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Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

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Pregnancy

Growth Scan- Measuring 27 inches at 30 weeks.

21 replies

DinglebertWangledack · 01/03/2013 20:53

Have been referred for a growth scan as today at midwife appointment my tummy was measured twice by student midwife and midwife and both of them got 27 inches. So midwife got straight on the phone and booked me in for a scan on Monday. I had to have one 2 weeks after my 20 week scan too. I was confused however when I clarified the inches to weeks thing, she said thats not how it is done these days??

I am confused, they have said its just a precaution but what if baby is really too small,what will happen then?

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DinglebertWangledack · 01/03/2013 21:00

Bump no pun intended... :o

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N0tinmylife · 01/03/2013 21:04

There are loads of reasons why you may be measuring small. I was 30 inches at 40 weeks, and DS was perfect, not huge but absolutely fine! I had about 5 growth scans in all and agonised about every one. Please try not to stress aout it. I have heard of loads and loads of people being sent for growth scans, and I've never heard of it being as a result of a problem!

Ellypoo · 01/03/2013 21:04

It could be that the baby is just in a diff position, or just that you have a small bump. A small baby isn't necessarily a problem, they will just check that the head & tummy are growing in proportion with each other & that there are normal levels of fluid.
Always better to check to be on the safe side IMHO. And it means you get another look at your baby!!

DinglebertWangledack · 01/03/2013 21:07

Thanks guys, people have been saying I'm massive but I kept saying to DP I felt a bit on the small side and he was looking at me like if you say so!

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noblegiraffe · 02/03/2013 05:27

I had growth scans in both my pregnancies due to measuring small, both babies were perfectly normal, I just hide them well. I'm pretty tall so there's plenty of room in there to stretch upwards rather than outwards. In my last pregnancy when I was sent for the scan I was told that on the measurement chart (which should be in your notes somewhere) I was outside the normal range which triggered the scan, but if I lived in the next county, she showed me their chart and it said I was within their ok range!

Bambi86 · 02/03/2013 07:19

This just happened to me. Was admitted to hospital for another reason, measured 32 at 36 weeks and MW seemed very concerned. Was booked in for growth scan. Hours before a consultant checked me and said that way of measuring was highly unrealisable, and that I probably just had strong tummy muscles which was making the bump tighter.
Anyway...had scan and everything was fine- as consultant had said. Measured perfectly! So please do not worry- it is a very unreliable way of measuring!

RubyrooUK · 02/03/2013 07:44

Yes try not to worry. It's good to be sent for a growth scan.

I'm over 38 weeks measuring 32-32.5 weeks. I had the same issue with my first pregnancy (baby was 8lb at birth) so this time I haven't worried nearly as much.

The midwives also didn't seem overly concerned, although they were a bit surprised. I just pack those babies in tightly - I had a scan this time at 34 weeks and the baby was larger than average.

But if you did have a small baby, they would be doing the best thing and choosing what to do for the best. In the case of a friend, this was a slightly early induction. In another friend, it was just very good monitoring (she went overdue and the baby ended up being seven pounds so not very small at all).

So see this as a good thing just to check everything out but chances are everything is just fine.

Quilty · 02/03/2013 10:17

Hope you both mean centimetres not inches!

We do growths scans when ladies are more than 2cm either side of their weeks. So at 27cm at 30 weeks you are only just fitting the protocol. Measuring the bump is not a particularly reliable but it's a just a way of picking up any problems on the off chance really. Very few growth scans I do actually show a problem and you can normally tell by looking at someone that it'll fine e.g. Tall slim lady measuring small, you can be pretty sure it's just her body type rather than baby actually being small. However,if we just assumed like this for everyone and didn't do the scans then we would miss the odd problem so for all the dozens and dozens of normal growth scans we do its worthwhile for the odd case where we spot a problem which can be managed.

Try not to worry about it, I'm sure your scan will show a very happy healthy baby and at least you get to have another look!

BelleEtLaBaby · 02/03/2013 11:17

I was measuring a bit small with ds. I had hg so there was a theoretical risk of low birthweight. I went for a growth scan and was told everything was fine, but ds would probably be between 5.5 and 6lb.

Three weeks later he was born: 9lb 2oz!

Am massive already this time around. You've probably got lovely strong stomach muscles - which I definately don't have anymore! :)

rcs19 · 02/03/2013 11:23

I had a growth scan with dd1 at 35 weeks and she was fine- 6lb13oz when she finally arrived. It's nice to get another look at your baby, and you might be able to get a really good photo- we got a full face picture with our growth scan.

cherrycherry41 · 02/03/2013 11:28

Never had a growth scan but wish i did... was measuring 3-4 weeks ahead and when baby came 2 weeks overdue she was 10lb11oz despite them saying i didnt need a growth scan as the HOD said 'no bigger than 8lb'...

brettgirl2 · 02/03/2013 13:52

If you are tall that would be normal. They use customised growth charts here and I always measured 2-3 smaller than the weeks. When plotted on the chart I was always way above the bottom line. All this equalling the weeks is nonsense and on the upside you will know how your baby is growing and probably just be reassured.

cakesonatrain · 02/03/2013 15:39

cm to weeks is a good rule of thumb, but that's all it is. I had a growth scan with DS as the bump had not grown between two appointments, but all was well. And was great to see him again :)

DinglebertWangledack · 09/03/2013 11:53

Hi guys, sorry not come back sooner internet has been down! Went for scan on Monday and he is just on the 10th centile line, so have been booked in for a further 2 growth scans around a week apart, to check he is at least tracking that line I think, it's if he carries on going underneath the 10th centile line that it will be a bit of a worry. They've mentioned the possibility of giving birth early if he doesn't grow as expected. Thanks for posting on this thread with your reassurances it really means alot. I am worried but not too worried as he's fine in all other aspects just a little small. His estimated weight at Monday's scan was 1452g. I've been given iron tablets too so am having those three times daily which might help?

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DinglebertWangledack · 09/03/2013 15:00

brettgirl2 I am 5'5 if that makes any difference?

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DinglebertWangledack · 09/03/2013 15:01

The first measurement was quite below tenth centile and the scan measurement brought that up to right on the line for 10th centile.

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RubyrooUK · 09/03/2013 16:05

Good news Dingelbert. If he's just a baby on the 10th centile then you'll have the reassurance of knowing that through the growth scans.

And if there was any issue with him falling behind in growth, you will know and they can induce you early.

Better to have regular monitoring either way and then everything is under control. Enjoy the rest of your pregnancy!

DinglebertWangledack · 09/03/2013 16:09

Thank you Rubyroo, just a shock as DD was such a big baby (8lb 2oz) so it has got me thinking have I done something wrong? Bit silly really aren't I?

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RubyrooUK · 09/03/2013 18:44

No, not at all silly. But it definitely isn't something you've done.

Although I recommend you lie down, demand to be waited on hand and foot at all times and eat a lot just in case that helps.

DinglebertWangledack · 09/03/2013 22:55

I'm fed up of lying down, DP is always sending me to the bedroom for a lie down on the bed. He hasn't raised any more eyebrows at me walking past with a stack of jam sarnies either! :o

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legallyblond · 09/03/2013 23:09

Please don't worry! I measured 6-8 weeks small throughout and so had many growth scans. DD was bang on dates in all and was 8lbs 4 when born. It depends on your build. I am tall (5 ft 11ins) so (according to consultant) ALWAYS going to measure small! Plus 3 weeks (3cm) is a small margin.

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