Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

When your bump is being measured (Fundal height)...

10 replies

LadyMaybe · 31/01/2012 03:35

does your MW press in at the top to make sure she's finding the top of the uterus? or just measure to the top of everything that's protruding under your ribs?

I've just had a antenatal check-up, where the obstetrician measured from pubic bone to rib cage. No poking or prodding to see where uterus stopped and stomach started. I'm about 26 weeks and this is the first time it's been measured (I think..), and she measured me at 31cm. This has, of course, prompted comments about generous size and a growth scan in a couple of weeks.

The thing is, I'm sure in my previous pregnancy the mw did a bit of prodding at this stage to try to work out where the top of the uterus finished, which was NOT quite so high as the top of the protruding bit. I feel like the OB's technique wasn't great, and that she's seeing what she expects to see - I have gestational diabetes and am told at most appointments that we're trying to avoid a fat baby. The things is, my GD is well controlled - my diabetes MW is completely happy with my blood glucose levels, and it was diagnosed early so I've been controlled for a while. At the scans I've had (anatomy x 2), the measurements are just over the 50th % line, for head and tummy, while legs are up at 95%. This is in line with DS's measurements at birth (and since - he's tall and generally tracked on the 60-75th line as a baby). I guess I'm just feeling a bit annoyed that despite working hard to control GD, the OB appears to be assuming that I'm still measuring big - which makes it all (restricted diet, pills, nightly insulin injection) feel a bit pointless.

So..is her measuring technique a bit off? and chances are growth is actually normal? Or is that how it's supposed to be done and I'm in denial about growing an enormo-baby?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
vanillacremebrulee · 31/01/2012 04:00

I can't really comment on who's doing it right because I'm just as confused as you really. Every time I get different measurements from different people! I got an alarming 41 cm last week (at 38 weeks) and 38 cm today (at 39 weeks)! I think this system of measuring is just a farce. My GP said that he uses an old fashioned method which is much more reliable and according to that I'm fine as I am. Ultrasound is definitely more reliable too so i would trust that more than your OB's measurements. Trouble is, you can't really ignore her advice but can you not try to be seen by someone else and explain your concerns?

InsomniaQueen · 31/01/2012 04:21

Well I've always been prodded at the top to make sure they found it but I will say that I had one dr do it and the baby was still transverse so her measurements came up on the big side. Now the little one is head down they are spot on.

Do you have a walk in time for your community midwife? We have one here and if I ever go to a dr and come out feeling worried or I'm unsure about something I just go down and see them. I find mw are better at talking you through things and making sure you understand what is being done than drs do. The most important thing is you and the baby - so dont worry about getting a second opinion!!!

HTH

patsdeadfrank · 31/01/2012 05:19

its a load of crap so dont worry about it. they can really only get the roughest of guesstamats from measuring your belly. they measured me 5 wks bigger and scanned baby who was perfect for dates. even the scan can have a margin for error its not an exact science.

LadyMaybe · 31/01/2012 23:28

Guess I'll just wait and see the scan measurements - at least I've got a couple of previous ones which might give some indication of how it's tracking. Not sure what else can be done if it is on the large side though. We're already doing everything possible on the GD front. Hmm

OP posts:
Yummymummyyobe1 · 01/02/2012 17:07

Hi I was measured the other week and I was 27cm at 27 weeks. I then had a growth scan today and on the growth chart my measurements were identical. xx

JambalayaCodfishPie · 01/02/2012 17:51

This is why it actually says in your notes that you should always be measured by the same person - because everyone measures differently.

I really wouldn't worry. In the space of two days I was told I was measuring too small, then too big, then just right - all because the baby moved positions! Smile

notso · 01/02/2012 18:05

I was measured for the first time in this pg today and was surprised at how low down the MW (not my usual one) put the end of the tape I thought she was going to erm.. for want of a better term enter me!

In previous pg's they have always felt and pushed quite hard to get the measurements right. My last two babies were both big, with the youngest I had too much fluid as well as a larger sized baby so there is that to take into consideration, I was 51cm's at 37 weeks.

notcitrus · 01/02/2012 18:12

I got measured by a student the other day, who was carefully not pushing my pubis (bad SPD), and came up with '35cm?' - I'm 37 weeks.
I told him it sounded OK except I'd been 35 at 35wks, 36 at 36, and allegedly 39 two days earlier, which I'd thought a tad odd.

Consultant looks up from her desk, says 'that's a normal sized bump, just put 37 down' and left it at that!

BelleStar · 01/02/2012 19:41

I went to see my midwife at 38 weeks. She couldn't find her tape measure so looked at my previous measurements and wrote down 36cm. I wouldn't pay too much attention...I don't think they do unless there's a massive discrepancy. It is annoying though to be told your measuring big/small (ie not normal) when it's based on what seems to be mostly guess work.

ItsTimeToBurnThisDiscoDown · 01/02/2012 19:57

The midwife used to prod me to find the top of my uterus and measure. I would say though, by 39 weeks they were estimating a 8.5lb baby and I went 9 days over so was cacking myself, but when he arrived he was 6lb11! So, it can be accurate but isn't always!

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread