Baby measuring 4 weeks smaller. Is this something to worry about?

[woose]

I had my MW appointment last week at 34 weeks and she said that I was measuring small, about 30 weeks. This has worried me quite a bit. She also said that the baby was transverse and this could be why I was smaller. I don't really understand what this could mean for the birth. Would I need to have a C section if the baby stayed this way. Also, when the MW is measuring where exactly does she measure from? Advice/reassurance needed

[constancereader]

Measuring the bump is only a very rough guide. I was measuring 3 weeks ahead of my dates for three weeks in a row until the baby moved and I was suddenly back down in the middle of the graph.

I don't know about the transverse issue, but I do think your midwife would have said if it had been a problem. I know it is hard, but try not to worry - and why don't you give her a ring to discuss it with her in person. I am sure it will put your mind at rest.

[woose]

Well, when I spoke to MW about it she said that if things hadn't changed at the next appt. in 2 weeks then she would book me in for a growth scan which has worried me too. I have tried measuring the bump myself, and when I do it seems to be the right size, eg 34 cm. People I have told about tis have been surprised because my bump looks very big, however, I am very slim so I think this makes it look bigger.

Also, I have not put on any weight for 2 weeks, is this something to worry about. God I just worry about everything, it is doing my head in!! This is pregnancy number 2, and the first was easy, and this one I have had quite a few problems, so I am not used to it.

[lou031205]

Woose, try not to worry. They measure from your pubic bone to the top of your womb (the fundus). Because your baby is lying across your womb, it is not pushing it out as far as if it was lying vertically in your womb, so it can make the measurement smaller.

It is unusual for a baby to stay transverse. I had a transverse baby right up until 35 weeks, then when I was induced, they scanned the baby and said she was 'cephalicy' i.e she was lying across me but her head was down in my pelvis, and she would follow through.

Baby has plenty of time to move, and they will keep an eye on you. If she is still transverse at 36 weeks they might want to do a scan and see where she is.

Really try not to worry. Any growth scan will be for reassurance, and for what it's worth, they took my DDs static growth very seriously, and I was induced the day after her repeat growth scan showed she stopped growing. Having said that, I was offered daily monitoring as an alternative, but was very anxious to know she was OK by then, so was induced at 35+4.

[woose]

Thanks for your replies. Lou, it reassures me to know that they took your situation seriously. I guess if I go for this scan in two weeks and find that the baby is not growing well they may do something similar to what they did to you, but at least by then it will be 36 weeks. I think the thing that worries me most is that leaving it for 2 weeks. What if the baby is not growing now and leaving it for 2 weeks will cause it problems?

[Merryoncemore]

Hi Woose,

I have had this problem continually throughout this pregnancy. Measuring 24 weeks at 28, 30 weeks at 34 and subsequantly 34 weeks at 38. I have been referred to the consultant and scanned repeatedly and the babies actual measurements have been just above average growth for her actual gestational period every time. The consultant has said that the measurements are just a rough guide and only accurate for 30-40% of the population, different body shapes carry differently and if you have a long torso, or the baby is lying anything but textbook, can make all the difference to the measurement. My wee one moves her spine from the left hand side of my body to the right regularly but does not lie directly down the middle even now at 39+2. Do you have any idea as to how the baby is lying?

The 2 week wait can be worrying but please remeber that the midwifes are just vying on the side of caution. In all probablility everything will be just fine. I consoled myself by thinking that if the midwife had seriously believed that something was wrong they would have done an emergency scan so much faster. I'm assuming that she listened to the heartbeat etc and checked to see wether the baby was in distress, asked you about movement etc?

I also have less than average weight gain for pregnancy, the midwife suggested that maybe I wasn't eating enough and my darling husband PIL. I've come to the conclusion that everyone is just different and although the stats give the midwifes a guideline they are not gospel!

Not sure if that helps but try not to worry yourself sick in the intervening weeks.

[KristinaM]

i had two transverse babies. one turned himself at about 38 weeks and teh other turned himsefl to breech and then was turned by ECV, so i coudl have a VD.

i think you will have to have a Cs if teh baby stays transverse, due to risk of cord prolapse, but i am not sure. anyway you have LOADS of time for baby to turn

i also looked small for dates and was sent to hosp for scan at 38 weeks as i had only put on 20lbs and then lost 10lb with a tummy bug . baby was nearly 9lb when born 4 weeks later

so please try not to worry. they are always very cautious about these things and most of the time there isn't a problem

[KristinaM]

oh yes merry is so right. if they were seriously worried, they woudl have sent you to hospital that day, not 2 weeks later

[woose]

Yes, that is what I keep thinking. She heard the heartbeat which she said was very good. The baby is also moving loads, very active, much more active that DS. It is strange isn't it. I certainly don't look small. In fact somebody at work said to me today you look as if you are just about to give birth any minute!! I have put on 2 1/2 stone so far and eating loads. Last time I put on 3 1/2 stone, but I still have 6 weeks so may be the same amount this time too.

I didn't realise that the measurements were only accurate for 30-40% of population. That is not a high % really

As this baby is meant to be lying across ways I think it may have something to do with that. I have just bought one of those birth balls. Do you think bouncing on it will help move the baby into a different position?

[juniper75]

Hi Woose,

Am reading this message with interest. I'm in my second preg. 35 weeks & measuring 31 cm - not just that ,but it's dropped to 30cm. MW said not to worry- apparently baby's head has got into position plus I have long torso so I am going with her, but I am a little bit anxious!

Having said that, you can use your ball to get the baby into position. MW advice for me was .... 1) Knees on floor, arms and head on ball, bum in air so that your back is sort of straight, this gets baby into position. 2) The other thing to do is grind, grind, grind in as wide a figure of eight as u can manage ! But bear in mind if your baby goes head down that you might lose a few cms in your measurement so be prepared for that!!!

Good luck...

[woose]

Hi
Have been doing some more bouncing and I have been doing some grinding too!!! I didn't know that this was something that could help, but it felt right doing it IYKWIM. I think if the baby turned I might grow a few cms. I am glad to hear that your MW has told you not to worry Juniper. The thing with my MW is that she is a bit scatty and she always says that everything is always going to turn out perfectly (even if you know it may not). I suppose it is good for her to be so positive, but it means you never quite know if something is a bit more serious or not.

[bethoo]

the baby was lying sideways so your fundal height may have bee nlower than normal. do nto worry, as you are only 30 weeks you have plenty of time for the baby to get into the head down position.
i panicked in my last preg as i was always measuring small and am this time too.
bump size vaies from woman to woman, different shapes and sizes and the way the baby is lying, in your case sideways.

[popmum]

i was never ever measured so would never had had this chance to worry!

[Heartmum2Jamie]

My baby was transverse at 24 weeks but I was the oppostie and measuring 4 weeks AHEAD. I am now 29+6 and at my appt last week at 28+5, baby was head down and I had grown an additional 2cm to measure 6 weeks ahead, but although baby is measuring ahead, it is consitstently ahead and the discrepancy in the measurments was due to the lie of the baby. I am not overly worried. I am 5ft 1in, measured big with ds1 who was 8lb 1oz 8 days late even though I was told to expect a 10lb + baby at term after a 37 week growth scan.

I do have to admit that this baby feels much bigger and I am starting to struggle already with breathing and feeling the strain from anaemia, so I am almost hoping that baby is going to be large and he comes early.

[woose]

I am 34+2 days and measuring 30 weeks

[Romy7]

i had to have a cs as they said my baby was enormous (up to 10lb 13) and they couldn't risk me going into labour (i'm short and allegedly petite).
she was 8lb 6oz.
do try not to worry! there's no way of telling, really!