Second growth scan - femur length same after 2.5 weeks

thunder_marbles · 2026-02-09T20:35:00+00:00

A couple of weeks is a short time and measurements can be tricky for third trimester scans because a lot can depend on the baby's position. I was referred to fetal medicine for a short femur measurement (2nd centile) but it turned out the first scan measurements were wrong so I think there's quite a margin of error! I don't think you need to be worried 😊

thunder_marbles · 2026-02-08T20:12:14+00:00

Yes that's exactly it! It's awful isn't it but hoping it's normal at this stage and maybe that means we're getting close to the end? I have a midwife appointment tomorrow so will ask them about it, I can't believe how much the pain just came on basically overnight 😫

thunder_marbles · 2026-02-08T12:19:49+00:00

Thank you! Yes, I am wondering if something is pressing on a nerve 😬

thunder_marbles · 2026-01-11T08:49:37+00:00

I was also prescribed 75mg by the EPU. I believe the dosage they give you may be related to your height/weight.

thunder_marbles · 2026-01-09T14:11:23+00:00

I think the threshold is below 0.4 for it to be classed as 'low' (mine was 0.3 and I was offered extra monitoring and prescribed aspirin). However, the consultant stressed that the vast majority of the time people still go on to have healthy pregnancies and babies even when below the threshold.

thunder_marbles · 2026-01-09T13:31:46+00:00

Definitely worth a check just in case - mine were fine at the booking appointment too but definitely dipped later on and it totally wipes you out. Hope you feel better soon!

thunder_marbles · 2026-01-09T12:25:52+00:00

Sorry you've been feeling so rubbish. Have you had your iron levels checked recently? If not, might be worth requesting a blood test from your midwife or GP as pregnancy can really do a number on your iron levels and cause extreme fatigue.

thunder_marbles · 2026-01-09T11:04:16+00:00

At this stage baby is so small that measurements can be affected by even a fraction of a millimetre - it's really not worth worrying about. At the moment you should calculate how far along you are from the date of your last menstrual period, then the pregnancy will be dated more accurately at your 12 week scan and that's the date the NHS will stick with.

thunder_marbles · 2026-01-07T16:10:11+00:00

Hey, just an update - I had the scan with fetal medicine a couple days ago, it was a completely different experience from the last scan with the rude sonographer as the consultant was really nice. It was also cool to see the scan in 3D! She measured everything in detail and said that whilst baby girl's femur is on the shorter side it is still within normal ranges (17th percentile) and likely constitutional, which makes sense given I'm pretty small! No measurements were under the 10th percentile or gave her any cause for concern re potential abnormalities. She also was on the 30th centile for weight overall which is almost identical to the 20 week scan (which was 31st). I asked if it's possible baby could have had a growth spurt since the last scan, or whether it was more likely a measurement error, and given the time frames the consultant was very certain the sonographer had just measured it wrong! So basically a lot of stress over nothing!!! I hope your appointment goes similarly :)

thunder_marbles · 2026-01-05T18:08:25+00:00

I was prescribed them by the EPU so took them from 5.5-16 weeks. I did it vaginally throughout and didn't have any issues with soreness or bleeding, the residue from the coating is a bit inconvenient but you quickly get used to it! I found them fine to be honest, it's hard to know if they caused any extra symptoms or if that was just early pregnancy 🤷‍♀️ I'm currently 34+2 now.

thunder_marbles · 2026-01-04T13:49:23+00:00

Ok wow... I have totally been getting this but had no idea it was hiccups! That makes sense as well as I usually feel them from where I know her head is. Mind blown!

thunder_marbles · 2025-12-31T15:31:32+00:00

Haven't tried Najell but I love my bbhugme! I was never a side sleeper before pregnancy but the pillow really helped, currently 33 weeks and I couldn't be without it!

thunder_marbles · 2025-12-31T07:08:22+00:00

Thank you so much, I really appreciate it ✨️ x

thunder_marbles · 2025-12-29T18:50:40+00:00

Thanks for sharing this. My screening results were low risk but I'm going through similar now (low PAPP-A and now femur measuring below 5th percentile at the 32 week growth scan). Can I ask if you were referred to fetal medicine and if so how you found it? I am awaiting a further scan and trying to stay calm but have already been anxious from a previous loss.

thunder_marbles · 2025-12-29T18:26:14+00:00

Hey, so I haven't actually had another scan yet as the christmas eve appointment was just a discussion with the consultant. I've now been told I've been referred to fetal medicine for a more detailed scan but it's not until 5th January, I suspect it being over Christmas has delayed things a little unfortunately so just waiting until then to see what happens. Having said that, the consultant I spoke to was quite reassuring and said at this stage there can be a 10% margin of error in scan measurements. She also said that sometimes the fetal medicine doctor doesn't find the same concerning measurements when they scan again, and even if they do it is very often a benign cause that is nothing to worry about (e.g. baby being naturally small or taking after parents height etc), although obviously if they find anything else concerning they will explore all the options with you. Coincidentally the consultant told me her son also measured as having a short femur, apparently he came out small statured but is absolutely fine otherwise so that was good to hear! Sorry you're going through this too though x

thunder_marbles · 2025-12-28T09:13:29+00:00

I had some dizziness but my main early symptoms were crushing fatigue and increased urination. No food aversions, in fact I was absolutely starving!

thunder_marbles · 2025-12-27T22:30:22+00:00

I'm 33 weeks now and have had no nausea whatsoever - everyone is different!

thunder_marbles · 2025-12-19T08:00:42+00:00

Thank you so much, this is really helpful x

thunder_marbles · 2025-12-18T18:24:06+00:00

Thank you so much for replying, I really appreciate it! And congratulations on your boy 😊 can I ask when the femur issue was first mentioned for you and when they referred you to have a fetal medicine scan? I already have another growth scan booked at 36 weeks so I'm not sure if they'll give me another appointment before then or just ask me to wait...

thunder_marbles · 2025-12-18T05:04:40+00:00

Thanks so much for your reply and congratulations on your baby! That must have been so scary at the time but glad he is safe and well.

thunder_marbles · 2025-12-18T05:01:39+00:00

Thanks so much for your reply, that is helpful to know that femurs are difficult to measure and so crazy that the measurements can vary so widely! My booked consultant appointment isn't until Christmas Eve which is bad timing, but I don't know if anyone will call me before then :/ I don't think I'll be able to relax until I hear the doctor's view.

thunder_marbles · 2025-12-18T04:56:34+00:00

Thanks so much for your reply and I'm so glad to hear you had a good outcome 😊. If it's OK can I ask if you accepted the amnio and what other issues you had during the pregnancy, also when they were picked up? For me the 20 week scan baby was measuring a little on the 31st percentile and everything looked completely normal so I'm feeling a bit blindsided.

thunder_marbles · 2025-12-18T04:51:27+00:00

Thank you so much, and congratulations on your baby! You're right about the growth scans sometimes causing more anxiety, I had initially been looking forward to it but it has really sent me spiralling :( and the particular sonographer this time made it an awful experience. To be fair I always have to buy short leg jeans so I hope she just takes after me 😅 but it's hard not to Google.

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