Measuring smaller than dates

[littlehelp]

Just seeing how common it is and out comes really

Never experienced measuring smaller in previous pregnancies, does the baby tend to catch up?

Mine was a small feotus and is now a small kid. Not freakishly small just small for his age.

I've had 2 small babies, both measured small the whole way through my pregnancies, one is 8 and still little one is 2 and is not all that tiny

I was wondering too, I'm 34 weeks and measuring 32 weeks, sure my dates aren't out and only measuring small since 28 weeks (was 1 cm now 2) midwife not worried yet but wondering to go for private scan for baby's size as didn't have this with dc1

Do you mean measuring small when the mw measures your bump with a tape measure? If so, I don't think it is all that accurate. I was 'small' in my pg, I measure 32 weeks at 39 weeks. They sent me for a scan and said baby would be around 6 1/2 lbs. He was born the next day weighing 8lb 1oz!!

Certainly that's what I mean with the tape measure - good to know it's pretty inaccurate!

Hi yeah with tape I know it's not that accurate, be nice to have a smaller baby this time considering last was 9.2!! Lol

Up until 34 weeks I was always measuring a week ahead, at my 36+3 I was measuring 34 and now I am 38+4 and measuring at 36 weeks... My midwife doesn't seem at all worried and I don't see her now till I'm 40+3 which I'm hoping he will have made an appearance by then :). My midwife also mentioned it can all be to do with the way they are lying ect... I think it's pretty common :)

Cheers for that, good luck with your bundle when they arrive!

According to my notes, to be on 50th centile I need to measure at least 2cm smaller than my weeks? Is everyone's not the same?

I've not looked on the chart only measurements that midwife has taken with tape

I'd check your chart then. You might not be measuring small. Each chart is different for each person. Mine for example says I need to measure 34 at 36 weeks to be on 50th centile then there's a 2cm allowance either side for accuracy so I could measure 32cm at 36 weeks and not be classed as measuring small?

I've been 1-2 cms small since they started measuring and now at 39 weeks I'm 4cms small. Had a growth scan last week and was told all is well. I don't think it's anything to panic about.

Thanks I'm feeling relieved!

I measured four weeks less than my week (34.5) at the last midwife appointment and got in a right tizz when they sent me for a growth scan. However, baby measuring fine by the scan measurements. Like everyone says, tape measures don't seem the perfect option for a lot of women. The growth scan showed we have a short baby, I've got tight tummy muscles from running before I was pregnant and this baby seems to love curling into a ball. Try not to worry, it's not a perfect science.

I measured 4 weeks behind and had an 8lb baby... As everyone has said, the tape measure is so innacurate. I can totally relate to the worry, though - do push for a scan if it's stressing you out?

I'd second BakingBunty's point, a scan is so reassuring - I asked them to look at the placenta just to be sure everything was ticking along alright (it was). Also, they measured the waters which were fine - I was a bit stressed they might be low as I have such a tight bump. There seemed to be a fair few people having growth scans that day, I think they might just pencil them in at the end of the day after all the planned scans have gone ahead. See if they'll let you have one maybe?

GingerRodgers'where can I find this chart? I measured small last time and am currently also measuring small. I had growth scan last time and DD was born just over the threshold to be discharged. 35 weeks now and had a growth scan again last week. Hopefully I'm going to just eek pass the threshold again!

Am interested to see what the chart says.

Mines clipped into my notes? It's literally an a4 sheet with my details on and a graph of where my growth should be.
I'm pretty sure you can do them online... I'll go and have a look!

The notes are different for different trusts! Now you mention it, for my first, I remember there is a chart in the notes. For my current, there isn't a chart. (I'm changing trust as I want to go to a MLU attached to a hospital). I will google. Thanks.

I always measure behind at 23 week's I measured 17weeks, by the end I was about 2 week's behind. Ds came a week early 6lb 10oz but I'm 5ft so wasn't expecting him to be big. He shot up to 95th percentile by about 2-3months and has stayed there. His dad is 6ft and short for the men in his family so again not that surprising.

with dd I always measured small (3cm less than the no of weeks pg) and had a growth scan at 30 weeks. dd was very average size. I was told it was because I was very fit pre - pregnancy and had strong tummy muscles.

Worth noting that charts are customised to your BMI (at least mine is). Might be worth checking if you have one rather than using generic ones as that might stress you out if you aren't falling into the percentiles

Measured 3-4 weeks behind from 20w. DD was 10lb 2oz, don't quite know where she was hiding!