tape measure measurements

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Hi there,

I have just had a midwife appointment and she is sending me for a scan as I am measuring 5wks behind. I am 38wks and apparently measured 33cm. Strangely last week I measured 36cm. Last week my legs were flat on the bed in clinic, whereas this week I was at home on my sofa with my legs up- I have just been measuring myself and have found that this makes a big difference. Does anyone know whether your legs are supposed to be flat or bent? I am so so worried. My last baby was a decent size, 8lb 6oz, so assumed this one would be similar- not a tiny titch!

Both mine measured small with the tape-measure method, so I got an extra scan for each. I treated it as an opportunity to see them again - it's a long haul between 20 week scan and 40(ish) weeks otherwise!

Turned out they were both well packaged - DS1 7lb 8oz and DS2 7lb 12oz. I'm sure you've got nothing to worry about, and MW just doing her job by the book.

Hope everything goes well.

Thanks bluechampagne,

The thing that is baffling me is how I could have gone from 36cm last week and mw saying it feels like a good size to 33cm and the same mw saying baby feels tiny. I am sitting by the phone waiting for my appointment to come through and finding it very difficult to think of anything else. This is not how I had envisaged my first few days of mat leave!

Hello

Try not to worry - the tape measure measurements are SO subjective. I showed static growth from 28 weeks to 31 weeks and was sent for a growth scan - all was fine! When I got there, the midwife/sonographer said that I was measuring 36 weeks by measuring down from the breastbone!! Then had the scan which was fine.

Apparently it is all dependent on the position of the baby, fluid etc etc. It is really scary, but your midwife is doing the right thing and getting you checked out.

My babies growth slowed down just before 33 weeks and before I finished work - since then it seems to be having a growth spurt. I took it as an opportunity to make sure I was resting and eating well.

Keep positive and try to keep calm - I'm sure all will be fine. Chase your midwife though if you don't hear soon to put your mind at rest.

My daughter was measured 25 weeks last week, thought she was 26, was measured today by different midwife....29 !!!!!!

I had a consultants appt this morning, and was measuring v small for dates (measuring 28 but am 36 wks).They gave me a scan this morning to check, and it's absolutely fine - right in the middle of the average curve. I'm tall (6ft) and have generally been small for dates, but never yet this small (the bump has shrunk but the baby has grown, still has the right amount of fluid, etc).
Totally depends on height, position of baby, etc. I like to claim is all due to my superior stomach muscles, but that would be a lie.
I only had to wait an hour for the scan, but it was a very long hour so i really feel for you.

Thanks all,

I hope I have a similar outcome!

I still haven't heard about appointment. I've called midwife (answerphone) and called Ultrasound (they've all gone home) so am none the wiser.

Not sure how I will sleep tonight, especially as DP doing a night shift. It will just be me, DS and the gale force winds howling around the roof tops.

I went to the Day Assessment Unit for my growth scan - no idea whether there is one in every hospital, but I think the one at my local hospital is open til 8 each evening.

Not sure how easy it is to get the number though - they gave it to me after I went in for the growth scan.

Good luck

Don't let it worry you. They're sending you for a scan because the results are inconsistent. It's very normal for different MWs to get different results and as you've found the position your legs are in does make a difference. AFAIK your legs should be flat so if you've self-measured and got a normal trend from your previous lie-flat measurement then I REALLY wouldn't worry.

Thanks to those who posted.

Just thought I would update incase it's useful for anyone else in the future. I was called first thing this am and asked to come in for the scan. Absolutely terrified....sonographer did measurements of all sorts of things (blood flow, amniotic fluid, babies body) and concluded baby just in funny position, as all measurements were average/above average and weight estimated to currently be 7lb 8oz.I am so relieved. My story seems to echo those above. I found it very difficult not to panic when very experienced midwife felt baby and concluded it was "very small" combined with her tape measure measurement. What a day!