Baby measuring small

[chocolate8ball]

I've had two midwife appointments now, at 26 and 28 weeks, when I was measured and told the bump was measuring small (around lower decile, 26cm at 28 weeks). I've now been sent for a growth scan.

Has anyone had this? What can I do, if anything, to remedy this? I'm 5 foot 9 and size 8, and my husband is 6 foot 2 and slender. Maybe the baby is just slim too, or good at hiding inside my tall body??

I think I measured on par or just slightly smaller, then a stupid doctor measured and did my chart wrong and it went off the scale so I had to have a growth scan. It was very good for reassurance and baby was fine. Hopefully everything will be ok for you too.

Measuring your bump is not a diagnostic tool, it's a screening tool to decipher who needs to be referred for a growth scan.

Your scan will determine (although not always accurately!) weather your baby is small or not. If it is then your babies growth will be closely monitored throughout your pregnancy including the function of your placenta.

Try not to panic, you may well have the scan and your baby could be measuring perfectly.

Where I live, they consider up to 2cm either way to be completely normal and won’t refer you for a scan unless the measurement is 3cm+ out. At 28 weeks, I measured 37cm; no excess water and an average sized baby, it was purely down to how DC was lying. DC was born weighing 6lb so certainly didn’t warrant the huge bump. Try not to worry, fundal height measurements are notorious inaccurate.

Mine measured as no growth in 3 weeks. Got sent the following daynfor growth scan and all was OK.. Babys sizes were all good and approx weightbwas 5lb that was at 34 weeks.

Thanks everyone - that's really helpful and reassuring!

I was sent for a growth scan in both my pregnancies. Both babies totally normal size, just hiding well. I'm also tall and think they just have more room to stretch out in there.

Hi try not to worry ! I’m just a bit smaller in height than you and my bump is measuring small below 5th centile but I’m having regular scans and baby is measuring just below the 50th so all completely normal think it’s just our height more room to hide haha 😋 x

I was always measuring 2 weeks behind, when I gave birth at 38 weeks my DD was a very respectable 6lb8oz. I could technically have gone another 4 weeks, I dread to think what her weight would’ve been if I had!