I'm measuring big - should I worry?

[vivie]

Hi
I'm 30 weeks pg with my second baby, and my height of fundus is 34 cm, so bigger than it should be, and I've been referred for a growth scan next week. I'm feeling okay, just extremely tired and a bit breathless, but I'm not anaemic and my lung function was fine at the clinic this morning. I do feel ENORMOUS though! Why is being big a cause for concern - and should I be concerned?? Thanks for any advice!

One reason they are concerned about baby size is if he/she appears to be growing too large it can be an indication of geststional diabetes in which case they would want to monitor you more carefully or you may have a lot of amniotic fluid Please don't worry though as the growth scan will give you a better idea. Any other syptoms at all?

Hi Vivie - if you can I would wait until you have the scan before worrying about all the possible imputations. I've been told I measure too big twice now and referred for scans and in fact the scans have been perfectly normal. At 28 weeks I measured 30 cm, which wasn't really too big, but they thought I had too much fluid and they couldn't feel the baby because of it, so needed to check that I wasn't actually carrying a very small baby. All was ok, but then at 34 weeks I measured 38 cm and at 35 weeks, 42 cm, which was rather off the scale on the charts for fundal height. Midwives got me very panicky about everything - told me I would have to be induced early, but when I then got my scan done, there wasn't in fact too much fluid and baby was average size. Doctor at the hospital only measured me 36 cm, so there is a huge disparity in measurements. The next appointment I had at 36 weeks with a different midwife only measured me at 36 cm again, which was pretty much right for dates too by then!

So, the message is that if you can, try not to think about it too much until you have the scan as this will be a lot more accurate than the midwives measurement of fundal height. Although I know that's easier said than done, once someone has suggested that there could be anything abnormal.

Like you though, I do (and did) feel ENORMOUS and the midwives and doctors still look at me (pre-measuring anything) and say I look big. They still say I feel like there's a lot of fluid, but measurements ok and now they CAN feel the baby and it's position etc.

Hope everything's ok and you don't have to wait too long for your scan.

Vivie, I had the opposite problem, my baby was measuring small last week according to one midwife. I saw another ones yesterday and as far as she was concenred, my fundal height was exactly where it should be. It can all depend on who is measuring. Try not to worry.

I think the measuring thing can be so inaccurate. First baby I was measuring exactly for dates and actually had a tiny baby that had slow growth and they never knew. Second one was measuring big on an ultrasound can you beleive. Her head was 3 weeks ahead according to them. She came out 6 pounds at 10 days overdue. You just don;t know I beleive. Please try not to worry. Your baby sounds happy and healthy!

Thanks for your replies everyone. I've been measured by 3 different people over the last 3 weeks and I've been big each time. Apart from feeling very tired, I feel well enough. I can feel baby moving lots, and my bp, blood sugars etc are all fine.

I made an extra appointment to see a mw this week because I'm feeling so tired that I thought I may have been anaemic or something, but I'm not and apart from being 'big' I'm very normal. I think I've been overdoing things and the tiredness is my body's way of telling me that I'm hugely pregnant and I need to sit down more. I'm not especially worried about the baby and my size but maybe ignorance is bliss? and I don't really know much about fundal heights!

I measured 35cm at 29 weeks and was sent for a scan for redating - scan dept wouldn't redate me just said I was having a big kid (8lb12 at 37 weeks). At least they're taking notice and dealing with it - hope your scan goes well

my fundal height measurements were also aparantly a few weeks ahead of due dates and i was according to everybdy and felt huge but on scan at 36 weeks apart from a large head he was fine for dates. born 7lb 11 - 3 days early so measurements not always correct. take things easy and rest if you can.

Vivie - have you had your scan yet? Hope all's well.

Hi Vivie, try not to get too anxious. I measured big in both my pregnancies. In fact I was VERY big witht the first and had growth scans at 34 wks with both. I'm now on no. 3 and at 18 wks large again. Bith Ds and DD were perfectly healthy and so was I and they weighed 9ibs11oz at birth. It's just hugely uncomfortable, isn't it!

Hi Vivie

have you had your scan yet? I am also measuring big and GP mentioned possibility of inducing me so I am keen to hear what your results have been, I am going back to GP next Monday which will be my 36 week appt and she may refer me for a scan then.

Hope you aren't feeling so tired still.

well i dont know if this helps but I was NEVER measured when preg as it wasnt considered accurate enough