22 week ultrasound results got me worried. Would you get another us?

[gorgorita]

Hello. This might be a little long but I need to vent and oh my, I really need some hugs right now.
I had an US at 22 weeks and they found that the femur (thigh bone ) is short by 2 weeks. They also couldn't visualize face meaning they couldn't see mouth and nose. It's there but they couldn't get a clear image. everything else was right on track and beautiful.
My mw said not to worry.Well, easier said then done. The internet is so bad in this situation. I found on the great google that short femur is a marker for down syndrome. The fact that they couldn';t see face is not reassuring either. I will be 29 years old when baby comes and although not considered a high risk for DS a woman my age can have a baby with DS.
I am sick and worried. MW offered another scan at 32 weeks to follow up. She said not to worry, it's probably nothing and that it could be intrauterine growth restriction and if it is present at 32 week US then we would need to watch closely and maybe deliver before due date. Not my ideal natural birth I'am anticipating
I am so sorry that i did this stupid US. I didn't want to and felt there is nothing to gain from it but I went anyway. The tech who performed the US was very unhappy and I noticed it. I even thought to myself - she'll sure find something wrong. I could feel how angry she was like she was having a really tough day. I brushed off the feeling and proceeded with the scan. The baby was moving around and she couldn't catch him most of the time. Few times it was even painful how hard she pressed to see the baby. She said she can't get clear pictures of this little one and that if they ask me to come for a follow up, then I should drink 24 oz of fluids. Right there i thought to myself that they will sure order a follow up.
Then my mw called and said that the femur is short and they couldn't visualize nose and mouth. It killed me. Everywhere on the internet it's said that femur is an important marker for down or other abnormality.
Now I don't know what to do. I will call mw on Monday to ask how bad it sounds and maybe ask for a US in 2 weeks? I didn't do any testing because I didn't want to know the chances for any abnormality. Now this stupid US keeps me worried and I can't and somewhat don't want to bond with the baby. I don't talk to him/her, don't dance or rock him/ her. I hate being so worried. I am already starting to grieve this little one. I can't help it. My intuition says that it could be nothing but then I get images in my head of the life with a child with DS and I get so upset. I
I don't want to do amnio
Should I forgo the US entirely and try to relax?
Get a test for abnormality?
Get US in 2 weeks or wait until 32 weeks?
Is it possible that the tech just got the measurement wrong? she really looked tired and not nice. Maybe she just marked that part incorrectly and it came as 3 inches less than it should be?
Please tell me something nice
I know that it probably means nothing and that the baby takes its time to develop different parts of the body at different rates and can be off from standards. I really don't like the modern medical system and sometimes I think it's more to hurt than heal . the scan can standardize the unborn child and make it's predictions but the nature is wiser and doesn't follow such strict rules.
Did anyone had anything like that showing up on the scan and then it was nothing?

[MaerynPearl]

What will change if your child has DS?

First of all, an ultrasound cannot diagnose it for sure, it can only tell you there's a chance... and if there's a chance, I would read as much as I can on it and not worry about another ultrasound. I would not automatically assume the child had it but would prepare myself in case they do... but that is what I would do.

I think really you just have to figure out what you would do differently if the baby did have DS.


And yes, its VERY possible she just got the measurement wrong... because of the angle the leg was in for example. Ive heard of ultrasounds coming back with something wrong that turns out to be nothing quite often!

On the other end of the spectrum I recently read a birth story of a lady who had a beautiful little girl with DS that did not show up on ultrasound at all. Ultrasounds are not failproof!

[CorasMama]

I'm sure it's nothing. But if the reassurance you'll get from another u/s will help you get back to bonding with the baby, I'd go ahead and do it.

When we got the bad news about our baby (birth defect, but if it's all there is, then a good survival rate), we debated over when to get the cvs or amnio, to check for chromosomal anomalies. Now, I'm NOT suggesting you need to go get an amnio, but our baby's chance, with this one birth defect that we knew she had, there was a really significant (like, 30%) chance of one of the really bad trisomies. I found myself completely unable to bond with the baby anymore, so we moved the date for the testing up, and it was really helpful to me. So, if a second ultrasound would help, do it!

[47chromosomes]

Well, up front, my oldest son has Down Syndrome. I had him when I was 25.

Your reaction and worry is very normal, so I am not judging. I was devestated when we received a DS diagnosis when my son was 2 months old. I will tell you, it is not a devestating life we lead. It is a beautiful life with a couple adjustments to normal. And listen, if you are finding it hard to bond with your child over a remote possibility, then those are some feelings to explore. Every child will have their struggles and challenges, and you will have to deal with those as they come. BUT, it is certainly much harder to work through your feelings when you are not staring the incredible life of your child right in the eyes as you hold their warm little body in your own two arms.

So, as for your u/s. I'd say if the only thing you have going on is a shorter than *average* femur length, then that is no big deal. I don't know what it means that they could not get a visual on the face. Children with DS certainly have faces, the only thing that would be different is that many baby's with DS have a low or no nasal bone (it's there, just very flat). Maybe baby was looking in the wrong direction.

You are certainly entitled to ask for another u/s. You can openly explain the the tech was in a poor mood, snapped at you about needing to drink more fluids before hand, and even said they could not get clear pics. Peace of mind is important, as is bonding with your baby, so I suggest working on peace of mind and bonding in the mean time anyway, but perhaps scheduling a follow-up, even if your midwife is not worried.

But listen, if the tech got a good look at the organs, and did not find anything unusual, and if they got a look at feet and shape of head and everything was fine, I think you are good to go. I will say, our 20 week u/s for our son who has DS was perfect. You never know. Our 20 week u/s for our second son had a bit of a shorter femur, but no other markers at all, so we were not in the least bit worried.

