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Ok, now you have demonstrated a possible problem in his development.
If he was holding steady at the 5%tile, or the 95%tile or anywhere in between, or very gradually moving from one to another, then there wouldn't be a cause for concern, but to lose that much growth in that short a time span is cause for concern.
Growth hormones only work when the body is actively growing. If you don;t start them until most growth is complete, they have little chance to work and make a difference.
Regardless of what you ultimately decide, I think you need to query the doctor about testing for WHY he is not growing. Did they check his natural levels of GH and determine him to be deficient? If so, have they considered and tested for things that could cause the deficiency? Have they collected detailed growth and genetic history of you, your husband and both your families?
My youngest was born full term at 3 lb 5 oz; yes, I had good prenatal care. No, they didn't detect his size--he measured fairly typically for a baby who has moved down into the birth canal. DS didn't make it onto the growth charts until he was about 7 or 8. Because of his continued small size and some other areas of concern with his appearance, his pediatrician sent us to a geneticist to rule out any underlying issues.
The geneticist asked me to bring in photos of family members going back as many generations as possible, and also information about adult heights of everyone. We also had a full skeletal scan (his entire body was x-rayed). At the appointment the doctor measured all sorts of things--length of lower arms compared with upper arms, length from neck to shoulder, length of neck, length of palm and fingers, ... everything you can think of, and then some. End result, DS simply inherited all the "small" genes, and also has delayed growth--meaning that he will continue growing for up to a year later than most young men. I *think* they probably test his GH level, but I don't specifically recall that. I do remember discussing with his doctor that researchers were not sure if GH therapy in a child with sufficient levels would cause a smaller child to grow taller than his genetic predisposition, of if it would simply cause the child to reach that heigt earlier in time. I don't know if they have answered that question yet or not--there were ongoing studies back then--DS is 16.
All that worry just to find out that its genetic?
Well come to think of it his cousin (My BILs daughter) was really short for the longest time. Now, at age 12, shes grown like a weed and is as tall as everyone else. I think its just my SOs side of the family doesnt really grow that much till puberty.
Ok, now you have demonstrated a possible problem in his development.
If he was holding steady at the 5%tile, or the 95%tile or anywhere in between, or very gradually moving from one to another, then there wouldn't be a cause for concern, but to lose that much growth in that short a time span is cause for concern.
Growth hormones only work when the body is actively growing. If you don;t start them until most growth is complete, they have little chance to work and make a difference.
Regardless of what you ultimately decide, I think you need to query the doctor about testing for WHY he is not growing. Did they check his natural levels of GH and determine him to be deficient? If so, have they considered and tested for things that could cause the deficiency? Have they collected detailed growth and genetic history of you, your husband and both your families?
My youngest was born full term at 3 lb 5 oz; yes, I had good prenatal care. No, they didn't detect his size--he measured fairly typically for a baby who has moved down into the birth canal. DS didn't make it onto the growth charts until he was about 7 or 8. Because of his continued small size and some other areas of concern with his appearance, his pediatrician sent us to a geneticist to rule out any underlying issues.
The geneticist asked me to bring in photos of family members going back as many generations as possible, and also information about adult heights of everyone. We also had a full skeletal scan (his entire body was x-rayed). At the appointment the doctor measured all sorts of things--length of lower arms compared with upper arms, length from neck to shoulder, length of neck, length of palm and fingers, ... everything you can think of, and then some. End result, DS simply inherited all the "small" genes, and also has delayed growth--meaning that he will continue growing for up to a year later than most young men. I *think* they probably test his GH level, but I don't specifically recall that. I do remember discussing with his doctor that researchers were not sure if GH therapy in a child with sufficient levels would cause a smaller child to grow taller than his genetic predisposition, of if it would simply cause the child to reach that heigt earlier in time. I don't know if they have answered that question yet or not--there were ongoing studies back then--DS is 16.
All that worry just to find out that its genetic?
Well come to think of it his cousin (My BILs daughter) was really short for the longest time. Now, at age 12, shes grown like a weed and is as tall as everyone else. I think its just my SOs side of the family doesnt really grow that much till puberty.
