fundal measurements- your experiences please

[lexij]

Hi everyone. I'm very close to end of pg, 39+5, very excited to meet my first baby.
At each mw appt my fundal height measurements have been +2-3 over, as it's so close to birth now I'm wondering if anyone else who measured a bit bigger did indeed have a much bigger baby,or if the measurements aren't all that accurate? thanks x

I measured 2 over most of my pregnancy with dd2 and she was 8pound 13oz so sizeable but not massive.

they are not an indicator at all - I was T+16 days, measured 39 therefore -3 and dd was 10lb 6oz with loads of fluid and the most whopping placenta & umbilical cord ...... they kept telling me I wasn't have a big baby (I looked absolutely massive) as I measured small.............

thanks for that, i do hope my baby is big and strong, though as i'm only 5ft tall i'm starting to worry about the mechanics of a bigger baby and the birth!

They are not that accurate lexij. I had a growth scan with ds because I was measuring small for dates, but it was just because he was my third and I had that must-have-been-named-by-a-bloke condition, "baggy uterus" . He was fine, just lying rather low!! (he was 8lb in the end, same as dd2, who measured spot on throughout). Two experienced midwives can measure you differently on the same day. It's an indication, but doesn't mean that much tbh.

palpation and growth scans can be inaccurate, and women tend to grow the size of baby they can birth..all fours and squatting positions are good to open up the pelvis that bit more for birth,,

i measured 37 at 34 weeks, at 38 weeks,my baby was estimated to weigh 6 pounds, she was 7 lb 8 at term, exactly 40 weeks when she arrived...

Don't worry I'm only 5'1" - it was fine 1 tiny stitch erring on the side of caution, as they told me after if it's going to get stuck it will at whatever size!

-thanks everyone, birthing positions are very useful to know lulumama, cheers,

-pleased to hear that you came out relatively unscathed buffysmum!

• haven't heard the term 'baggy uterus' before, sounds like they had to think that name up in a hurry!