Okay, I'll stop rambling. Prayers for peace for you tonight.

[NicolleLynne]

Hi Mama,

First off, - At my 20 week scan the perinatologist said that our little girl's stomach was much too small. He said to try not to worry and encouraged us to come back for another ultrasound a week later. Of course, I got home, got online and within 10 minutes had myself good and terrified over a myriad of frightening possibilities. A week later, I nervously returned to the doctor's office for another scan and lo and behold, the baby's stomach was normal size and has been in all subsequent exams. When I asked about the discrepancy, the doctor said it was most likely due to the baby emptying her bladder right before the first scan.

Situations like these are so personal and unique and I don't believe there's any one right answer. Based on my experience I would recommend another scan in two weeks, just to set your mind at ease and enable you to reconnect with your little one but only you know what's right for you and your baby. I wish you much luck and hope, whatever you decision you make, it brings you peace.

[CorasMama]

Also, don't feel bad about the sudden trouble bonding. It's a totally normal reaction, a knee-jerk subconscious psychological self-protection thing. You will get past it, even on the very tiny chance that your baby does have an issue.

[RedOakMomma]

With our first pregnancy, they found an abnormality with Baby B's heart. We absolutely went in for another ultrasound. In our case it was medically important, but it was also important for our peace of mind. I couldn't have waited and wondered through the last 3+ months.

[CherryBomb]

I just want to echo what 47 said. I don't have a child with DS myself (though I do have a child with CP, serious visual impairment, and developmental delay), but I did work for a year with adults with DS. They really are real, complete people like anyone else. They just look different and have some degree of developmental delay. But they have likes and dislikes and a full range of emotional, unique personalities, etc.

Since you seem so upset, I'd go for the second u/s and request a different tech. Most likely everything will turn out fine, but if something is "wrong" with the baby, it gives you that much more time to adjust.

[darkblue0729]

I just wanted to wish you peace, luck, and hope during this journey mama.

[etsdtm99]

the measurement could totally be wrong..

and .. the femur is measuring 2 weeks smaller than your dates? or than the rest of the body? my DS's head measured about 10 days ahead and his femur measured a week or so short, i thought that was a BIG gap between the femur and the head (the other parts were somewhere around dates) but the dr. never said anything.. and you know what? he has short legs and a huge head, but he is perfectly normal otherwise

i would just get another u/s , sooner rather than later if it were up to me for your own sanity - to double check the measurements and just go from there.. there are many many other markers for downs .. personally, i would not do any other testing .. just give yourself a chance with a non-grouchy u/s tech and make sure you are reeally well hydrated..

[WaitingForKiddos]

I stopped putting up with crap scans and bad techs.

If it were me Id get a referral to a perinatologist for another anatomy scan asap. You have no need to think about the what ifs. Just clear your mind, get a good scan from a good tech, and then you'll have your information.

[lmk1]

I just wanted to chime in and say that u/s has +/- 2 weeks measurement error. Ask your mw about that or google that to verify. I know ds#2's head was measuring one week small...which could be true, my dh has a small head and so does ds#1 (but both have pretty good brains!) . With ds#1, they also couldn't visualize his face...that means nothing! If you're having trouble bonding, I would go and do another u/s and/or maybe the AFP, which is where they take your blood to test it for other down syndrome markers. Seriously, do whatever it takes to reassure yourself that your baby is ok. And on the extremely small chance that there is something actually wrong, then it's much better to know now, and process your feelings well before the baby is born....you don't want to have bonding issues once your child is in your arms...that's when he's really going to need you (down syndrome or not!).

[poorlittlefish]

Just wanted to throw out there that our close friends just had a baby on Saturday that measured a short femur. They watched it closely and were very worried but he came out without any issues and does not have DS.

I hope that you can find some peace.

[oddduck]

I just wanted to add that my DD's femur measured 2 weeks behind, as did the child I'm carrying now. I'm not concerned. At nearly 3, my daughter wears 18/24mo pants, and 4T tops. I'm assuming I'm just having another short legged/long torso'd child. It does sound like the whole situation is bothering you though, in which case I'd personally go in sooner rather then later to get the measurements and shots that they need.

[Amila]

My nephew showed a short femur via ultrasound, and he is just fine

[gorgorita]

Well, I called my mw 's office today. She is out delivering so she will probably return my call tomorrow. I just want to ask her more details about the notes of that ultrasound and maybe this will put my mind at ease.
I am somewhat calmer today. The whole shorter femur thing bothers me but I am not panicking anymore.
I am not sure about any ultrasounds anymore right now. I think for my own sanity it's better if I decline the 32 week US as well. It's just a gut feeling that the next US may only worsen my worries if they do find something else and it could still mean nothing.
I am trying to relax and find peace with whatever my future holds for me. It's hard but I believe every experience in our lives is for our growth (spiritual) and that no matter what the baby will end up being I will at least try to do the right thing. Unfortunately, I can't say that I will love it as much as my DD or that I won't. Right now my feelings are all mixed up.
Thank you all for replies. I am still thinking about another US so maybe I will go ahead and do it but for now I need to really understand what my feelings are. If I realize that I need to know more information I will ask for a follow up Us now. If, on the other hand, I will relax and it won't matter to me tomorrow I just try to enjoy the rest of the pregnancy.
You're right, shorter than average femur doesn't mean anything. It could be something or nothing.
I really hope it's nothing I don't think that a child with DS is a curse but I also think it's natural to worry even if at the end it will be true.