Measuring 32 weeks at 30+3 - private scan

[purplebiro]

Hi all.

I am diagnosed with GD, well controlled by insulin (could not tolerate metformin and diet alone wasn't working).

Had a growth scan two weeks ago because of the GD and the baby and fluid were measuring absolutely dead on what they should, which is a massive relief. Had another - private - scan yesterday (hadn't managed to find out gender on NHS scans because of shy baby and my mum was up from down south and wanted a bit of first grandchild action so offered to pay for it) and the sonographer said the baby was measuring at 32 weeks (I'm 30+3).

That measurement was the head, not the stomach and no excess fluid, so she said baby is not overweight related to the GD but...what does it mean? Me and DP are both very tall (6'1" and 6'0" respectively) so I would expect that our baby would be longer/larger than normal - is the discrepancy in dates just down to that head measurement not being plotted against mine/DPs measurements (I presume they do this with the NHS scans but the private place didn't take any details from me)? Or is my due date wrong? I've always been highly dubious about the due date (and threefore date of conception) I was given at early scan - ten days earlier would make much more sense...

Having had growth scans frequently in the last few months I can confidently say sonographers each have a way of working in how they place the markers etc to take measurements and there will be a margin of 'error' orca difference between scans. I had a scan at 32 weeks, again at 34 and again at 36 due to no growth between 32 and 34 ... turns out the femur was measured short at 34 weeks by a different lady ... redone at 36 weeks and we are back to equalling dates lol!

Was your due date confirmed by scan early on or taken from your lmp? if by early scan then you can be sure it's correct .... After 13 weeks it becomes less accurate

Due date was from scan at 9w because I wasn't sure on lmp date - I'm very irregular and had lost track - and I remember asking a similar question then and now you mention it I remember them saying more or less what you're saying - babies are pretty much the same size until 12 weeks and after that they diverge, depending on genetic/other factors.

Baby may have just had a growth spurt which will even out again over the next few weeks ... twinned with the operator margin :) it may mean they rescan you in a couple weeks just to recheck as they did me ... whatever the outcome so long as baby is healthy and growth is sat between the right lines on the graph it's all gravy :) good luck with the final weeks ... not long to go@

There's so much scope for error on those measurements - my last scan at 34 weeks they thought the baby weighed more at that point than he did when he was born, and I very much doubt he shrank!