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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Measuring bump

23 replies

fufmum · 02/11/2004 15:29

Hi just wanted to ask when does your MW/doctor normally start to measure the bump? I am 29 weeks and have never had mine checked, is this normal or should i have had it measured by now?

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bundle · 02/11/2004 15:31

never had mine measured during 2nd pregnancy, think it's out of fashion and not a good way of telling what's going on any more..

nailpolish · 02/11/2004 15:31

should start soon. dont worry, the exciting bits start soon! isnt it boring waiting?

Original poster

fufmum · 02/11/2004 15:36

LOL @ nailpolish I don't really have time to be bored. If i'm honest the weeks are flying by but it can't come quick enough either. I am so excited about meeting my baby boy who thinks it's great fun to kick me in the ribs!

Bundle- really? Oh ok i just seet them doing it on all the progs on discovery health and was wondering why i hadn't had it done.

Thanks you two!

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nailpolish · 02/11/2004 15:41

my mw told me your measurements in cm should be the same as no of weeks

they are in the dark ages round here tho. glad to hear its flying past for you!!!!!!!!!!

chicaguapa · 03/11/2004 11:29

I think they start measuring about 30+ weeks. Generally the cms tallies with the weeks but it doesn't seem to concern the MW if it doesn't.
All along I've been 2cm less than my term and I finally insisted on a scan at 35 weeks, only to find out baby inside was measuring 39 weeks! THAT was a shock!

Original poster

fufmum · 03/11/2004 11:46

Thanks for that i just wanted my mind putting at ease because i have such little faith in my GP. Having my ante-natal check in a room which looks like it is about to fall down in and where workmen were trying to get into constantly wasn't the best thing for me. My GP gives me the creeps too if i'm perfectly honest. I'm sure everything is fine and i am going to the hospital next week so a mid-wife will be seeing me then.

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steppemum · 03/11/2004 14:31

they measure from about 16 weeks, as soon as the uterus is above the pelvis. In theory the cm should be the same as the number of weeks. However my midwife (same as last pregnancy) couldn't get a measurement that sounded right last week, and we had a good laugh over it, because last time round she told me each time how many cms and numbers of weeks etc. She personally prefers other ways of estimating size etc, and she feels so competent when feeling my bump, that I'm not bothered if the no of cms doesn't add up.

artyjoe · 03/11/2004 14:47

I've had my bump measured since week 16 and it has always tallied with my weeks...however, i was in hospital today and they measured my bump and it has suddenly jumped to 3cms more than my number of weeks (29) so they have booked me in for an ultrasound scan in 3 weeks time.

Original poster

fufmum · 03/11/2004 17:58

Thanks Joe well like i say i am seeing MW on tues so she better measure me, it obviously IS a big deal if they are sending you for a scan based on the results of being measured!!

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aloha · 03/11/2004 19:41

Well, I'm 25 weeks and haven't been measured. I'm not at all concerned - I can SEE I'm growing (and how!).

popsycal · 03/11/2004 19:45

Interesting
I was never measured with DS.

But yesterday I was at the midwife and she had a student midwife with her and it was her first day of her first 'midwife on the job practice' and I was her first patient so my midwife took ages explaining all the ins and outs of what she was doing.

What she said to the studen was......at 12 weeks, it is in your pelvis, by 24 weeks the top of the uterus is around the height of the belly button and 36 weeks it is under your boobs! And technically, you are measured from around 24 weeks. But then went on to say that other things are more important. Like looking, feeling the bump. Knowledge of the patient - eg first or subsequent pregnancy, height and build, body to leg length ratio.....and all of these things can affect the size of the bump.....

doesnt help much - but does put in to perspective that it is 'out of fashion'

never been measured ever by her

Angeliz · 03/11/2004 19:46

With my first i was being measured and poked and prodded all the time.
With this one, i've only seen the midwife twice and not been measured at all, (am nearly 6 months). I can see myself growing and the baby is VEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRRRRRRRRRYYYYYYYY active so i'm not worried

Now if anyone can cure my heartburn i'll love you forever!!!!!!!!

fisil · 03/11/2004 19:48

I got measured this week - at 15 weeks! Is that a record? (I think she was a neew GP and just wanted to have a go!)

popsycal · 03/11/2004 19:49

angeliz
gaviscon by the gallon

Angeliz · 03/11/2004 20:00

popsy, that's what i do but i hate it
I have to pant like i'm actually given birth after swallowing so i don't taste it!!

eidsvold · 03/11/2004 23:33

ohh in the UK not measured for first pregnancy..

second pregnancy in Aus - measured from about 20 or so weeks - but that is when I started antenatal care after having moved here from the UK. ROughly as others have said - no of cms should correspond with the no of weeks but I think they allow lee way....

linnet · 04/11/2004 00:37

I was measured every appointment with my first from about 16 weeks onwards. With my second this year I think I was measured all of about twice maybe three times. And in both pregnancies I measured about 2 weeks in cms behind what I was in weeks.

chicaguapa · 04/11/2004 07:58

angeliz, I've been getting "Maalox" on prescription and found it tonnes more effective than Gaviscon. The liquid is thinner and less cloying, it works really quickly for me and keeps the heartburn at bay for ages.

That said, my doctor was surprised it's more effective for me than Gaviscon so maybe I'm an anormality!

Original poster

fufmum · 04/11/2004 10:36

Aloha- this is the thing, you say you can see yourself growing, that's fine for you but all i ever get are comments from EVERYONE about how small my bump is.

The baby is moving around lots and i feel well so i guess nothing to worry about i just wish i felt more confident in my GP. I am 30 weeks PG on sunday and i look about 20 weeks, honestly.

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Pidge · 04/11/2004 11:59

fufmum - if it's any reassurance I was regularly told either "Crikey you're HUGE" or "Oh my goodness your bump is so tiny" often on the same day! Other people (even ones who have been pregnant) are notoriously bad judges of bump size!

But if you're concerned - definitely raise it with your midwife or GP and get some reassurance.

Original poster

fufmum · 04/11/2004 13:41

Thanks Pidge i am not too worried but like i say i will feel better after seeing the MW next tues, i will let you all know what she had to say.It's just sometimes i get a little anxious as i am on my own and don't really have anyone close by to talk things through with, my family are 200 miles away. MN really helps though thanks everyone!

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Ronniebaby · 04/11/2004 22:02

fufmum - where I live they are now doing this fundus measurement from 29 weeks, with a tape measure, but the midwife told me they way you can tell is place you little finger on your belly button and place each finger next to it until you feel the top of your uterus/bump the belly button is 22 weeks, and it does work, I am 34 weeks and it is 34, altho today bump is transverse across me, so I only measure 31.

hana · 05/11/2004 00:27

I am 33 weeks pregnant and only once has my bump been measured by m/w or the GP. I think a student m/w did it actually, and it measured up to my 'dates'.
I have also been told 'gawd you're so big' and in the next hour 'ohhhhh you're very small and tidy'

just something to say to pregnant women I guess!

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