Silly reassurance needed please!

[Viagrafalls]

Hello, got measured yesterday by my midwife - I'm 33 weeks but my bump only measured 31 cm, she told me not to worry as they allow a bit of give either side but I just need to hear a few of you say you had the same - am in a bit of a panic as just had a few weeks in France and had a few glasses of the local wine every now and then and now I'm worried its my fault. don't flame me please...

I was measuring small at about this stage too. I had a growth scan and it showed the baby was absolutely fine and she came on her due date weighing 6lb 14oz so not tiny. I'd try not to worry, the tape measure thing is notoriously innacurate just more of a guideline to show you're growing. Personally I'd only be concerned if you hadn't grown at all over about 3 weeks. If she was very worried she would have sent you for a scan.

I'm sure you and the baby will be absolutely fine.

2 cms either way is fine, hope you enjoyed the wine, I had a glass of red every day when I was expecting my daughter, she is 30 now, beautiful with her own beautiful month old baby girl, x

Thanks ladies, I know its silly, and i certainly have grown but despite me reassuring a friend who was in the same situation 5 months ago you just can't help worrying! You've both made me feel better xx

happended to me at same stage, had growth scan and all was well (i was more than 2 weeks out on tape measure too). DS was 6 13, so not huge but perfect!

i had 2 midwives in the same appointment measure me 4 weeks differently! (1 3 weeks behind and 1 3 weeks over) and 4 weeks later (after quite a big grwth spurt) i had only grown a week. i dont believe them at all!

Great - keep them coming! Actually, I was 6.8 oz when I was born so it makes a bit more sense...

I was measured this week at 37cm and I am 39 weeks, the MW thinks baby might weigh about 6lb unless I am "hiding it in my back"

I was 5lb 13 when born, sister was 5lb 8 (both overdue too) and my mum says babies in her side of the family are all small so as long as it keeps on smacking me in every organ it can reach I am not going to worry!

My friend had this all the way through, and her baby was 7lb at 38 weeks. Don't worry

I was the other way when I was measured on Thurs, I measured 23cms and I'm 21 weeks. I asked if it meant I was putting on too much weight and the mw said not to worry at all, babies grow in spurts so you can measure a bit big or small, and at the next check it will all have equalled out.

I was small at this stage too.

I gave birth at 40 plus 2 to a 9 pounds 11 ounces girl!

I am small. It really makes me paranoid as everyone I meet who comments, says "you're SO tiny". I have put hardly any weight on this pregnancy, having put 4 stone on with my first. I am an 8-10 and from the back don't even look pregnant.

Thing is, I had preeclampsia with my first and she was born at 36 weeks weighing 5lbs (which is actually fine) and although she was in peak health I found the constant commenting about her size and the anxiety surrounding her gaining weight and

And I am obviously being checked this pregnancy and growth had tailed off from 20 weeks to 28 so was in for scans every two weeks (fine, has dropped a centile but stayed on that one). I'm now 35 weeks and feel more confident I have got over a certain 'hump' (ie she'd be fine if I gave birth) but still get anxious inside when everyone comments about how small I am.

So you have my sympathies! It's not entirely rational. I know everything will be ok but there's huge societal pressure to produce big fat babies, as if they are a measure of health.

Oh, at 32 weeks I measured 30, at 28 weeks I measured 28. Fundal height is a bit hit and miss and only there as a guide to refer to further tests.

Oh, and I have a very small glass of wine most weeks (sometimes one on Friday AND Saturday. But I make sure it's one unit, not two)

"anxiety surrounding her gaining weight ..." and exclusively breastfeeding (still bfeeding now and she's nearly 3) just mounted and mounted and I think all these 'you're so small" comments just bring those feelings back.

im 24 weeks and measured 26 as i have a long abdomen :) my mw says 2cms either way is perfectly normal nowt to worry about!

I was told 3 cms either way is acceptable.

At 21wks I measured 23cm at 23 wks I measured 23cm, now at 27weeks I still measure 23cm... Noone seems all that concerned. I remember with my others I had spurts and when they got concerned I was sent for weekly growth scans.
It will be ok otherwise you'll have been scanned by now.

It's not accurate really and is only used as part of a wider range of tools and in rather general terms at that. A full bladder can push your reading out for example, as can who's measuring it, how you're lying, where the baby is etc.

My mother was always told she was measuring about 6 weeks ahead and they were rather worried. I weighed 5lbs 4oz at term. I went from measuring ahead to behind in 2 weeks when pg with dd. She was an average 7lber. It can only look at general trends tbh and in a rather inaccurate fashion. Please, please do not worry.

Ive always measured a couple of cms under, until 37 week appt where I measured 36cms :) no need to worry.x

Given that my bump (25+2) changes size depending on what time of day it is and how much I eat for lunch I'd be shocked if I measured correctly. Have been measured with a tape once and measured two cms over, and measured by two other midwives by feel and told everything was spot on.

As long as you're growing and you can feel the baby moving around you'll probably be fine. Hope you enjoyed the wine, I'm off to a wedding in two weeks and looking forward to a glass of fizz

Great, you've all made me feel much better - she does move around all the time so i know she's okay, its amazing how a little thing like a cm can throw you off. Thsnkd for your stories - except those of you that ended your story with a huuuuuge baby! That I don't want!

Measuring within 3cm either way is normal so nothing to worry about. Try and relax (although I know it is hard!)

I measured 31cms at 29 weeks, and 30cms at 31 weeks! And no, I definitely hadn't shrunk!!! For me I think it is where the baby is. I can see a definite change in my size and shape when she is huddled up at the front.

When I queried the midwife about this measuring technique she said it is just to give them a rough idea, hence the 3cm each way rule before they send you off for a scan.