So I get a call this morning from my OB. My doctor leaves a message to call back. My ACTUAL doctor. "This can't be good, " I thought. My first thought was that they found something else in my urine culture from my L&D visit last Monday and were calling to tell me I needed to be on a different antibiotic. Because they did say it could take awhile to get the culture back.
I call the office back and my doctor gets on the phone and starts explaining to me that at my last u/s at the hospital last week (when I had my second visit in two weeks to L&D) that the u/s tech found that the baby's legs were very short. Meaning, they COULD be abnormally short. She was using the word "abnormality" and it was scaring the shit out of me. She asked me how tall I was and I said "5'0" (but actually I think Im 4'11 1/2, I just round up sometimes) and she said that it could very well be nothing at all since I'm so short and my husband is only 5'8-5'9. But that I have to get a follow up u/s. She said I could have one with them, but if they think it needs further examination they are just going to send us to a specialist. And that it was up to me what I wanted to do. So my first response was that we'd just go see the specialist and get a definite answer. But she said it can take up to two weeks sometimes to get in to see him. She did tell me not to worry that it could be nothing, etc. But who is she kidding? I AM A MESS RIGHT NOW. I am googling the hell out of this and worrying that our precious girl has dwarfism or something. Now, we will love her no matter what, but this has me FREAKING OUT BIG TIME. No one wants to hear something could be wrong with their baby :(
After thinking about it, I called back the OB office to see if it was possible for me get in an u/s with them sooner and if they still think something is wrong to just keep the specialist appt. But the nurse said my doctor said it's better to have a week or two in between to show some growth. So now I have no choice but to wait and worry for almost two weeks maybe. They are supposed to call me back with a date for my appt. And they better call me back TODAY.
What I don't understand is how it took ELEVEN days for me to get this phone call. I had that u/s 11 days ago. I could be seeing the specialist this week. And what else pisses me off is that the u/s tech said everything looked great with the baby!! I know maybe they aren't allowed to say, but that's bullshit! So we all left there that night thinking our baby is just perfect and doing well! :(
I am just PRAYING TO GOD that our little girl is just tiny with short legs and that nothing is wrong :( I went back through her u/s pictures just now and the last one from eleven days ago DOES show her legs looking very very very short :( Please say a prayer for us that everything is okay :(
Does anyone else have experience with this?
How am I supposed to function for the next few weeks??! :( I'm a freaking mess.
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28 comments:
I am so sorry that you have this added stress. Hoping that all is well and this was just a fluke of measurements and positioning of the baby. I had a friend who was going to be induced at 36 weeks due to growth issues of her son. After FOUR ultrasounds they decided to let her go another two weeks and then induce. I know that this is not the same exact thing as you are going through but goes to show that different techs measure differently as well as different machines work differently. Two weeks later she was induced and delivered a 7 lbs baby! This was her third child. The other two were born weighing in at almost 6 pounds flat(both went past their due dates). All the worrying, NST, ultrasounds, trips to her OB and her son was fine. I am also assuming its not too critical since if it was they would have booked you ASAP. Will be thinking of you and hope you get nothing but wonderful news!
First off, big ((hugs)). Hang in there!
Secondly, wouldn't the arms be measuring short as well if it was something like dwarfism? Based on how short you and your hubby are, it makes sense you'd have a short baby for goodness sakes!! TRY not to worry about it in the meantime. It won't change the outcome and that stress can't be good on you OR your little girl.
I'm guessing she is just going ot be short like her momma. My friend had this happen to her and she was terrified her whole pregnancy and she just has a little girl with a long torso and shorter legs - JUST LIKE HER. I hope this is the case for you too.
Oh my gosh I am so sorry that you have this to worry about. I am would think she may just be little like her Momma but that still wont make you stop the worry. I also think it can be hard for them to measure the baby. It does make sense that they would want to let a few weeks go by to check growth but those few weeks will be hard for you. I will be thinking of you!!!
I don't have any experience with that in and of itself, but I sure have experience with ultrasound measurements causing everyone to freak out when really, everything is ok.
