Fundal height measuring big

[RGPargy]

Can someone tell me what this actually means? I went to the MW this morning and she measured me at 27cm, when i should have been 24cm.

She said 3cm either way was ok, otherwise we'd have to worry. Worry about what exactly?

[dal21]

Hey RGP! How you doing?
How goes the healthy eating?? I am working from home the next few weeks before mat leave starts and am keeping stocked up on lots of healthy snacks otherwise will undo all the good work thus far in pregnancy!

Anyhows - to not digress. I believe that fundal height should match the weeks you are along. so at 31 weeks, I measured 31cm.
If you are much bigger/ smaller - then I think it implicates that the babies size could be bigger/ smaller than it should be.
Am not sure how accurate a gauge fundal measuring is - and whether they can be inaccurate indications, but that is what they are checking i believe.

[mistlethrush]

From the first measurement, I ALWAYS measured over what I should have done. Got to the stage when MW referred me for scan etc because she thought might have got gestaional diabetes - which, after consultant saw me, he said I didn't have but would still hvae to do the test anyway...

Ds just was very big - 10lbs 5oz 1 week early (thank heavens I wasn't late!).

Now at 2.5 ds is not particularly large or tall, although slightly above average height and certainly stocky.

My experience with MW is that they scare you unnecessarily and expect the worst. It may result in checks, but don't get unduely worried until you see someone that actually knows what they are talking about.

[RGPargy]

I had a scan two weeks ago and they plotted certain measurements etc, most of which were UNDER the "average" mark on the line.

Oh i dont know....

[RGPargy]

Oh and hi Dal!!

Am doing fine thanx, but am struggling with the healthy eating thing so i have purposely bought salad et al to make up for my lunch at work. I am trying to get more healthy at dinner time too. As long as i keep trying i spose that's the main thing, eh?!!

[dal21]

Doesnt help that someone has just mentioned donuts on another thread and once again am drooling aka mr simpson style!I also have had a real craving for chips for weeks - but darent have any incase of severe discomfort. The pleasure of the chips has not yet outweighed the fear of discomfort from indigestion.

RGP - am with mistlethrush - dont worry too much about it. From what I can tell, a lot of these measurements are pot luck. Am really surprised how much i read on here that growth scans and baby estimates are wildly out from actual baby weight when it arrives!

[ejt1764]

A lot of things can make the measurements out:

• different midwife measuring from a slightly different point
  
• different tape measure (they stretch with age!)
  
• how babe is lying
  
  I've been measuring very very small (-5 / 6 weeks!) since they started doing fundal height measurements - but as baby has been lying tranverse every time they've measured, they're not that bothered (I'm now 32 weeks).
  
  My midwife has said that the trust I'm under are going to be scrapping using the growth charts to measure fundal height ...

[Coathanger]

RGPargy - I would't worry too much about it at this stage. Really your fundal height isn't a major issue til a bit later on in yur pregnancy and I'm wondering a little as to why your MW was measuring it at 24 weeks.

Your fundal height should be somewhere around the same as how many weeks pregnant you are, so if you were say 34 weeks, you would measure 34cm, but this can be 2-3 cm either way, depending on your height, weight etc. However, if your fundal height was coming up a lot higher, it could indicate a large baby or too much fluid around baby.

But to be honest RGP, I wouldn't let this play on your mind. Its very early to be thinking about your fundal height.

HTH xxxxxx

[podglet]

Hi,

I was always big with DS and eventually at my 28 week check I demanded to be measured as no one had thought to do that yet - I measured 34cm - I was sent straight for a scan and told I had a big baby and also had poly-hydramnios (too much fluid)

DS was off the top of all the charts they plotted and my pool depth was 10cm (should be around 4 - 7cm) however this can change daily.

My consultant said that they allow 3cm each way before they check it further. He measured me again at 36 weeks and I was 43cm!! He planned an induction at 38 weeks but DS had other ideas and my waters went at 36+5. DS eventually born at 37 weeks exactly.

I think what I'm trying to say is don't worry too much at only 3cm.

Have just typed all this and seen that Coathanger has put it all so much better

hope all goes ok

[MrsPuddleduck]

First time around a had a rather large baby (but not over so 8lb 5) and then I had this problem on my second pregnancy.

