Fundal height - how accurate?

[anchovies]

Just wondering if anyone knows how accurate the fundal height is? Midwife has scared me half to death today as I have just gone way above the 90th centile (36 cm at 31 wks) and has referred me back to the consultant and for a growth scan on thursday. Seems to me like the way they measure is pretty inaccurate however the midwife was talking about excess fluid, induction, c setion etc. Last baby was big (10lbs) so I was hardly expecting this one to be tiny but should I be worried? I personally would be inclined to put the increase down to mincepies!

Fundal height measurements are very accurate.
It is measuring the uterus rather than the abdomen so is reliable (more so that late US IMO as practicing MW)and discrepancies in measurements of more that 2cm should be referred for investigation
and YES a qualified MW can tell by abdomimal examination where the baby is lying that a whats she trained to do

I've just come back from a midwife appointment this afternoon. I am 32+2 and am measuring 35cm. At my last appointment I was 28+2 and measured 31 cm. I was worried but the midwife definitely isn't! She says it's a good sign that the baby is healthy and it doesn't necessarily mean I will have a big baby or a difficult labour. Its strange because I've lost count of the number of people who tell me I'm very 'neat' or that my bump looks small. I'm only 5ft tall and this is my first baby so don't really know what to expect. Eveyone else's posts are reassuring though so thank you.

My first baby weighed in at 11 llbs. The labour was horrendous - induced after 12 days over due date on a friday and gave birth naturally on the following monday with episiotomy and forceps. He is now 14 months old and tall for his age but by no means overweight and i am expecting my second baby in sept this year and went to the midwife yesterday and the fundal height is measuring 41cm!! Have already had a scan and baby is on the large side as we would expect already 4lb 2oz at 31 wks but at least they are keeping an eye on me this time and planning sweeps/ inducing at 37/ 38 weeks.
My fundal height was very accurate for my first baby so do not dismiss it if the midwife says you may have a big baby because it can happen just request to be delivered earlier rather than later and request more scans

I'm just 25 weeks and have been mesured 34...
slightly worried as seems a little big my last baby 16 years ago was 9LB 6oz

I have a growth scan in 3 weeks time as the medication i take for blood pressure can alter the growth.. will have to wait and see i guess.

Hi,

At my 26th week pregrancy my doctor measured fundal height 27 cm but at 30th week MW measured 36cm, again 32 week by MW 36 cm... According to guide line I should be send for ultrasound but they didn't... Now week 36 measure 37cm...
I feel I was ignored, should I insisted on ultrasound in case something wrong with baby... I'am 35yrs old and this is my first pregrancy and I am very very conserned...
Please help!

My divvy of a midwife got all stroppy with me when she measured me at 27+4 and said I was measuring 'big for dates' at 28 weeks! I pointed out that it can't be that accurate - what if you needed a wee, had a bit of wind etc?!!

My consultant didn't measure at all, he had a smooth of my bump and said "8lb 10oz." He wasn't far wrong, my boy was 8lb 11oz!

I think I had fundal height actually measured only once in 3 pregnancies. It's just another indicator of how your bump is growing, and experienced midwives often get this just by felling the bump without measuring. If they assess you are big/small for dates, then a scan is indicated to find out if there are any underlying causes for concern, and in most cases there are not.

A scan will not tell you the delivery weight of the baby, but it will show head diameter and your internal pelvic dimensions. If there is an impossible fit, or a tight fit with a difficult presentation, then a c-section may be recommended. But they'd only make that call very close to EDD.