QuestionWe visited our gynecologist today for a scheduled ultrasound and are pretty scared about the results:
My wife is 35 years and the first day of her last period was 7th of June so she should be in her 19th week by now. We previously had 3 ultrasounds which all had pretty normal results (slightly below expected values but well within the 95% range). The doctor confirmed our baby's heart beat and all the measurments of all the body parts came out well within the expected ranges. The only parameter that totally fell below expectations is the BPD of 38mm. The doctor said that it was well below the expected value and measured again, coming up with 40mm - still below the 95% range. The FOD was 50mm (which I used to calculate head circumference and came out well below the expected value there, too)
Our doctor said that we shouldn't be too concerned about that - but we are and the lack of knowledge is not helping us at all. We tried to find information on the internet that could tell us what is going on but all that we found were shocking stories about mental retardation. Can you tell us if we should be concerned and what is going on with our baby? Is this a sign of mental retardation? Our next ultrasound is in about a month from now.
Thank you for your help!
Other data that might be of help:
2. US (19.July/11th week): BPD 16mm
3. US (18.Aug/15th week): BPD 30mm ATD 30mm
4. US (15.Sept/19th week): BPD 38mm ATD 42mm FL 26mm FOD 50mm
(We did this in Germany, so I couldn't totally translate everything:
FM= length of the femoral bone
ATD= abdominal diameter according to Merz & Wellek,
FOD= length of the other axis (forehead to back of head) 90 degrees from the BPD (left to right side of the head) axis)
The doctor also wrote that the baby's position is "breech presentation". (he told us not to worry about this either till we reach week 30-35)
AnswerIf your wife's last period started on June 7, she is now only 14 weeks 3 days. Perhaps her last period was May 7, in which case all the parameters (and dates) are correct and she is now 18 weeks 3 days. At this time a songram has an error of 14 days either way. I would repeat the sonogram in 4 weeks and see if there is adequate growth of the fetal head. There is nothing else to do at this time. It is very common for a fetus to be in the breech position at this stage of pregnancy. It usually will float around and turn to the vertex position before the third trimester. If it remains in a breech position at term, you should have a cesarean section. If the baby's head has adequate growth in the weeks ahead, you should not worry.
