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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Discrepancy with fundal height - frightened please help.

26 replies

Ginnytonic82 · 20/08/2013 14:30

Sorry for the length of this post but want to make sure I don't drip feed.
I'm currently 28+2 with our first baby. So far everything has been going really well, baby kicks regularly, whenever his heartbeat has been measured it has been a good rate and very clear.

I have been under consultant care because I have scoliosis (curved spine), this hasn't had much of an effect on my pregnancy, apart from back ache. I saw my consultant last week, she measured me and listened to baby's heartbeat. She told us everything was great and that baby was doing very well. She showed us on the GROW chart that he was at 50th centile - describing it as "spot on".

Today I had to go in for the Anti D injection, I only expected to be in and out, but instead I was told by the midwife that she would also measure bump, take blood and listen to baby's heart beat. Once again his heartbeat was great but when she did the fundal height, she told me there was a discrepancy and that she wanted me to be measured by someone else, incase she had made a mistake. She asked another midwife, who looked at the measurement and suggested the Dr see me. I waited for a few minutes, when the midwife called me back in and said the Dr felt it would be better for me to come for a growth scan. She said there was a 3cm difference, which is quite a lot in the space of a week, and asked me if I'd noticed. In truth I haven't, I haven't felt unwell or any unusual discomfort and the baby is kicking and wriggling like a trooper. I am a terrible worrier and asked her if this was serious, but she said not to worry and wait for the scan.

The scan is booked for Thursday, and I am terrified. The idea that something is wrong is my worst nightmare, and things have been going so well I feel like I've jinxed us. I've just been crying since we left the hospital. My DH is brilliant and has been trying to be as reassuring as possible, but he is afraid too. Please, if anyone has experienced anything similar could you possibly let me know. We have no idea of the implications, will I lose the baby? Will he be ok? He is moving so well, I thought that would be a good sign .

Sorry to ramble but I don't know what else to do, or who else to ask.

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prissyenglisharriviste · 20/08/2013 14:38

If you have scoliosis, I suspect that might be the issue!
In any case, my fundal height with all three was all over the shop - never accurate. Growth scans can also be hilariously wrong - I was told my first baby was so large I had to have a CS. (They claimed she was at least 9.6, and could be a pound heavier). She was 8.6 when they fished her out.

Honestly, don't worry. They will check everything out and it will all be fine. If you are getting plenty of movements, it's probably nothing. As a pregnant woman, you largely become the property of any medical professional, and 'science' isn't anywhere near as scientific as they pretend it is! (That's not to say it isn't largely helpful - and I've had more than my fair share of life saving baby medical interventions)

Try to relax, honestly. They will check if the placenta is functioning okay, and give you both a good look over.

Have a happy and healthy last few months x

mycatlikestwiglets · 20/08/2013 14:54

It's quite possible that your consultant measured wrongly last week - and I don't say that to worry you, because your baby is likely to be fine. By way of example though, in my last pregnancy the midwife referred me for a growth scan because she measured my fundal height the same at 32 weeks as she had at 28 weeks. When I got to the hospital the consultant measured me and looked at me like this: because his measurement was spot on what it should be at 32 weeks.

It could be anything from a slapdash approach to the tape measure, to taking the fundal height from the wrong point, to your scoliosis. Try not to worry and look at it as a good opportunity to see your baby again.

Original poster

Ginnytonic82 · 20/08/2013 14:55

Thank you so much for your reply. I am such a terrible worrier and I always jump to imagining the worst possible conclusion. I hadn't even thought how my scoliosis could be a factor, but that makes so much sense. Thank you so much sorry for being such a drama queen .

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Original poster

Ginnytonic82 · 20/08/2013 14:57

replies not reply - sorry still worked up!

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PumpkinPie2013 · 20/08/2013 15:02

Not been in this situation but wanted to offer a hand hold

As the others have said, fundal height measurement isn't very accurate at all and it's entirely possible that someone has measured wrong somewhere.

