30 weeks and worried about baby's size/growth!

[sunandfire]

30+2 weeks, currently. Been worried about my baby's size/growth for a few weeks now. Firstly, I'm measuring a few weeks behind in terms of fundal height. At my 27 week appointment, a midwife measured me as 27cm (right on track). At my 30 week appointment, a different midwife measured me as 28cm (part of me thinks it was just her technique that added the extra cm, and I may still be 27cm). I've always been 'carrying small' to the eye, so that MAY be the reason for measuring a few weeks behind, I have no idea (I don't know if it works that way?). Secondly, the majority of my 'bump'/uterus is still below my belly button - I feel like it should be higher up by now? I know that my uterus IS a few inches above my belly button (whenever I get a Braxton Hicks contraction and my uterus goes hard, it's easy to see where it ends), but the part of my bump that stays hard throughout the day (without having to have BH contraction) is still lower than I'd expect it to be at this stage. I have 10 weeks left of pregnancy and I feel like my baby has SO MUCH MORE GROWING to do in that tiny space of time - I worry whether he'll manage to?

I'd like to mention that no MW has yet shown concern about this, it's just my own worry based on my own observation. What would really help to put my mind at ease is if I could have a growth scan to see if he's growing properly and if he's the a healthy size/centile. I assume they won't arrange for me to have one unless they're concerned, which I don't think they are at this point (other than about my low iron levels and thrush - been given iron tablets and since been taking them).

I really hope I'm worrying for nothing!

[sunandfire]

Ok, I just had a BH contraction and quickly drew a line at where I could feel that my uterus ends. Took my own FH measurement with my own tape measurer (obviously, waited for the BH contraction to end before doing so), and now I AM measuring about 29/30cm! It's really strange that my uterus ends that high up, because it really doesn't feel like it throughout the day. I don't really have the same pressure that high up that I have down below, it isn't as 'hard' that high up as it is down below, and the majority (not all - majority) of baby's movements are still below or around my belly button. Saying that, when I do feel movement above the belly button they movement tends to be around my sides rather than the middle of my stomach, so maybe I'm just not noticing high up the kicks actually area. I think I'm basing it too much on the fact that I haven't yet felt this rib pain that other women have mentioned. No kicks to the ribs yet.

I'm probably sounding really neurotic, and I'm probably overthinking this way too much! ☺️

[ThriceUponATime]

Pregnancy is so agonising, isn't it! I convinced myself every week that something was wrong. I'm sure if your midwife is unconcerned then it's fine, but I know how difficult it is to believe that. My experience was that I only ever felt BH very low down, and the vast majority of movement felt around my hips the whole way through. I think it's just a bit early for you to be feeling rib kicks- I felt them at about 35 weeks.

If you're really worried, tell your midwife. She might agree to send you for a scan for reassurance. Or could you afford a private scan?

[readysetcake]

I measured 27 around the same time as you at a consultant appointment. He did a quick scan and said all was fine. By my last appointment at 38 weeks I was measuring 42!! I gave birth to 7lb 4 DD a week later.
The measurement is notoriously inaccurate as it varies so much between who is doing it. Speak to your midwife if it keeps making you anxious but I’d try not to worry and enjoy the last weeks of your pregnancy

[Cloudwalk]

If you are in any way worried OP I would 100% ask the midwife for a growth scan.

We were measuring behind by 5cm at week 33-35. Now week 37 and back on track but growth scan settled my mind massively!

A happy mum is happy baby for sure 😀

Wishing you all the best

[user1493413286]

I measured 4 weeks behind from 28 weeks and midwives kept commenting on it but the growth scan I had showed that she was growing as expected and she was born a good weight so they concluded that I was just carrying small.
If you’re really worried ask about the possibility of a growth scan

[Callamia]

Fundal height also depends slightly on position, so my oblique baby was measuring smaller than if he had been head down. As soon as he did turn, the measurements looked far more usual. The midwife will send you for a scan if she is concerned, but do mention your worries.

[ClareB83]

I'm always measure three weeks ahead (twins) but I've still not been kicked in the ribs at 29 weeks. My placenta is high and posterior so I wonder if that is cushioning me. Maybe yours is too?

[Girlwiththearabstrap]

Speak to your midwife if you're worried for sure. It sounds like your anxious anyway and she'll either be able to put your mind at ease or have a more thorough feel of what the baby feels like and order further investigations if needed.

Am I right in thinking that you've commented about being "small" before? Honestly try and stop fixating on it and speak to to the midwife about How youre feeling. Anxiety in pregnancy is really hard. But bump size does not equal baby size. I've never looked particularly big in pregnancy but I have big babies!

[sunandfire]

Thanks, everyone, for your words of reassurance. My next antenatal appointment isn't for another 4 weeks, so I think I'll drop by the emergency obstetric unit and mention my concerns there (as well as bring up the possibility of having a growth scan).

@ThriceUponATime very agonising! If, for whatever reason, midwives don't agree to sending me for a growth scan and I find that my worries just won't settle, I think I will have one done privately!

@ClareB83 I gave an anterior high placenta!

@Girlwiththearabstrap yes, it's been something I've written previous threads about. I know (I hope) I'm probably just being silly! Would really like to have a growth scan, though - I'll ask about it!

[sunandfire]

@ClareB83 I HAVE*

[Girlwiththearabstrap]

It's worth speaking to your midwife. However, I don't mean to sound harsh but they are unlikely to send you for a growth scan (or any other medical procedure) if there's no clinical need, and it's just because you've decided that you're worried. And I don't say that to be dismissive. I know how horrible it is to be worried in pregnancy, but it's probably a good idea to try and find a way of managing the anxiety if possible.

[ew1990]

I was induced a week early as they were worried about growth and size, I didn't have a massive bump but I'm slim myself - didn't put any weight on apart from bump. Anyway DD was born 8 days early and weighed 6lb 7oz,

[sunandfire]

@Girlwiththearabstrap that's what I assumed, to be honest (as stated in my original post). It would be a lot more reassuring if it was the SAME midwife doing the measuring each time, but a lot of women on here have mentioned getting different results from different midwives, so it's hard to trust that midwives are always getting things right and that they wouldn't miss a potential issue.

I'll try my best to manage my anxiety, but at the same time, I don't want to put it ALL down to my anxiety and miss a potential issue. If anything, I'll try to have a scan done privately.