27 weeks and not been measured yet

[catgirl1976]

Everyone keeps telling me I am HUGE bump-wise, but I haven't been measured at any of my ante natal appointments. I keep reading that other people have been measured, but I am in and out in under 10 minutes each time and not been measured.

Is this normal or should I be being measured? I am getting a little worried given the fact that people assume I am about to pop when I have 13 weeks to go.

[Catsycat]

Hi catgirl, I don't remember being measured, weighed or anything until later on. If it is worrying you, ask the mw to measure you at your next appointment.

TBH, the measurements do have a bit of variability, unless you always have the same mw measuring you, so though it is useful, it isn't set in stone IYSWIM. Women can really vary in how big they look for all sorts of reasons (muscle tone, size of your frame, amount of fluid, etc, etc). If the mw thought you looked abnormally massive, she would probably have measured you already. People do love to tell pg women how huge they look (or how small, or how labour will hurt!!!!), so just ignore them if you can!

Oh, and one student mw tried to measure me from right on my fanjo, until the other mw stopped her - was a bit of a surprise when she applied the tape measure!

[AKMD]

You can ask your MW for a fundal height measurement - I'm sure she'll be happy to do this for you. TBH she probably isn't doing it because they are pretty inaccurate and readings vary depending on who is doing the measurement. Bump size has very little to do with the size of the baby - I had a big bump and DS was 5lb. My colleague was absolutely huge but her baby was 7lb. My friend was tiny and her DD was 7lb 9oz.

[CBear6]

AFAIK they don't start measuring until 28 weeks, or at least they don't where I live, so it should be from your next appointment that they start. My hospital notes have a chart in them where they're supposed to mark each measurement, the bottom axis shows weeks while the left side shows centimetres and the right side shows projected/estimated birth weight. The first number on the bottom axis (weeks) is 28.

[lolajane2009]

it starts at 28 weeks.

[catgirl1976]

Ah thank you everyone - this is very re-assuring. If they don't do a measurement at my 28 week app next week I will ask them about it and ask if they think I do look "massive" or if it is just the way people like to scare pg women.

If anyone else says to me "you must be ready to pop" though while I blush and mumble "no 3 more months" - I may scream :)

[DontWorryBaby]

I wasn't measured at all in my second pregnancy. I did ask but the local midwives believe palpating is a better guide to baby's size than size of bump. My friend who delivered in the same hospital but went to a different local clinic was measured. Some do, some don't.

[Valiant1]

I am 34 weeks on thursday and still not been measured !!!! and sombody asked me when i was due the other day i said 7 weeks and she was like your only 7 weeks why you telling people than i was like ??? no i am 33 weeks and she nearly spat her drink at me !!! my mum even said am i sure i am pregnant? so really worried but m/w not so what can i do? goin for a scan on thursday so i think i will ask then xx

[glitternanny]

its starts at 28 weeks here too - I think I'm small and its all fat and I asked last time at my 25w check... not long to wait now

[catgirl1976]

let me know how you get on glitter - i am sure you will be fine and we are both normal and just worrying!

valiant - maybe you have abs of steel :)

[acatcalledfelix]

I was given a tape measure to put in my notes at my 28 week apt recently, my MW said it was recommended in the NICE guidelines. Seemed a little odd to me but there you go!

[Valiant1]

lol i wish cat girl i on number4 and have lost 3 stone

[emmanumber3]

I gave birth to my DD 7 days ago, at 38 weeks, and was not measured once throughout the pregnancy. I did have extra scans though - so maybe it was deemed unnecessary to do both.

[Valiant1]

could be why i not been done then xx congrats emma xx

[Catsycat]

Ooh yes felix, I had my own paper tape measure with DD2 too - reminded me of being in Ikea. Apparently it is now unhygienic to use the same tape measure on everyones pg belly (that was the reason I was given when I asked why)!!!

[Valiant1]

i was in hospital the other weeks and they threw they elastic thing away that holds the monitor to your bump! then they moan about having no money !!

[Catsycat]

Valiant that is madness! Whenever I've had monitoring, the elastics have looked so old, and been so saggy and ineffectual, I've thought they should throw them away!!! Did the newness make them work any better, or were you still holding the monitor on with your hand????