I'd say if baby is kicking well and everything has been well so far the scan will put your mind at rest and give you an opportunity to see your lovely baby again.

Best of luck for Thursday, I hope all is well for you x

AnitaBlake · 20/08/2013 15:04

If it helps, I was measured six times in one day once (I was an inpatient and had scores of students examining me!) and they all got different results! Its all a woolly the whole 'science' of babies!

Funniest incident ever was when the supervisor of midwives was trying yo get a heartbeat and baby kept positioning itself so it could play with the intrusion! We could see baby was fine but couldn't get anywhere near a heartbeat!

It'll be fine love, I'm sure xxx

Original poster

Ginnytonic82 · 20/08/2013 15:16

Massive thank you's ! I'm so grateful to you all, it's just so easy for my mind to start racing. My Dh has always said I'm the biggest stress head he's ever met! It was just very confusing when I was at the hospital, especially when the midwife was saying how big the difference was.

I will definitely try to take all your advice on board and try to relax, and you're all right when you say it will be great to see our baby again. I really do appreciate the support and reassurance.

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TarkaTheOtter · 20/08/2013 19:15

Same as Anita, I had two midwives (community and hospital) measure me on the same day and it differed by 3cm!

MisselthwaiteManor · 20/08/2013 19:20

Same as everyone else has said, it's not a perfect science and doesn't always mean there's a problem. You get to see your baby again, think of it as a positive. I can understand the worry though, I was the same, especially when they're talking amongst themselves and you sit there with your heart thumping!

Procrastinating · 20/08/2013 19:22

The tape measure thing is a joke, don't worry about anything that 'measurement' tells you. Even growth scans are misleading as other posters have said. My first baby was 4lb at full term, nobody noticed despite all the tape measuring that went on. Growth scans said my third baby was enormous and I was told I must have diabetes (I was fine), he was 8lb.
If the baby is moving do not worry.

AppleYumYum · 20/08/2013 19:29

My fundal measurement was 3 or more cm over what was expected at every visit, was referred to the consultant and had growth scans. It was just extra fluid which they said was fine, then later the fluid was back to normal and he was just a big baby. It will be fine, I always wonder how it is accurate anyway, what if the baby is a bit sideways? I agree with whoever said above that the measurement at the last visit might have been incorrect.

Original poster

Ginnytonic82 · 21/08/2013 11:26

ClubSoda that was exactly what made me worry so much! The second midwife pulled such a face when she saw the measurement, my mind went into hyperdrive. Then when the Dr had decided there was no point measuring again and that I must have a scan, it just seemed to suggest they were concerned, but then again my Dh always says because medical care is so advanced they have a huge responsibility to do any checks etc that they can, or face being accused of negligence.

I'm hugely grateful to all of you, you're advice and experience is really reassuring. I'm still nervous about tomorrow, but I'm trying to keep busy and look forward to seeing our little boy tomorrow. I'll make sure to update. Thanks so much

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Lancelottie · 21/08/2013 11:40

I've tended to take fundal height with a massive pinch of salt since DS2, where I kept being referred to growth scans because he was 'so small for dates' and then referred back after the scan because he was 'unexpectedly large for dates'.

He was a transverse lie, and I still suspect that means they were basically measuring round his tummy rather than end to end.

He was 9.5lb in the end btw.

All the best for the scan!

LostMySocks · 21/08/2013 13:52

I went to get a UTI checked out at the day assessment init the MW there said i measured small who booked me in for a scan. Saw my own MW 2 days later for routine appointment and my bump was a perfect size. MW said they all measure a bit different and it was just an indication and can also depend on how baby is lying. I know my bump always seems bigger at the end of the day. She suggested I go for the scan anyway as I'd get to look at the baby again. Scan showed bang on average for all measurements and normal but short for the femur. I'd expect this as I have the family long body short legs gene.
So please don't worry

gemmaj66 · 21/08/2013 14:12

Don't worry Ginny

I was constantly told DS1 was small for dates and the measurements always varied. In the end he was a week early and weighed 8lb 8oz.

