Follow up us results=scared momma (UPDATE POSTED=GREAT NEWS!)

sbride68 · February 2015

So we went last Friday for our fourth ultrasound. We had the 9 week the 21 week a/s and two follow ups from it. The results kept coming up that her head was measuring larger than her legs and that her kidneys were measuring larger than they should be. At the us before this last one her kidneys had gone back to normal but they are now larger again than they should be for her gestational age. Her femurs are also shorter than what they should be for gestational age. So after two follow up ultrasounds my dr is referring me to the university hospital for a more in depth ultrasound. I am scared to death something is wrong with my baby. My parents had urged me to switch hospitals before this last us and my husband and I decided to stay at the one we were at because we like our dr there. Now I think I do want to change. I just want to be sure she has the best care if she needs it and the university is able to provide that. I hate switching this far along but I'm just so scared right now I don't know what to do. The nurse of course said not to worry because her legs could just be genetics and she could just be short but it may be an indication of a problem as well so that's why they want to get it check out further. I'm sitting here at work and seriously all I want to do is cry but I'm trying to stay strong and healthy for my baby.

marym94 · February 2015

I'm so so sorry for your concern and I can't imagine how tough it must be right now. Will be praying for you and your sweet baby and trust that God has formed this baby perfectly according to His will. Again I am so sorry for this news for you and your husband.

beaseg · February 2015

I'd switch doctors. Or at least go get a second opinion if you can? It sounds like you're super scared and time may not help with that. I know personally I'd need to go to the best of the best and get all the answers I could.

You're in a really tough position. I completely understand not wanting to leave. I wish you the best, and will be praying for your sweet babe!

Shanfrey82 · February 2015

Sending you lots of prayers and peace, sweet mama!! I would switch and align yourself with the kind of care that she might need to just have that reassurance but sending tons of prayers and hugs that all will be ok.

saric83 · February 2015

I'm so sorry you're going through this!! Hopefully, you get answers soon. I would hold off on switching docs until after you know more from the in-depth us at the university hospital. Cross that bridge when you get to it. It sounds like this has potential to be nothing, and if that's the case, it doesn't seem to make sense to leave your doctor since you said you and your husband like them so far. Good luck with everything!

sbride68 · February 2015

Another reason I am considering switching is because even though I like the dr we have, in order to get any questions answered you have to ask to speak with the nurse who very rarely can answer right then so hopefully it isn't super important and if they do call you back it may be the next day all together if they remember. I have had to call to get the results of my last 2 ultrasounds and my blood test for gd. I wanted to talk directly with my dr one day and it took her two days to finally get ahold of me. I don't like that part. That is the only thing that really makes me uncomfortable there. Other than that our dr seems to mesh well with us but I just want to make sure our baby girl gets the proper care needed no matter what even if it means switching to the university now.

sbride68 · February 2015

Also thank you thank you thank you to all you ladies for your thoughts and prayers. It puts me at a little more ease to know that my family and my bump community stand with me when I need them. I also try to be there for you all if needed. Thank you all again

PutMeintheZoo · February 2015

Thoughts and prayers are with you! Thinking of you and baby ~

TBsquared · February 2015

I'm sorry your going through this. I hope it nothin and your baby is perfect!

kmb0324 · February 2015

Thinking of you and baby and praying for you!

katielyn1 · February 2015

Sorry you're going through this! Will be praying!

saric83 · February 2015

If you're having those issues with the doctor's office, then definitely switch. If you have the option, find one that uses "My Chart" or something like it. All of lab results post in there immediately once they're done, and I can email the doctor any questions, schedule appointments, etc. It has been so lovely to not deal with the waiting game. Good luck!

mghall8 · February 2015

I had a similar situation. My baby's head is showing a month ahead of his body. My regular dr has been checking it since December and finally advised us to go get a second opinion at the university hospital to ease our minds. We went last week and the university hospital had such better equipment. You could see so much more on the ultrasounds. Our dr there checked everything in detail and says he thinks he just has a big head. So it definitely calmed us down. Prayers to you and your baby!

sbride68 · February 2015

mghall8 said:
I had a similar situation. My baby's head is showing a month ahead of his body. My regular dr has been checking it since December and finally advised us to go get a second opinion at the university hospital to ease our minds. We went last week and the university hospital had such better equipment. You could see so much more on the ultrasounds. Our dr there checked everything in detail and says he thinks he just has a big head. So it definitely calmed us down. Prayers to you and your baby!

