/10/2014 diagnosed with protein S deficiency heparin twice a day. Luke's HB stopped at 8wks
    BFP#6 12/22/2013 EDD 9/4/2014 No HB seen at 7w2d, Leia

    BFP #7- 5/12/14 EDD 01/2015, ruptured ectopic 5/31/14

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