Short Legs?

[Seacretsquirrel]

Hi there, I am hoping someone can shed some light on my U/S results.
I am 31 weeks pregnant and had an U/S last week to check on bubs growth (he or she was a twin but the second bub didn't make it- so they wanted to make sure that bub was growing normally)
Now bubs was in a breach presentation and the U/S tech said nothing when I asked about bubs legs (he or she is pretty quiet on the movement front as was my other bub - and she is fine) but when I read the report that arrived in the mail today said that all the measurements are in the 50th % which is fine but the femur was in the 3rd % now I am concerned that there is something to worry about???? if anyone can shed some light on this occurance it would be greatly appreciated.
TIA

[Seacretsquirrel]

I know it is christmas but Anyone?????

[MrsMiggins]

I'm not sure about the percentiles, but is either you or your DH short?

My DD had a very short femur length in all her scans (I had several due to Placenta Praevia). For instance, at my scan at 19 weeks, her head circumference measured 19 weeks 1 day, her abdominal circumference measured 21 weeks, 3 days and her femur length measured 17 weeks 1 day. (I thought to myself - great! she's her dad!!) My DH has short legs, so I guess she just managed to score that gene.

Even after she was born, she always had very short legs, but she's starting to catch up a little now, at 3 years old.

I'm not sure if femur length can be an inidcation of problems.

[Seacretsquirrel]

Thanks Mrs Miggins Both DH and I are indeed shorties! however after much searching I found out that the average femur length is 5.6 cm and bub is 5.3 so really 3 mm is not a great deal I am going to jump up and down till I get another scan as I have zero confidence in the guy I saw in Darwin and so I am going to take advantage of being in Brisbane to get a 2nd opinion.

[mim1]

Yeah, my only comment is that ultrasounds are not a precise art - 5.3cm might be the 3rd percentile, but 5.8cm might be the 95th percentile (I'm just guessing by the way) ... that's only 5mm difference and that's a pretty small distance to measure on a tiny, moving baby on ultrasound. Hopefully a 2nd scan will help ease your concerns.

[Seacretsquirrel]

Thanks I am having a scan in the next week here in brisbane as they want a scan done here as aposed to the ones done in Darwin so I get the extra scan without having to jump up and down but the Dr I saw today was quite reasuring and agreed with you mim1 it is a very small thing to measure and she said it is hard to be exact (like anything you measure you might measure 3 times and get 3 diff measurements) but as this is the first mention of any issues with bub she said it is likely to be nothing (no other soft markers for genetic issues such as down syndrome) which is relief.