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What Does My Ultrasound Report Indicate?
Question: I just had a 20 week ultrasound and the BPD is measuring very low at 4.17 (3.16 percentile). The HC is 16.37 (21.2%) AC 14.49 (31.10) and FL 3.11 (39.79%) The CEREB is 1.93 (24.66%) and the CM is .52 (53.19%). The ratios are all within the normal range. My doctor said most likely nothing but I scheduled an ultrasound with a fetal medicine specialist on Monday anyhow. The wait over the weekend is going to kill me! Can you please advise, what could be wrong that the BPD is so low. Also, overall the baby is measuring 1 week behind.
Brief Answer:
Measures cannot be singled out for interpretation.
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for this query.
An ultrasound that is 1week less than calculated gestation age at 20weeks is very correct. These two figures do not always match and a variation of 1-2weeks is totally normal. As the pregnancy increases, the discrepancy may even be more significant not because the baby has any problems but because the estimations are not always as accurate as using known dates reported by you.
We measure several parameters to estimate the overall state of the baby. For you to hold onto one(BPD) and make life very stressful is not the best thing to do. All other factors have been taken into consideration and your doctor thinks it is normal. Of course he saw the baby. I will like that you also stay with the same evidence and only suggest that something is wrong if one is reported on subsequent testing.
I am happy you would go in on Monday for a second opinion. What I disagree wit is the continued believe that there is something wrong with the baby when the doctor who did the test, taking all the various parameters together thinks otherwise. Do yourself some justice, do the baby justice as well. The baby would be a lot happier knowing mom believes he's healthy than not. Be relaxed and not poison your mind with information that has not been confirmed.
Keep me updated with the results of Monday. deep within me, I believe all would be okay.
I hope this helps. I wish you well. Thank you so much for using our services and do feel free to ask for more information and clarifications if need be.
Measures cannot be singled out for interpretation.
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you so much for this query.
An ultrasound that is 1week less than calculated gestation age at 20weeks is very correct. These two figures do not always match and a variation of 1-2weeks is totally normal. As the pregnancy increases, the discrepancy may even be more significant not because the baby has any problems but because the estimations are not always as accurate as using known dates reported by you.
We measure several parameters to estimate the overall state of the baby. For you to hold onto one(BPD) and make life very stressful is not the best thing to do. All other factors have been taken into consideration and your doctor thinks it is normal. Of course he saw the baby. I will like that you also stay with the same evidence and only suggest that something is wrong if one is reported on subsequent testing.
I am happy you would go in on Monday for a second opinion. What I disagree wit is the continued believe that there is something wrong with the baby when the doctor who did the test, taking all the various parameters together thinks otherwise. Do yourself some justice, do the baby justice as well. The baby would be a lot happier knowing mom believes he's healthy than not. Be relaxed and not poison your mind with information that has not been confirmed.
Keep me updated with the results of Monday. deep within me, I believe all would be okay.
I hope this helps. I wish you well. Thank you so much for using our services and do feel free to ask for more information and clarifications if need be.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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