Fundal height worries

[Jcmummy32]

Hi everyone.

Just curious for your own experiences. I had my first fundal height measurement today - I am 25+3 and I measured 27cm... I’m just wondering, how accurate were all your fundal height measurements? I guess I’m a little worried... First baby...

Mine were always 2 weeks ahead.

Not accurate in the slightest. Got told my baby was too small, had to go for another scan but was in bits the three days I had to wait thinking there was something wrong with my baby. Totally fine and told he was already 8lb at about 34 weeks...he was eventually born two weeks late at 7lb7oz...

Oh and at another appointment I was told I'd need another scan as he was too small...except the stupid GP hadn't read my notes and I had to point out to her that would have mean he had shrunk 5cm she remeasured and fine. It's a rubbish method IMO! Best of luck with your baby x

Agree not accurate. I was always 2 weeks under and never got beyond 34cm, even at 40wks. Baby born 7lb7oz at 40+1

My midwife told me the actual measurement isn't as important as how it changes at each appointment. So if you start 2 weeks ahead and stay at that each time then it's fine. If you are 2 weeks ahead now but at next appointment you are 2 weeks behind then they would want a scan to check everything is ok.
I was always 2 weeks ahead and baby was born weighing 7lb 15oz, so not big.

Thank you so much, ladies. I really appreciate you taking time to respond. Like I say, I’m still very new to all of this. I guess my next question would be, does a larger fundal height (25+3wks preg but fundal height of 27wks), does that throw my due date off? Basically, does fundal height indicate how far along I am? Or ignore fundal height and go by due date?

Sorry. I know I’m probably worrying for nothing x

I was on the 10th percentile all the way through my pregnancy and she was born on the 60th percentile. Not accurate in terms of exact weights but they are good to see growth patterns (I.e. Following a steady growth curve) - moving up or down percentiles would be concerns and if you are at the bottom or top they can be used as prescreening for large/small babies that might need monitoring by growth scans

In my experience fundal height was a bitch 🤣 (I am very short and small built when not preggers) so always measured big-I was 30cm at 25 weeks and by 37 weeks measuring 48 cm 🤦🏼‍♀️🙊 multiple gestational diabetes tests and growth scans for my ‘giant baby’ and she was born at 39 weeks weighing 7lb 5oz! My consultant wasn’t a fan of the tape measure like he said a woman of 4’ 10 is going to carry different to a woman of 5’ 10 and then even women of the same height will carry different depending on several factors. What he did look at was the trend on consecutive FH measurements as this can alert them to growth that’s speeding up/slowing down. FH is the best they have out in the community clinics and it does pick up changes in growth speed etc but don’t get too worried a out it if your midwife/obs team aren’t worried. I am pleased to I didn’t get measured again after 37 weeks as I fear my MW would have had to call in a bigger tape 😂

Also Fundal height doesn’t change your due date, your due date you get from a dating scan will be far more accurate and what the midwife will use regardless of fundal height.

I was on 75th centile all the way through. Son was born on 2nd centile!

Your body shape can also influence aswell. With my last I measured 2-3 cm behind the whole way and no midwife was concerned. I am tall and they said that is why.

Baby arrived 40 plus 3 at 7 pounds