I'm guessing what happened is her femur (and/or tib/fib--did they measure those) was showing behind compared to the head and abdomen? My neice, bless her little heart, takes after her daddy and is ALL torso. Not a dwarf, just short legs. My boys seem to take after me (going off u/s)--femur is always their biggest measurement, and I'm all legs.
I think sometimes ultrasounds don't quite take normal variation into account. Especially when you're early, and a few milimeters makes a weeks' difference...
I hope the specialist is able to put you at ease. Given that neither you nor your husband is tall, and epigenetics strongly correlates littler moms with littler babies, I'd lean towards "things are ok". Obviously follow up, but try not to worry too much.
*hugs*
I'm so sorry that you're dealing with this extra worry and that you have to wait to get answers. I hope she is perfectly healthy!!!
I'm so sorry you're going through this! I have a friend at work who had the exact same thing happen except that their doc left a message on their voicemail on a friday afternoon and actually used the word dwarf... talk about freaking out! They are similar to you, both shorter people and a year ago gave birth to their perfectly perportioned baby who was just a little small but is totally healthy! I know everyone's situation is different, but try to take some comfort from this story and know I'll be praying for you family!
I hate so much that you keep having things happen that freak you out and keep you stressed... I wish nothing more than for you to just be able to relax and enjoy this pregnancy because God how's you DESERVE it!
I was actually thinking the same thing today, that because you are so short and Matt is not super tall that it could very well just be that she's gonna be a shorty like her momma!
I am praying SOOOOO hard though and like I told you before, no matter WHAT the outcome, Samantha is going to be absolutely perfect.
I love you and you know I am ALWAYS here to vent, cry, freak out to...anytime. Hang in there.... Xoxo
I would definitely think since you are short and your hubby is short she is just going to be a short little princess! This happened to my friend who is the same height as you and her husband is short as well. She is just a tiny little girl, but the cutest little girl you have EVER SEEN! You can never tell by these ultrasounds. PRAYING HARD!
Ugh how scary and frustrating. I am thinking everything should be fine, based on the fact that both you and hubs are on the shorter side.
Thinking of you, I hope you get some answers very quickly!
Why do they make us worry like this? Its insane to make you stress out. Quite possibly it is that your child will be closer to your height. And I know from what you said, that even if she does have dwarfism ( I highly doubt it will be that) you'll love her all the same. I know I would too.
I hope that nothing is wrong. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
I know nothing I can say will make you worry less about your beautiful Samantha, but I will be praying and praying for you and your baby.
first of all STAY AWAY FROM GOOGLE!!!
I completely understand how you are worried when DD's head was measuring waaaay behind the rest of her body I completely freaked out about it...google had me convinced she had some kind of problem for sure. And like you the u/s tech never said anything...it was only when i went for my 3D u/s 7 weeks later did I notice it!
but DH has a small head too. Her head circumference is always around the 10-15th percentile while the rest of her body is in the 90+...she just takes after my dad and I'm sure the same is true of Samantha!
I'm sorry you are dealing with this :(
I had a similar situation with my pregnancy last year, with extra ultrasounds because my son's head was 'abnormally small' and his legs so long. They were beginning to talk about early delivery and IUGR (growth slowing/stopping) etc.
