Accuracy/ inaccuracy of fundal height and charts

[3rdtimemomma]

Hello everyone,

Just after some advice or experiences with regards to belly size and fundal height in general.
Iv always been "small" in terms of bump size but never needed extra scans I was only ever slightly smaller.

This is my 3rd pregnancy and Iv got my own personalised chart which I think everyone has now and it's on the app. They say they don't worry unless you fall below the 10th centile. I was doing fine and in the pic attached shows growth and just above the 10th.
I went to the hospital for different reasons just for some bloods and they measured me there in triage as the midwife thought I look small ( I'm 2 days shy of 33 weeks) and this was the plotting.

I'm worried purely because this is the smallest Iv ever been at this point but more so because Iv even dropped below the 3rd centile for gestation.

I know this fundal height can be inaccurate. I just worry because of how much it's dropped off.
They have sent me for a scan which will be in the next 2 days.
I went for a scan 5 weeks ago (private) and baby seemed to measure fine. Not sure how much can change in that time period.

Trying to not overthink and stay positive!

Any stories or advice welcome :)

Iv attached my growth chart just to show and probably why I think the hospital are concerned.

Bump

Were you measured by a different midwife to normal? I've heard that this can sometimes effect the measurements.
Just use the scan as an extra chance to see your baby 😊

Fundal height is massively outdated but they have to have something to go by roughly so it's better than nothing.

I've never known anyone to go on to have a growth scan and there actually be an issue.

Everyone carries differently and has different sized bumps so try not to worry ❤️

I've recently had a significant drop between the 24 and 26 week midwife visits - going from 99th percentile to the bottom of the chart. Was sent for a growth scan and all looks good. I think baby has started dropping down lower, which may have contributed to the change in measurements. I wouldn't worry too much for now.

Sorry i meant to type 34 and 36 weeks

Just a quick update - so after the lower end fundal height measurement which on this occasion although I'm sure rare actually I'm glad was picked up on and the midwife that noticed I'm very thankful for!

So after being plotted at 29cm for 33 weeks and dropping below the 3rd... unfortunately at my growth scan yesterday when scan measurements were plotted she's actually plotting below the 3rd centile :( so I'm in absolute panic but trying to take one day at a time ( or week at a time)

Not really sure how it's going to go.... the positive is that at the moment the blood flow etc is all fine and in normal range, she is just showing as being small.

I'm so confused because I had a private scan at 28 weeks and the measurements then plotted her at just below the 50th centile so I'm worried that within 5 weeks she's dropped to below the 3rd.
I have to go back next week for blood flow and advanced monitoring and then the following week a repeat growth scan.

Not had this before so not really sure what to expect.

I'm hoping perhaps the growth may pick up? Trying not to google!!

X

I wouldn’t worry OP, my fundal height was 26cm at 28 weeks and 26cm at 32 weeks. I was sent for an immediate scan and whilst she is quite smaller she had grown. I’m now 34 weeks and going for scans every two weeks.
Maybe I’m naive as it’s my first but I’m not overly worried as I’d rather they told me she was small than being told she was massive.

@Analysethat

I mean she's my 3rd but all of this is new to me so I feel like it's my first! If that makes any sense! Lol.

Yes so at the moment it's monitoring, it's weekly but growth scans every 2 weeks.

I hate the word induction and that's what scares me the most.

I'm sure the sonographer mentioned the word induction I think she said if she's still plotting below the 3rd centile.

I mean she's growing but the rate of growth is slow or seems to be obviously small.

It's such a grey area - so many hospitals seem to do different things and it's hard to go against medical advice but I really want to make informed decisions if it comes to that xx

It’s quite an inaccurate outdated way of measuring nowadays from what I’ve heard. At 25 weeks I was around the 25th centile, at 28 weeks I was at around the 95th! I was also measured by a different midwife. Before my last measurement I had a private scan and baby was actually measuring on the smaller side of average so the massive jump in fundal height hasn’t worried me at all.
If you’re getting referred for an extra growth scan just look at it as an extra peek at your baby 😊

My bump measured on the 10th percentile all the way through but she was born on the 60th percentile for my chart. We didn't qualify for growth scans as we were on the 10th percentile not below.
She's on the small side now track the 30th percentile for weight and 10th percentile for height and at 7 months is in 3-6months clothes and still fits in some of her 0-3months clothes!!

I think I'm just worried in the drop from around 50th at my private to 5 weeks later at e Nhs showing below the 3rd centile - I'm worried about the drop ( they don't know about the drop due that being a private scan)
I'm worried under the 3rd centile is extremely low 🤦🏽‍♀️

The positives is blood flow etc is all normal.

I guess I just have to wait and see what the next couple of weeks bring and go from there. X