Declining fundal height measurements?

[Plantlady10]

Has anyone declined having their fundal height measured?

I hear a lot about how it's very inaccurate, I feel it really messed up my first birth. My fundal height was measuring at 90th centile the whole pregnancy. I then went in with reduced moments at 39 weeks, and of course baby started kicking once I got to hospital and everything was fine, but they wanted to do a scan just to make sure. My scan measured baby at 3rd centile. I was then told baby had growth restriction (because it was being compared to the fundal height, a totally different measurement system ), and I was told I couldn't have a homebith or waterbirth. I was pressured/guilt tripped into having an induction (risk of stillbirth ect) and was made to birth on my back, legs in the air wired up to monitors. Baby was born a healthy 7lb, 25th centile and absolutely fine.

I really do not want this to happen again

First time mum (currently 24 weeks) and just came across your thread doing some reading about the usefulness and accuracy of this measurement as I am inclined to decline them from my 25 week appointment when they'll start being offered. I am also planning a homebirth and so want to understand whether declining will have any impact on my birth place choice. Helpful to hear your experience with your first and I am so sorry to hear it derailed things so much.

Personally, I wouldn’t decline them. With my second it flagged up slow growth and low amniotic fluid levels.

I have subsequently had a measurement that was out and all was fine with this baby, but I would rather get it checked.

I can understand it must be disappointing to have not had the birth you imagined.

I had to have a labour ward birth on my back with DC1.... it wasn't ideal. I had a lovely water birth with DC2 though.

I wouldn't decline fundal height checks, but you do know more this time and you know your body better. The medical team also know what your body is capable of this time.

I am declining them too. I am happy to do scans if they are worried about because they are so inaccurate. I would say it depends on your circumstances. My reasoning is I have quite a high bmi and my weight and measurements (I take waist/hip/bust/arm/thigh measurements as before I got pregnant I was losing weight and this was an effective way of checking) fluctuate a lot. I can easily gain/lose a stone and gain/lose inches off my hips and waist. I see it being inaccurate. I think talking and compromising can be a solution. I said no to fundal measurements but if there are concerns I can go in for an extra scan or two. Though I also take growth scans with a pinch of salt I would rather have those.

Also, this is another thing that bothers me.

' I was told I couldn't have a homebith or waterbirth. I was pressured/guilt tripped into having an induction (risk of stillbirth ect) and was made to birth on my back, legs in the air wired up to monitors.'

This they cannot do. You have rights and you are their patient. YOU decide on how you get 'treated'. They cannot tell you 'you are not allowed a homebirth or waterbirth' especially if it's just a baby weight thing and not a medical reason (did they mention IUGR at all as that is a genuine issue?). Even if you had, say, preeclampsia for example and you still wanted a homebirth. You would every right to do it. They do not like it, they do not advise it. But that is the issue. They cannot tell you 'you are not allowed'. They advise, they recommend. Same with induction, they can advise/recommend it, but you ultimately decide. You research the benefits/risks (and if they scare you with stillbirth ask them to give you genuine stats) and see if it's for you. Same with monitoring. There are multiple ways of monitoring, you ask about it, you decide. If someone used that language with me (allowed/should/must etc...) I will call them out. I am 28 grown woman, I can make informed consent for myself. Luckily, my current midwife has been a gem and so far it's been all been good. Research your options, do listen to them but remember all they can do is advise.

They're unlikely to advise a homebirth if you decline anything because they can no longer guarantee that you fall into the low risk category. But if you have an open and reasonable conversation with the midwives and are willing to compromise they're often not as adverse to homebirth against medical advice as you'd think. If you're doing that you might as well have had the measurements though.

Also they shouldn't have diagnosed growth restriction based only on comparing scan to previous fundal height. Fine if the fundal height had also slowed, fine if baby was smaller centile than at 20wk, but otherwise it makes no sense. I think that's a separate issue though.

I wouldn't decline them.

I think you have an issue with how you were dealt with at the hospital, not your midwife appointments. Unfortunately I can totally relate.

As PP have said, fundal measurements are important.

What you can do for following pregnancies is being on your toes when it comes to delivery. Really question your doctor/midwife on anything you're not comfortable with.

For no2 I signed a form saying I was leaving the hospital againt medical advice 🤷🏻‍♀️ I was being forced to do induction while every test under the sun (and I did them ALL) was perfectly normal. All just because my babies were all born at nearly 42 weeks. For no3 I had to refuse again the doctor's advice 🤦🏻‍♀️ I forced her to get me further monitoring instead of induction.