Measuring 27cm at 28 weeks

[Grasshopper90]

Had my 28 week midwife appointment yesterday (at 28+2) and fundal height is measuring 27cm, putting me just above the 10th centile on the growth chart. Midwife not concerned at this stage but I can’t help but be a little worried! DD1 was a small baby (6lb 4oz at 37+6) but measured just below average the whole way through.

Has anyone else had a similar measurement at this time? How did it go as your pregnancy progressed?

I wouldn't worry at all about that. I can't remember what I was at 28 weeks but I know by 40 weeks I only measured 30 cm. I had regular growth scans and in my case it was a small baby, (6lb 6oz at birth 10 days late) and fluid on the lower end of normal. There were absolutely no issues in my case, and you are only a tiny bit out, which could be because the measurement was taken a fraction to low or high on your bump.

They are really inaccurate unless it is a personalised chart for you. With DD I measured 6 weeks behind by 36 weeks. She was born on 75th percentile. DS measured spot on and was born on 98th percentile.

If it drops too much, and given your history, they should refer you for a scan, but hopefully it will be fine for you. Presumably also your DD being smaller was a lot due to her being born at 37+6?

At my 25 week appointment the midwife said they aren't going to take measurements of my baby because I have a 32 week scan booked in (to monitor a fibroid position) and they'll just use the scan at that time to provide a measurement. So if my baby is big or small, I won't know until 32 weeks, and this doesn't seem to concern the midwife, so I'm inclined to follow suit. I have no experience which would be of help to you, OP, but I hope this gives you some comfort that it perhaps doesn't matter until later in the pregnancy

My first was born at 39+5 and weighed a small 6lbs… as he had a small gestional age (sga) I had growth scans throughout my pregnancy with my 2nd (and other issues). I remember with my first my bump was always a good 5/6 cm behind…. DD was born at the same gestiation as your first, 37+5 and she was 5lb 8.

My first is 2nd-9th centile still and a healthy 6 year old- eats like a horse and my 2nd is still a dinky 0.04 centile.

Midwives only are concerned when there is a consistent 3cm diff, 6lb 4 in your first at 37+6 I wouldn’t say was hugely on the small side

My midwife said that the normal range for fundal height is 2 cm to either side of the week of your pregnancy. So if your 28 weeks then anything between 26-30cm is normal and MW wouldn't be concerned. I think this is to account for different weights/body shapes of women, the normal range in the size of babies and also for variation in MW measuring.

Thank you all for your responses, you’ve definitely reassured me 🙂 Will try not to focus on it too much!

Hi! Looking at when you posted this I assume baby is safely here? Really weird as I’m 28 weeks + 1 day today and the midwife measured me for the first time at 27cm so same as you! She said it’s perfect, but I can’t help but notice on the nhs site week by week tracker it says the baby should be 37.6cm at 28 weeks that’s a big difference, could anyone explain? Or does the above all apply to me too?

Also does it indicate sex of the baby at all you think? Or the guided measurements are for male or female? As we want to wait until the baby is here to see if it’s a boy or girl :)

Remember that baby is all scrunched up in there. Baby is only that long when stretched out. The measurement talked about is your fundal height, which is the distance around your bump from your pubic bone to the very top of your uterus. Never read anything about fundal height giving any clue as to baby's sex.

Thank you :) from other peoples comments too they said to go along with how many weeks you are is usually the same as measurement so 28 weeks and 27cm is spot on! :)