How common are growth scans?

[Pastaalldaylong]

Hi I had my midwife appointment yesterday. She measured my fundal height to be 32cm when I am just 35 weeks. I've been in the middle percentile of the curve on the chart all but last time where I was near the top and now I'm back down to the middle so she wants to just check. Are these quite common? Hoping everythings ok.

I think I can depend? I had them last pregnancy due other issues and will have them again this time at 28/32/34 weeks.

I was grateful for the one I had at 37 weeks last time. Showed baby had stopped growing on his abdominal curve so was induced (combined with reduced movements) at 38 weeks.

The bump measuring can be quite inaccurate so they like to back up with growth scans just in case. Make sure you and baby are getting best care

I had one with DS2
I was not very big.only put on 20lbs during pregnancy. He was 7lbs8oz when he was induced at 39 weeks.
They said he was going to be huge!
I am not a big person my husband is not big either. To be honest I was pretty hacked off. I am sure they confused me with someone else.

I had them every 2 weeks from 25 weeks as fundal height was consistently way below average as was scans. Induced at 37 weeks and she's now 3 weeks old! 5lb 3oz born and fit as a fiddle.

I think that generally it's because baby had moved ( turned upside down/transverse, dropped) or the measurements are inaccurate (different midwife, different time of day, clothing). Last pregnancy my bump apparently got smaller, baby obviously didn't and was fine.

But obviously there are sometimes more sinister reasons that the scan picks up (like pp). So very important that you go, but don't worry about it yet.

I've had growth scans with all 3 pregnancies. 1st was because of measuring small was born 7lb 7oz 2nd was for pre eclampsia and 3rd is low pappA so pretty common I think. Up here any reason to give one they do

I had a scan last week as I was measuring 27cm at 29+3. Meant I was under the 5th percentile.
Scan showed all fine. Bang on 50th percentile and they had no idea of why I had been sent for a scan.
I think they are just precautionary as in some instances it can indicate that growth has slowed due to an issue, but I know a lot of people who have had them and the scan has completely gone against the measurements.

I’ve had growth scans since 26weeks - but for small baby! Measured fine all the way through on scans and final scan tomorrow before induction Saturday! I have had 2 sfga babies though and added to that I have high bp so that can result in small babies - just doesn’t look like it this time! Reckon this will be my biggest yet - guessing between 7-8lb (nearer 8!) I have never been measured though so cannot comment on that side of things!
@Chickydoo dc1 I gained only 8lb and ds weighed 5lb12. Dc2 I gained 8lb again and dd weighed in at 6lb6. Dc3 I lost weight and he weighed 5lb13! This time I have gained just under 13lbs to today! If I remember I’m going to weigh myself when I go into labour/before induction and then again after lol!

Super common. Consultants love them and will give you a growth scan if you so much as breathe in an antenatal clinic. Measuring the fundal height is pretty inaccurate and varies wildly between clinicians so we’ll always refer for a growth scan if we aren’t sure.

Growth scans can be pretty inaccurate too though! They tend to be much harder to do later on so can give some odd predictions about fetal weight especially so it’s always best to look at the whole clinical picture and not take growth scans as gospel.

Very common. I measured 4 weeks ahead throughout and then at 38 weeks I measured 47 weeks

They estimated baby to be 11 lbs at 38 weeks and she was born a wee eek later at 8 lbs 2. I just had a lot of water.

I wouldn't worry

I had 3 when I was pregnant with dd and she was a healthy 7lb 13ozs. So try not to worry 🙂

We had them every 2 weeks from week 32 til week 40 because my midwife was crap at measuring bump.

I was on a growth pathway from first scan so have not had any MW measurements, only scans which is standard in my trust if you are over a certain age. But they are planning to move everyone on to growth scans gradually and do away with MW measuring for accuracy as the cost of scanning has come down.

In my NCT group of 5, 4 had a growth scan for one reason or another

I'm having growth scans with this one. I had a scan at 24 weeks due to reduced movements and she measured below the 10th centile. I've had another one where she went up a little, and have another one scheduled in a few weeks, and will have a 4th a 36 weeks. I am at risk of early labour so they are keeping an eye on her. I think they are pretty common, the waiting room is always packed wen I go!

It seems they're getting more and more common to have. I'm on the growth pathway. For my part it's because the uterine artery measurements at the 20week scan were high enough to put me at risk of a small baby. I think there was something about being higher risk of pre-eclampsia as well.

Baby has so far been measuring around the 65-75th centile range. Fundal height has been measuring 4cm ahead both times I've been measured now, but I think that's due more to BMI. No sign of pre-eclampsia either.

Thanks for all the reassurance. I had hoped to give birth at the MLU birthing centre. Is this still possible of if you've had to have growth scans?

Super common, my midwife last time told me they offer them as routine if you are either more than 3cm above or below.

I had one with all of my pregnancies because I always measured big (and had big babies). No big deal really.

@Pastaalldaylong yes of course if no consultant input or suggestion of delivery suite you can still
Birth on MLU

Well since being referred only yesterday I'm being scanned later this afternoon! I know they're common but still doesn't stop the worry.

@Pastaalldaylong they tend to to do quickly to check the growth there and then when you're referred.

No reason at all you can't be MLU aimless you end up with some other issues year moves you under a consultant and labour ward.

I've only ever been consultant lead labour ward induced and it's always been a really positive experience. Depending why you're there you can still use all the things you'd get at the MLU alien birthing pools and stuff

I think the guideline is that growth scans should be done within 48 hours of referral so that’s fairly normal, please don’t panic.

Thanks all. No problems and everything looks normal so I'm very relieved.

@Pastaalldaylong that’s good-how did the measurements compare?

@Megan2018 All measurements are pretty much bang on the middle of the curve 50th percentile which is what they were at the 20 week scan.