38 weeks but measuring 33cm - having a panic, please help!

[zambooloo]

Hi, just got back from my 38 week appointment with midwife. She said the head was 4 fifths engaged then measured me and said I'm only measuring 33cm. She said it could be because the head is so low that she can't get an accurate measurement but she is sending me for a growth scan to make sure.

She said the baby felt the right size but that it wouldn't be a big baby - I'm sure I'm worrying over nothing.

However, I'm in a panic now as the last 2 times I've been to the midwife they haven't even bothered to measure me so if there is a problem it could have been diagnosed weeks ago! Also I was measuring slightly small earlier in my pregnancy and everyone keeps telling me how small I am.

Does anyone have any experience of these kind of situations? I'm really trying not to worry but it's very hard.

I'm 38 weeks and my measurement went down when the head engaged, 4/5ths of a baby head would add a good few cms to the measure if it hadn't found some extra space to lodge in. I think, for my ante-natal group, this has been the trend, a sort of peak at 36 weeks (I've had growth scans all the way through, baby is big, 85th percentile, I'm small, but my measure at 38 was only 35.5) nobody was concerned, so I don't think 33 would be too big a worry for an average or small baby.

Midwife probably panicking more about having not measured you, good luck, hope it all goes well.

If the head is well engaged then AFAIK know that will reduce your measurement.

A friend of mine was measuring something like 38cm at 33 weeks, and baby was estimated to be around 11lbs+ at birth. She was sent for a growth scan, and from the measurements they got there, the baby was found to be the 'right' size, and estimated at about 8lb 5oz. The thing is, no-one will really know how big the baby is until it's born - either yours or hers - because even growth scans aren't that accurate.

At 38 weeks you're full term, so I wouldn't worry too much - if there IS a problem then baby will be fine to come out. Babies of all shapes and sizes are born - some big, some small, some long, some compact.

How long have you to wait until the scan?

4/5 engaged means that most of babys head is already in your pelvis so it can knock a good few cm off your bump size. I totally wouldn't worry unless baby wasn't engaged at all and the measurement was that low.

I just had my mw appointment today and am measuring 31wks at 34wks. She wants me to go back next week so she can check I am growing as they are happy with 3cm either way but if it goes more than that then they would send for a growth scan just to check the baby's measurements are as expected.

She did say as long as I am feeling baby move ok and as normal then not to worry about it. Heartbeat was fine too.

Try to relax until you have had your growth scan measurement may well be perfectly fine

I was always very small all the way throughout my pregnancy, to the extent it didn't even really show to most people for the first 6 months. My DD was find and a healthy weight so I wouldn't worry too much.

you can also take a few cm off as the head is almost fully engaged.

Thank you everyone - my growth scan in on friday morning, I'll keep you posted. I'm still feeling lots of movement and MW said the heartbeat was fine.

Does anyone know if 4 fifths engaged means labour will start soon or does it not work like that?

Sadly level of engagement doesn't mean a thing!

I had the same scare with DD. Consultant looked at the growth scan and said she'd be "a bit small" but that there was nothing to worry about. She was 7lb 5oz and absolutely fine. So fingers crossed this is just a false alarm for you, too. Let us know.

What runner said - that's what my midwife told me. My fundal height doesn't seem to have moved for a couple of weeks (I'm 37 wks), but I can tell the baby is growing. Sure there's nothing to worry about. Good Luck - let us know how you go on.

Just to add that I too measured weeks behind in fundal height at 36wks and was sent for a growth span. At which point the sonographer actually laughed as DS was already over 7lb. So it is good to check out (much better for them to know what is going on) but needn't mean anything at all. Good luck!

Thanks for all the replies - does anyone know what they will want to do if the scan shows that the baby is too small?

The way they explained it to me was that if the scan shows the baby isn't growing enough, that can indicate a problem with the placenta. In which case, given you are nearly at full term, they would probably be keen to get on with inducing the baby. The midwife put it like this: "If that is the case, we always say 'better out than in!'"

Mind you, my friend had a baby measuring small at 36 weeks on both fundal height and scan. They asked her to come in for a second scan to try and see what was happening and the baby had grown enormously in a few days and was eventually born on its due date at 7lb 7oz.

So if the baby really looks too small, they might suggest an induction or more monitoring. But with any luck, that baby is just very tightly mashed up inside!

How did you get on today? xx

Hi everyone, just to let you know. The growth scan was fine, the baby is small but head and abdomen are within normal ranges. The thigh measurement was slightly outside the normal range but my mum and my partners' mum are both quite little, I'm only about 5ft3 so not expecting a huge baby anyway. They aren't worried about the thigh measurement being small.

Also the fluid levels and placenta are both fine so very relieved!! Thank you for all your advice. Can't wait to meet little one now!

Great news - hope it all goes well from here.