small fundal height, worried now...

[lavenderlilaclily]

I'm currently 31 weeks, had a midwife appointment today and when she measured my fundal height she said it was too small at 28. She's booked me in for a scan next Tuesday. And now I am worried...
I also went in with reduced movements on Monday, I was monitored and all was fine but now I'm worried that my feeling movements less and small fundal height are somehow related.
I know I can't do anything until the scan on Tuesday so am just looking for reassurance until then! Anyone had similar and all was fine?

also fwiw, I had my last scan at 28 weeks and baby was measuring at about 70th percentile, so not small! so I'm worried he's just stopped growing?!

bump - anybody?

I'm only 22 weeks with first baby so don't have first hand experience but when my sister was pregnant they suspected baby was too small. She went for another check up a short time later and they then suspected baby was too big. It's easy to say try not too worry but do your best to stay calm until your scan. 🤞

My fundal height measured the same at my 36 week appointment as it did at my 34 week appointment. My midwife sent me for a scan (which was a week later) and he measured fine on the scan. He was born at 42+1 weighing 8lb 13.5oz. The baby could have just changed position meaning that the fundal height is measuring differently.

Are you tall? I am 5ft 8 and always measured a few cm behind from 28 weeks onwards. Midwife wasn't concerned - her comment was that taller women often carry differently as to how the baby sits internally - apparently we have more room?

I am small and my fundal height is measuring big but baby is actually very small for gestational age. It’s not exactly an exact science!

I measured 24 on fundal height at 27 weeks, was sent for a scan and all good on the scan. I expect I’ll still be behind at next measurement as bump is still small.

My sister measured small on all her fundal height measurements for all her babies and had c7lb+ babies. I had a friend who was similar and had an 8lb+ baby.

We’re quite small so not sure it’s just a tall person issue.

It’s worrying but the midwife said to me that as long as the fundal height increases at each measurement not to worry much about the actual numbers.

My fundal height was about five weeks behind in most recent preg iirc. Baby bang on average size when born.
The measurement is a very rough science, and presumably depends on your height, bone structure, how the baby is lying etc. Also if you're overweight I think it's less accurate?

I know it’s tricky, but try not to worry. Fundal height is a very unreliable screening tool - in my area (not sure if it varies) they refer for growth scans anyone below 9th or above 91st centile - so approx 1 in 5 people.

I measured small on fundal height with both pregnancies and had multiple growth scans - never any worries on these. Both babies born above average weight. I’m not particularly tall or anything so no obvious explanation. Midwife once said it was because I had strong abs, which made me laugh because I definitely do not!

Hope all goes well with your scan, hopefully just another opportunity to say hello to your little one x

Thanks everyone, I appreciate it xx
I'm not particularly tall no, I'm quite small in general. My consultant said from the beginning of the pregnancy there was a slight worry about a small baby because I started with a relatively low BMI, - I made a concerted effort to gain weight healthily throughout and have been able to do so well so I thought maybe I avoided it as baby has been measuring above 50th percentile at all scans so far but maybe not.
It's comforting to know that fundal height hasn't been accurate or reliable for everyone though and it might all just be totally fine.

I had the exact same thing at 31 weeks! I was measuring 27 at my 28 weeks appointment and then 26 at my 31 week appointment so they booked me in for a scan the next day. Lo and behold, baby is actually measuring ahead, at 34 weeks rather than 31 weeks. The fundal height thing is very inaccurate. I'm nearly 6 foot, so for me it's not very accurate as baby has lots of room to curl up and sprawl out on different days. It can also depend on who is measuring. The 28 week measurement was done by a midwife whereas at 31 weeks it was done by a male doctor who seemed to be a bit sheepish about measuring all the way down to my pubic bone. The sonography said it's because doctors do a little bit of everything so they're less practised in taking accurate fundal measurements, whereas midwifes are 1) not afraid to pull your pants down to measure properly and 2) much more practised.

Didn't stop me crying non stop between the doctors appointment and the scan though- I was inconsolable with worry. But rest assured, it'll most likely be fine... or, if you're like me, you'll be told your baby is massive :)

Good luck. The wait is awful but you will get through it.

Just wanted to update in case anyone's ever looking for similar threads or anything like this - I had my growth scan today and all was totally fine, baby is measuring above average if anything! So the fundal height measurement was not significant.
Thanks again everyone who commented with reassurance I appreciate it!

My second pregnancy had this issue at around the same time. She was just a little baby, 6lbs 3oz born at 39+4. She’s still quite little. Her older sister was born at the same gestation weighing 7lb 5oz and is a bigger kid- more than three inches taller at the same age than her sister. They’re just different sizes and always were. The scan will reassure you @lavenderlilaclily I’m sure. Good luck.