But guess what? My baby boy was born at 39 weeks at 7lb 2oz and has a tiny head with long, long legs. And nine months on... he still does! Hasn't affected his development whatsoever, just takes after me with the small head and my hubby's long limbs. ;)
I guess that by sharing my story, I wasnt to reassure you - the doctors are just trying to safeguard themselves and ensure a healthy baby either way. :)
Oh babes. Ok I agree with Josey that the arms would have to be short and wouldn't the head have to be out of proportion? Maybe it was just a bad shot of the baby. Our 12w you can't even see the legs but then the next day at the OB you could totally see them. I am so sorry you have to be going through this. It is bullshit. These day's they tell you everything just to cover their arses should something go wrong. I know that it is useless telling you not to stress because I would be too but I have faith that Samantha is perfectly perfect. hang in there and sending you lots of love. Besides you are less than 5ft tall, you were never going to give birth to a giraffe! xxxxx
Hi Sarah. I'm Kristen's sister-in-law and I remember when my good friend was pregnant, they noticed her daughter appeared very small on the ultrasound as well. She was born a normal healthy girl but has always been short for her age right from the beginning. Her mom is about 5'3'' and her dad 5'9" so she is just on the short side. I just wanted to reassure you that it could very well be as simple as this. Ultrasounds are a great measuring tool but sometimes can be a bit inaccurate. They were concerned my daughter would be a low birthweight based on all the ultrasounds (she measured small) but she was a healthy 7 lbs. and 20 inches. She IS a peanut to this day (she's almost 9), yet healthy. Anyway, I just wanted to encourage you that this may be nothing to worry about. Try not to stress too much (I know, easier said than done).
~Jill
Can't the reasons to worry just go away!!!!! I am so sorry you are getting this news and having be scared and worried for something that will likely be nothing! I bet she's just going to be a cute little short thing, just like her mama!!! Head up...we got the prayers going!
I really hope that everything is fine with baby Samantha. Try not to freak out as hard as that may be. She's probably just short like her parents. I'm about 5'1 and have short little legs.
When it rains it pours huh?? I'm sorry you're going through another stressful situation! I'm with everyone else and am betting it is just because samantha is going to be a little peanut! Try and hang in there and know you are doing all you can do. xoxo
I really hope everything with your sweet girl is ok. I'm sure they are just being overly causious. We had to go to see the fetal specialist with both pregnancies. Danny's mother was born with Tetrology of Fallot( a hold between the chmbers of her heart.) She has had many many heart surgeries akd they were concerned could he genetically carried to our children. I'm sorry you have to go through this. Like I said everyone errs on the side of caution. And the added bonus is, once they determine that everything is okay, the ultrasound at the specialist is amazing. We got to see all 4 chambers of our babies heart pumping with an ultrasound. How nuts is that? Take a deep breath. This is nothing that you can't handle.
I agree with many of the comments - ultrasounds can be very inaccurate and misleading. Jackson was supposedly small for gestational age (and a girl) when he was in utero...and he was born 7lbs 3.4oz. WTF? They sure know a lot in the medical field but they also really DON'T know a lot! I know you are just going to worry - it's what us moms do. But try to keep perspective. Until there is something for sure to worry about (which I really do doubt here), please try to rest and enjoy this a little bit, if you can...
Oh, ultrasounds are just the medical world's way of freaking out pregnant women. The tech was most likely correct that it was perfect. You're both short people, so why would your baby have super long legs??? I'm so sorry they've made you worry!
i am sure everything is going to be just fine. i know it's scary not knowing for sure, but doctors always give you the worst case scenario. you and your little one will definitely be in my prayers. hang in there! everything is going to be okay, I just know it. big hugs!
I've been thinking of you all night. I think it is absolute bullshit that they waited this long to let you know, but I also know that now you just have to focus on the fact that this is probably NOTHING. Do you hear me. You have every right to be as freaked out as you need to be, but the rest of us are going to stay confident that this is a case of your baby being the cutest little nugget who happens to be petite (which totally makes since because you are too). I am hear if you need anything ok...anything!
thinking of you and your baby
So sorry you have to deal with this sweetie! I pray that your little one is just laying weird or that she is just a small baby.
I know you have to be scared. I wish there was something I could do.
I agree with others, I'm afraid they might have scared you unnecessarily. It sucks that it took them so long to contact you though, were they really just getting around to looking at your u/s? I'll be thinking of you and hoping your next appointment confirms that everything is just fine with your little babe.
We're going through the same process as of this week. We're going for some advance level 2 ultrasound since the nurse stated that the femur is not growing the same rate as everything else. I know my daughter who is 7 has long legs but my son who is 15 months old was born with short legs but normal. Either way, I just hope he is born healthy - short legs or downs. I'll love him the same way.
I'll let you know what happens when we deliver.
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