How do they measure baby if you're a larger lady?

[PennyFl]

I'm 19 weeks and my midwife said they will start measuring my bump to measure for baby at some point down the line

I stupidly didn't ask at the time, but how does that work when you're a larger lady?

I'm plump in the middle as it is, so am worrying this will distort the measurements

Apologies if this is a silly question

In my area if your BMI is over 35 you will have growth scans rather than be measured

Ah ok, I might need to ask as my BMI is 34.5!

Had to get it under 35 for IVF so am hovering just below the line - if my midwife use the same number of course

Congratulations 🙂 Definitely not a silly question!
I'm pregnant through IVF which in my hospital trust automatically means extra scans - approx 32, 35, and 38 weeks. Have they said anything like that to you? I have an anterior placenta at the front, so measurements with the tape measure are apparently taken with a pinch of salt. Tbh I've had my 32 weeks scan and baby looks sizeable on the chart 🧐 but the midwives and Consultant all said it's generally an estimate anyway!

They might send you for more growth scans depending on your booking BMI but will probably still do the tummy measurements anyway which are ridiculously inaccurate. I had a BMI of 30 at booking, was sent to the hospital for 'tailed off growth' after 3 midwife appointments as I was told my bump had not grown enough and then another time was told my bump was too big. My last midwife appointment baby was estimated on their measurements to be 9lb, she was born on her due date 7lb 14!

Congrats on your pregnancy!

With my two pregnancies, they could still do it by measuring as they were measuring the change in fundal height from your starting point and then since the last measurement. I carry big and my two babies were 9lbs 15ozs, but there were never really any concerns about size, only at the last scan / appointment where my first was back to back.