Bump now measuring 3 weeks behind. Advice please!

[Ummm21]

Hi all, hoping someone can shed some light as I’m in a weird space between panic and ‘they’re not worried so you shouldn’t be’. It’s a long one, sorry!

Second pregnancy, SPD kicked in pretty early around 10 weeks, has been pretty debilitating since 20 weeks. First three times bump was measured it was measuring one week ahead and felt high. At 35 weeks I was measuring behind. Not massively and only just enough to warrant a growth scan. Scan was fine, baby was around 31st centile (my son was born on the 75th but 2 weeks overdue). I queried whether this should be a concern and was told no as all babies are different.

37 week appointment yesterday and bump is now measuring 3 weeks behind and hasn’t grown since last check. My BP was high so was sent to day unit to be assessed. BP a bit erratic but nothing of major concern, just needs to be monitored. Mentioned the bump to midwife who measured me and agreed it’s three weeks behind and said the top of my bump is much lower than she’d expect at 37 weeks. Dr reviewed and have another scan next week.

Now my SPD has become pretty unbearable this week and I’m struggling with the pain so rational me thinks it could just be that baby has dropped quite a bit but of course part of me is worried.

Has anyone experienced anything like this? They couldn’t give me any explanation which didn’t help. I asked if baby could be small because it’s not getting enough of something or my placenta wasn’t working so well and she said maybe but you’d expect to see signs from baby but they seem fine (which is reassuring).

Thanks!!

Hi @Ummm21 - I'm 32 weeks also have pretty terrible SPD and have been measuring very small (3rd centile) all pregnancy, have been sent for two growth scans now which similarly were smaller than my previous baby (who was big, 81st centile) but checked out fine.

They check how the placenta is working/blood flow etc on the scans too. Measuring small is definitely scary but if the scans are reassuring and they're not worried I think that's pretty comforting!

@vitaminb33 thank you, that is helpful.

With my first I measured around 3/4 cm behind from 28 weeks and subsequently had growth scans every 2 weeks until I gave birth. The bump measure is just the typical average measurement, babies come in all shapes and sizes… my 1st was 2nd- 9th centile and is a small 6 year old. He had a small gestional age , SGA so with my 2nd I was lined up to have growths scans from
The get go.
The midwife never actually measured my bump as i saw the consultant so often! My DD was 0.04 centile.
My blood flow was fine to cord and placenta with both… I just have small babies

bump measure is very inacurate.
it's useful to measure progression up until about 35 week but after that baby can move down into the pelvis and the bump measure smaller.

midwife/gp should refer to scan if there are concerns.

This bump measurement sounds incredibly unscientific. Midwife puts a tape measure over your belly and ta-dah! I’m sure it was useful in the 1970s and earlier before they had ultrasound but what is even the point now?! Surely there is there is far more accurate clinical information available to them.

My bump measured big all the way through. I was told to expect a big baby. At my 38 week appointment the midwife said I would have to go for a growth scan as bump had grown 4cm in 2 weeks and again to expect a big baby and possible induction dependent on scan. Went into labour that weekend before the scan had even been booked and she weighed a very small 6lb 5oz. Those measurements caused nothing but stress for me and obviously where very inaccurate. X

Thanks ladies. That’s helpful. I am going to stick with the idea that baby has moved down which would explain the increased pain in my pubic bone and the smaller bump