Fundal height measurements.

[Sheisfee]

Heya, I’m having issues with the size of my bub! Every time my midwife measures my fundal height she does so from the top of my uterus to as far down my pubic bone before it would be classed as inappropriate haha! So I’m always measuring really far ahead. When a student midwife did it she measured to the top of my pubic bone and length was exact for gestation and when I do it it’s the same.

I’m now having GD tests and millions of scans and consultant appointments because the fundal height was too long… does it really matter where abouts on the pubic bone I get measured to?

Bump

I recall being told in my last pregnancy that each midwife measures slightly differently, so it does cause issues with how your graph looks like. I got caught right at the end with a panic in the pre-op as that midwife obviously measured differently to the community midwife who did it a few days prior, and as by the recorded measurements I had "shrunk" i was rushed across the hall for a scan. All was fine and I didn't have to have DD whipped out a day early.

If you really feel it's all too much, can you not discuss with the consultant and see if they agree to know the monitoring on the head if their measurements and tests show all is fine? Do you see the same midwife every time?

When I get mine measured it sounds like the way your midwife does It and I always measure small, it's not a very accurate way to measure I don't think as my baby is actually on the 77th centile so definitely not as small as I measure

@FluffMagnet it’s a right fuss isn’t it?? I’ve been measuring ahead for the past 6 weeks because I do have the same midwife every time and she measures me the same way every time! I’ve had a GD test and my blood sugars were incredibly low (good low) and I’ve now had growth scans - her legs are off the scale but I remember with my last daughter they said she would weight 10lbs and she was 7lbs… I feel like everyone is freaking out instead of being rational. I understand that everything needs to be done with caution but I don’t want to end up with an induction or section unnecessarily.

What do you mean I could refuse to talk to consultant??

Glad everything was ok with your little one and you xx

@caldevine you’re right it doesn’t seem very accurate at all and I’m worried that it’ll mean I get unnecessary intervention.

You could have four experienced midwives measure you and they would all get a different number. If you stay on the same line then it it should be fine even if you are measuring ahead. They would just get worried if you suddenly jumped up or tailed off. It really isn't a good indicator for the size the baby will be but can help them determined if their has been a delay or speed up I guess growth which needs further investigation.

@jellybe I understand and fortunately she’s been keeping to the same curve but my problem is that I’ve been advised to see a consultant about an induction or section now and I feel that i will be given unnecessary intervention. My daughter was predicted to be 10lb and was 7lb… it’s difficult to trust your gut when you have professionals telling you something completely different even if I can rationalise their need to be cautious.