With DS3 I had a growth scan which put him at 6lb 13oz. He arrived two days later measuring 9lb 1oz!

Bet you everything is just fine. Lots of luck tomorrow.

IComeFromALandDownUnder · 21/08/2013 14:15

Where I am they never measure the fundal height at all through our pregnancy as they don't consider it accurate. Please don't worry, your baby will be fine.

Steffnexis9 · 21/08/2013 14:32

Hey hun x x my friend has been having weekly scans etc because they suddenly measured her at 30 when she should have measured 36... Panicked her told her not to exercise etc... He had natural birth at 37 weeks and had a seven pound baby.... It isnt an exact science hun so try and stay calm x x hugz

princesscupcakemummyb · 21/08/2013 14:59

sending hugs dont panic with my 1st dc i had regular grow scans as they told me she was huge and would be a good 10lber at birth anyway it turned out i had alot of excess fluid their she was fairly big at 8.5oz at birth at 40+5 she was born i know its hard to say this but stay carm these fundal measurements are not 100% i had a consultant measure me at 24+4 due to a addmission in hospital and she said i was measuring spot on yet when i went to my midwife at 28 weeks and 4 days i was measuring 27cm and a half fundal height she pointed out if babys in a awkward postion then this makes it harder to be sure she was not worried

Queazy · 21/08/2013 16:13

I measured 5 weeks under at my 32 week appointment, after being ok the appointment before. I panicked before having a growth scan but it was all fine. The doctor said the fundal height measurement is just an indicator, as baby's movements and change of position can alter this. The same happened to another friend at her 36 week appointment. I know no amount of reassurance stopped me from worrying, but please don't worry yourself loads ahead of the scan. I hope it goes really well xxx

Original poster

Ginnytonic82 · 22/08/2013 16:48

Thank you so much everyone, we went today and the scan showed everything is great! He measures right in the centre of the range. I saw my consultant and she was really annoyed with the dr and midwife for not explaining things better and also for not remeasuring me. We have a lovely set of scan pictures showing our little one playing with his toes and also an amazing shot of his face!

Thank you for all your kind words of reassurance, you all really helped me stay calm. Sorry for being so neurotic!

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StarlightMcKenzie · 22/08/2013 16:53

Oh my fundal height with my last was up, down and sideways.

At one point they were talking about gestational diabetes as there was such an apparent jump from one appointment to the next.

I refused the test and took my own blood sugar levels which showed that I was fine. I also refused a growth scan on the basis that they were also not very accurate.

Gave birth to a healthy, though above average weight, baby who is as bright as a button.

Procrastinating · 22/08/2013 21:02

Hello Ginny, I'm pleased it went well.

prissyenglisharriviste · 23/08/2013 00:32

Fab news. We are just so indoctrinated that health professionals are all-knowing (because they tell us that and expect us to believe it) that it always comes as a bit of a shock to discover medicine isn't really as black and white as they make out ;-)

Enjoy the rest of your pg!

PastaBeeandCheese · 23/08/2013 06:42

Pleased everything is ok. Fundal height seems an odd measure to me. In my last pregnancy I am certain the midwife placed the tape measure at a different start and end point every time.

Original poster

Ginnytonic82 · 23/08/2013 08:48

It does seem a really flimsy way of determining any problems in pregnancy. The sonographer I saw was awesome, she said straight away that she holds no store by what a wonky tape measure says! I did mention to my consultant that we had been quite worried and she was fuming with the midwife and dr for not explaining things to me. But the main thing is lo is doing really well, the scan was lovely, he's just grown so much from 20 weeks!

I know I keep saying it but I would have been pulling my hair out without all the support I've had from fellow mnetters, thank god I found this place!

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