I am praying that is all that it is or that she will just be short due to family history but my mind can't help but jump to the absolute worst thing which is Down syndrome. And that truly scares me. I know I will love her either way but it is scary. When I mentioned my fear of this to the nurse giving me my results she quickly shot down that fear and said that I should not have to worry about that at all but each issue we have had points to that when I google it. Which I know Dr Google is a horrible dr and I shouldn't even have searched it but I wanted to know more. Her results have been her kidneys holding more fluid than they should and then at the next ultrasound being perfectly fine to this last ultrasound where they were holding more fluid again than they should be, her femurs measuring smaller than they should be for gestational stage. She had a calcium spot in the left ventricle of her heart but even I noticed from the last ultrasound to this last one we had that it had faded immensely. It was super bright at the first one and at this one it was kind of dull but still noticeable. And those are the things they are monitoring. I couldn't help but notice that we have never seen her hands open at any ultrasound. We have seen her suck her thumb and move her hands around but have yet to see them actually open. I asked if that was normal and the tech told me that most babies keep their hands closed. I find that a little odd.

But on the plus side I am going to call tomorrow and see if the university got my records and if so schedule the ultrasound and my next appointment. That way we can hopefully get a little peace of mind. I can't help but feel like crying constantly because I'm so worried and I try not to because I know it's not good for the baby. It's so hard!

sbride68 · February 2015

The hospital called this morning with my appointment time for the ultrasound. The university called them instead of me but the date happens to work out good. I called their womens center to schedule a regular ob appointment and they want me to see a high risk dr just in case so they are waiting for the high risk nurse to get out of an appointment and call me back. They didn't know if they could get me in the same day because it usually takes 2 weeks for a new patient but they may make an exception since I am coming from out of town for other appointments. So fx they call here soon!

Pumpkineyez · February 2015

We were told my son had short femurs in my first pregnancy and told we needed a further scan and consultation. I remember so clearly the feeling in my stomach when I Googled short femurs and it came up with soft marker for Downs Syndrome. The consultant was happy that he had shorter legs because myself and my husband are short people. Despite this I worried and obsessed for the rest of the pregnancy and guess what? He was competely fine, just not a big boy. He is now nearly 3 and a normal height. This baby is also measuring a bit behind with her femurs but I'm assuming she is just like her brother. Nobody is concerned this time. Try to minimise the panic if you can. Nothing is certain and these scans can be wildly inaccurate!

I have no useful advice about switching doctors as I'm from England and with our health service you kind of get what you're given as it's not private. I would very strongly advise against Googling anymore as it will present the worst case scenario and also people tend to discuss the times things go wrong more than when they are fine. Just wanted to tell you about an experience where it turned out fine. Good luck with everything x

sbride68 · February 2015

Thank you @Pumpkineyez that makes me feel a little bit better. We have the second level scan scheduled so hopefully that can soothe my fears. They want me to see a high risk dr just as a precaution to start out at the university so we will see what happens. I will be upset with the first hospital if I end up being high risk when they told me everything was okay and sunshine and roses. Your story definitely does make me feel better though. Thank you for sharing

Pumpkineyez · February 2015

I really hope they ease your mind and you can enjoy the rest of your pregnancy. Let us know how it goes x

sbride68 · February 2015

I definitely will update afterwards @Pumpkineyez

they got me schedule the next day after the ultrasound for a regular on appointment so hopefully we will be on the right track now for the two week appointments and everything. I am anxious to get this level two ultrasound and be able to see more of what they think may be going on. It has been nice getting to see my baby girl every month at the ultrasounds but I will hopefully not have I worry about seeing her until she arrives after this Thursday. We will see I guess.

shri929 · February 2015

If it makes you feel better my mother told me my head measured larger than my legs and I'm (pretty) normal, just short!

sbride68 · March 2015

UPDATE: We went today and had the follow up level 2 ultrasound. They did an entire anatomy scan again and thoroughly looked over everything. The dr came in and went over it all with us and said that everything looks perfect. She said that the concerns that the first hospital had seen were not even visible on this ultrasound. She said that the femurs were growing within range and were nothing to worry about and that her head is measuring a little large, but that it was not anything to worry about health wise. They said her kidneys were well within range as well and they did not see the echogenic spot on her heart today. In the exact words of the doctor that went over everything with us our little girl is "beautiful and perfectly healthy" from the looks of the scan. They said at this point in time there is no signs of Downs that they could see or indicate. So that is nothing to worry about right now. The absolute best news we could have gotten! We also got in for a regular OB appointment too so that way we are completely switched to the university hospital. We absolutely love it there so far. They explained everything so well and answered all of our questions instead of just what they wanted to and really put all of our fears at ease. I am so excited to deliver up there now and am super happy that our little girl is healthy and growing correctly. God has truly blessed us! Thank you all for the thoughts and prayers.