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March 10, 2005 Short Femurs and Ultrasounds 
I was just looking over my site stats, and the highways and byways that people use to find my little home, including the search engines and keywords people most typically use. Shortly behind my name and a few fun terms like "embarassing photos" (yikes!), it seems most people end up here by searching for ultrasound terms, or short femurs. This makes me terribly sad. Sad because they are people, probably pregnant women or expectant dads, going through the same trauma I went through. Sad because they are probably looking for info to reassure or enlighten them. Sad because my experience with this is gone thanks to the first site crash (I have it backed up, but it's not online), except for google's cache. I remember on the original site I actually had an expectant dad leave a comment on one of my entries about how much better he felt after reading some of my ultrasound entries because he and his wife had been given some bad news, and just the relief of knowing how low the risk was. So I'm going to put up a few of those old back-dated entries here because I know how absolutely impossible it is to find some of this info, and to interpret it if you do. I spent almost all of my work time (don't tell my boss) for weeks researching ultrasounds and risk factors and short femurs and possible diagnoses and what I managed to pull together was still pretty sketchy. It shouldn't be that hard to find. Ideally doctors would be more forthcoming, but alas, I see no indication of that happening. If you're here reading this because you have also had a big ultrasound or prenatal screening scare: Welcome, and my heart goes out to you. I know how awful it is. I know how you feel. I know nothing I say can make it any better. If you want to add a comment or a question please do. I'm not an expert, but I have learned a lot and I would love to share it. So the next entry will be a short introduction to the whole messy story. And then after that, a few old entries from the dark days of the Big Ultrasound Scare. A good friend of mine is currently going through the same trauma as the result of a prenatal blood screening test. One of the things I've learned is that it's easy to be rational and calm about the true risks and results of those tests--until you get a positive. Nothing prepares you for it. If you're reading this, Pam, I'm thinking about you. Ask me any questions anytime! Posted by Andrea at March 10, 2005 8:55 AM under Doctors, Geneticists and Other Charlatans EMAIL this entry (comments fields are below this section) Comments Hi Andrea, I am 24 weeks pregnant and the femur is 6 days behind - 21 percentile. I am really worried. Since I did amnio, they will be doing the DNA test to check for achondroplasia. Of course, they say that is not mandatory but they said that they can only say if the baby will have that through an ultrasound only after 30 weeks. Every time I go to the ultrasound, I am so scared to hear what they have to say. Can you give me some thoughts on this? Thank you, Bianca Posted by: bianca at August 23, 2007 8:35 PM
I am 17 weeks pregnant and just this past Wednesday we had our big ultrasound. We are thrilled to be having our first girl. I have 2 boys already so this is major excitement for me! However, her femurs are measuring 14 weeks. That's a pretty big gap and while I am convinced there was at least a little miss measurement involved (I watched the tech measure the long bones in the arms and it always seemed like she was missing a bit here or there) I am slightly panicked at the idea that what may happen next could damage this baby further. I have complicated pregnancies (6 weeks bedrest with my oldest, born at 36 weeks-- 4 weeks hospital bedrest with my current youngest, born at 33 weeks) and even though we've had only 1 ultrasound that an abnormality appeared, they are already sending us in for genetic counselling to consider an amnio. I am clinging to 3 things. 1) I am only 5'2" and my femurs are not at all normal for my height. My torso is extremely long and though it doesn't appear to be abnormal, if you measure things it is prettty crazy. 2) This pregnancy was a surprise. We have no idea when I ovulated or concieved so we have only dated by u/s and I am thinking they were off a bit. 3) Whatever happens I have a daughter to love and cherish. Anyway, I have been reading your blog and it's been pretty inspirational. Congratulations on your lovely daughter and on having such strength. I hope I can be as strong. Posted by: Laraleigh Forester at May 10, 2008 7:47 AM
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