My consultant told me that the measurements are only useful if the baby is in the exact correct position eg head down and looking in - it stands to reason then that if baby is in a "funny" position that the measurement/weeks calculation is not accurate.

I had a measurement scan and the size was perfect - baby was just accross the diaganol.

Hope that reassures you a bit.

[RGPargy]

Thanx everyone. My MW is going to put me in for another scan at 37 weeks (i think) because of wanting a HB so this will also indicate the size and position of baby too, wont it? From what i've read on here tho, the estimated weights and actual weights have been wildly inaccurate!

I'm more reassured from your replies now tho. Thanx

Dal - Funny you should say about chips - i have a thing for them too, but only from my local chip shop!! Anything else just wont do! However i have been forcing myself to not eat them as well as i know i wont do myself any favours if i do!! I'd say stuff the indigestion tho. Eat them and then reach for the Gaviscon!

[dal21]

LOL RGP - if i start i wont stop! will store them as a treat once this LO is out. we have one of the best fish and chip shops in north london less than 5 mins walk from our house! chip butty in white bread (the white bread will be a treat in itself) lots of ketchup with an ice cold beer! yum!

[Nemo2007]

dont worry at all,
With ds I always measure 1 wk bigger and he was 9lb10z at birth 15 days over
With DD1 I measured up to 4wks bigger at some points and they sent me for scans saying she would be over 10lb etc etc she was 6lb14 on her due date.
Same again with DD2 measured 2/3wks bigger and was told she would be over 9lb, again she was 6lb14.

[missgriss]

I always measured 2-3 weeks over with DS and he arrived 2 days early weighing 9lb 7oz.

DD always measured 1-2 weeks under and was still quite a big baby at 8lb 11oz at 1 week early. It's a pretty rubbish system on measuring the baby really.

[missgriss]

of measuring the baby

Fingers and brain not engaged

[ejt1764]

Also, have to add that you should take growth scans with a large pinch of salt - they are accurate within a 20% degree of margin when you get to the 36+ weeks mark ... and that's a lot!

[RGPargy]

Ah that's ok then. Thanx ladies. I'll treat it as a load of bollox

[hayley2u]

made up iv just seen this thread. iv just been for a growth scan and i am 34 1/2 weeks but measuring 36 weeks.they are bringing me back in three weeks for another scan to check baby plus i have to have a gluclose check to see if anything wrongwith baby. i am having a elective c section but i'm worried about my baby. doctor says to expect a 9 pound baby. is this qiute normal

[RGPargy]

You normally have a glucose tolerance test to see whether you have gestational diabetes, not to check if anything is wrong with the baby, dont you?

[hayley2u]

i dont know he just gave me a note on it telling me to go for one and it says it big letters RE BIG BABY. bit worrying i think.

[coleyboy]

I will just add my lot as I had the frighteners put on me by the mw's and ob's about my fundal measurement.

Remember the measurement is a guide, not an absolute. I remember on one occassion the mw took a measurement, then took a 2nd straight after and there was a 4cm difference between each measurement

[Ceolas]

This is really common. I have measured big from about 22 weeks, but growth scan at 36 weeks indicated baby would be around 8lbs at birth.

Am a bit as my last baby was 10lbs. but we'll see!

[bananabump]

Hi RGPargy, hope you're doing ok!

Just wanted to say that I've measured big constantly throughout this pregnancy, no idea what it is now but I think I was measuring 40 at 36 weeks. What I found in my case was they don't take excess maternal fat into account (I was size 26 and all belly before pg) so they're measuring from the top of your pubic bone to the top of the fundus, on top of a very thick layer of padding in my case! It's bound to add extra cm's to any measurement.

All the (many) growth scans I've had indicate an absolutely average sized baby which should be around 7.5 - 8lb at very most. I wouldn't put too much stock in the tape measure method, there's too many things which could alter the measurement, padding, baby's position, amount of fluid, and simply how you carry etc

[Coathanger]

One of the results of gestational diabetes is a large baby. And a glucose tolerance test (GTT) is a test to see if you have diabetes. If a mum looks as though she has a large baby, then she will automatically have a GTT.

[Coathanger]

Sorry, just realised I am a bit late with that last post ...my brother popped in half way through me writing it.....

Ah, well, better late than never