Scan and fundal height measure massively different

[Rapunzel91]

Hi,

So just got back from my 25 week midwife appointment and to my surprise baby is measuring massive! She was measuring on the 90th centile but on the 20 week scan she was measuring really small, I think head and femure was around 25th centile and stomach around 40th centile.

I've consistently been told I have a small bump and don't think I look big for 25 weeks, I've also not gained a lot of weight. I'm 5"3 and BMI was 27 before pregnancy and partner is 5"8 so neither of us are massive.

Anyone experienced similar?

My understanding is the fundal height can’t accurately determine size of baby whereas the scan can provide more accurate measurements. Did they say they would send you for a growth scan - imagine they’d do this if there bab was looking really big?

No, they're not sending me for a scan but I'm going to have the gestational diabetes test to check for diabetes. Really hope I don't have diabetes! I would imagine that if she's still measuring big at the next appointment I might be sent for a scan?

Well if she was measuring small on the scan there’s nothing to indicate you’d have GD. If it makes you feel better my baby was above 97th percentile for his abdomen on 5 scans, I’ve had two diabetes tests and both negative.

Fundal height is really not a great indicator of anything I’ve heard from lots of midwives.

Sure all will be well for you! 😊🙏

My baby was measured on 90th centile yet when I had a presentation scan - baby was only 2 centile. I wouldn’t read too much into it - you just need to ensure they measure accurately so you track along the same line to avoid low or excessive growth

Thank you both! I've heard fundal height measurement can be highly inaccurate but didn't know it would be that much of a change compared to the scan measures! I'm not overly worried, what will be will be!

My last pregnancy I always measured 6 weeks (cm) ahead. Growth scan and eventual baby very average. Didn’t even have a lot of fluid. Can only imagine I had a good layer of fat....

I measured massive for both my babies (I'm very petite myself). I was in different areas and they both had different policies for babies measuring big as it's less of a concern than measuring small if no complicating GD etc. Qthis time round I had 4 GTTs and a growth scan at 30 weeks (which confirmed he was massive), but it was just one of those things, think I have good placentas (all baby not fluid)

I convinced myself he'd not be massive as scans are notriously inaccurate but he was nearly 9lb at 37 weeks! (And absolutely perfect).