My peditrician has referred us to an endocrinologist for my oldest daughter. First they had us do a bone age test which showed her bones to be 8 years and 2 months, and her chronological age is 11 years and 5 months. Since these findings they had us do blood work to see why she is so small. ALL the blood work came back NORMAL, but they still want to send us to an endocrinologist. When I asked why we still needed to see the specialist the answer was, "because she is not going to be as tall as you." Why does she have to be as tall as me? I'm 5'2" and her bio dad is 5'10", and she tends to take after his family which has the fast metabolism very small bones. His sister is shorter than me and is tiny! I feel this is just going to be how she is meant to be. Why does there have to be something wrong with her? If you were in my shoes, would you still see the endocrinologist?
ETA: My daughter is 53 inches tall and weighs about 54 pounds, and she has always only been in the 5th percentile for height and weight
I would. I'd rather go and rule out anything other than genetics than not go and there possibly be something else going on.
What they may mean is "we are concerned that her height is going to be less than average because it may be an indicator of something to be concerned about". They may want to rule out dwarfism or growth disorders or other medical problems that can cause someone to be shorter than average. I would see the endocrinologist because the pediatrician is concerned enough to refer you and more than your child being small, her bones are behind. If you look at someone's hand bones, they show certain growth at certain ages, and it sounds like your daughter isn't showing this growth, not just that she is small. Often growth issues come with other medical concerns and you need to rule them out or know about them.
Yes, I would still see the endocrinologist if my doctor gave me a referral. What could it hurt to make sure that everything is just as you suspect, normal? Cross your Ts, mama!
I would go see the specialist and ask all the questions you have then go from there to why you would or wouldn't continue
If you feel that she is okay, then let it be. If you have really good insurance and they will pay for you to see the endocrinologist then go and see just to be safe. My insurance isn't great so if I was okay with it then I wouldn't go see the specialist. But if I had great insurance then I would go see one just to say I did and to prove that I was right about her being okay. Nothing wrong with being petite. Wish I was...LOL. Go with your gut and your heart. You know what the rest of the family looks like. Good luck and God Bless!!
I read some of the other responses and I'd like to add this also....I am a preschool teacher and had a student that was super tiny. Tiny enough that her mom was hesitant about her starting Kindergarten when it was time even though she was going to be six a few months after school started. Her mom had her start on time and she is doing great. She is still about two sizes smaller than the rest of her classmates but there is nothing wrong with her. She is just very petite. Her mom and dad are normal size, she is normal in every way, just small. I see them every Sunday at church and she is a healthy happy girl who can keep up with the best of them. She will never be super big or even normal size. Her parents are okay with it and so is she. She is a happy second grader now.
I guess I would ask myself this one question..."will she regret it if I don't?"....Then I would ask her.
I am now a great grandmother and I would like to say to you and all young mothers....stop worrying about the things you are told by your peditrician and/or specialists that tend to cause you worry and fear. A mom usually knows when a child is in trouble. Is your child healthy otherwise? If she's just small and her parents are "normal" in height & weight, don't worry about her. I wish these "specialists" would let a child grow at that child's pase and not cause the parents so much anguish that perhaps they're missing something that can be "doctored"!!! Trust your own instincts and know that your 11 year old is doing fine! That's my advise!
My daughter, while younger, is also in the 5th percentile. When I told her pediatrician that I was very thin as a child, small framed, and didn't even start my period until I was almost 16, she took a note down in her folder and said "She'll be just like you and I'm not going to worry about it! At least she'll never have a weight problem!". That was that. Family history is important. If the blood work came back normal, she is doing well in other areas (school, social, etc), then go with your gut on this. If you think it's unnecessary, then go with your instincts.
I wouldn't worry about it. I myself am 5'2", my husband is 5'10" too. My son is pretty short for his age and classmates, but I have never worried about it. I figure we are not tall and he will not be either. He has always been way under the 25 percentile. How tall is your daughter? Other than his height and weight, he is pretty healthy.
Go. Rule out medical issues. They were dumb to say "it's because she won't be as tall as you," but medical professionals are so scared of being sued that they won't always say what they're really seeking, which -- as AV posted -- is "we're concerned that the size/bones issue indicate something is medically wrong." See the endocrinologist, get other tests if needed, but be clear with them: They need to be up front with you about what is in their minds and on their list of "things to test for" rather than just saying "Uh, we'll tell you if we find something." It IS best to rule out things and end up with "Well, she's medically just fine and will just be small." But please do rule out medical things first.
Our godson got heaps of tests,, was sent here and there, as a baby and toddler and his parents were frantic with worry that he was "failing to thrive" when it turned out that....all the doctors had not been looking at the parents! The mom is very short and the dad is very short and extremely slim as well. Their son will be short like them both and very slim like dad, and still looks much younger than he is -- but he is medically just fine. I am not telliing you this to dissuade you from seeing doctors; indeed I would want to pursue tests if a doctor thought it was worth checking out, and you don't want issues to come up later and be told "We might have caught that when she was 11." But just be aware that you might want to get a doctor to sit down with you and give him or her the full details on your and your husband's size and family histories and ask, "Is it possible that her size is merely a factor of her genetics and she is going to be a small person?"
From what I have been told its the overall curve of froth. Has she "stalled out" or is there still a trend visible on the chart!
I would tell you that they may have not wanted to tell you that they "might" be guessing she has some disorder so you'll worry. They "might" be seeing some signs she is not developing well and just placated you with this answer.
I would see the doc and find out what they say.
I put your information into a body mass calculator and this is a direct copy and paste:
"A 11 year and 5 months old (female) child who is 54 pounds and is 4 feet and 5 inches tall has a body mass index of 13.5, which is below the 5th percentile, and would indicate that your child is underweight.
Your child's ideal body weight would be at a BMI at the 5th percentile or above, and so would be at least 58 pounds."
This means that 95% of the people are larger than her. That she is in that other 5%. That is definitely something to be concerned about. If she was in the 40% then I would not worry at all. Being smaller than normal is in that range, her BMI is way way way below that though.
This is the whole page the quote came from:
http://pediatrics.about.com/cs/growthcharts2/l/bl_ibw_rsl...
And this link is the the first page where all the information starts:
http://pediatrics.about.com/cs/growthcharts2/l/bl_ibw_cal...
I would be concerned about this too. She may have some sort of thyroid issue that needs to be addressed or something else. It's better to have more information than not enough.
There is a reason they are sending you to a specialist. They may not be ready to tell you the reason why yet though. I would definitely go. It can't hurt to have someone look at your daughter and if for nothing else, tell you everything is ok.
Sorry - but she's not even a pound an inch. I would go to the endocrinologist to rule out any other issues...
yes, the "she's not going to be as tall as you" is a cop-out excuse..however...I would have all avenues checked out...at least that's what **I** would do.
Family history is important, genetics plays a huge role in her development and the doctor's should take that into account...what bothers me? is that her bones are THREE YEARS younger...I would be fine with that if she wasn't less than one pound per inch of her...get her to the endocrinologist.
i think her weight and height are too small for her. take her to see and endo. it can't be bad.
