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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Growth scan - measuring 2 weeks ahead

9 replies

thelma57 · 13/05/2023 07:15

Hi all, I hope everyone is doing well!

I’m 31 +2 and had my 31 week midwife appointment yesterday, they measured my bump and it’s measuring 33, so they’re sending me for a growth scan on Monday.

The appointment was a bit annoying with 2 midwives chatting over me and they didn’t really give me any information, I would normally ask but I felt a bit overlooked 😞

Does anyone have any experiences and is this main reason for the scan to see if I can go full term?

For what it’s worth I’ve always carried my weight on my belly and my BMI was 31 at my booking appointment.

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PinkButtercups · 13/05/2023 07:18

The growth measurement of bumps can be so off so I really wouldn't worry. Even when you have a scan the weights can also be off and inaccurate but gives them a better look. Estimated weights are just that. They're estimated sometimes they can be close to what they said other times they can be well off.

I had growth scans with both my DS and my twins.
They didn't ever measure my bump with my twins as I had growth scans instead.

Try not to worry it's completely common to measure ahead of behind. It's more common than you think.

PinkButtercups · 13/05/2023 07:20

Forgot to add with my DS I was measuring ahead and he was born at 38+3 weighing 7lb 2oz. My bump was ahead by about 2 weeks and I had a lot of waters with him.

PinkPlantCase · 13/05/2023 07:32

I wouldn’t worry OP. Most of this is just procedure.

If your bump goes above or below a certain line they send you for a growth scan.

Measuring baby’s especially if not done by the same person every time is more of an art than a science.

Even if they said after the scan that baby is large then you still wouldn’t have to do anything. Women birth different sizes babys all the time. Grow scans as well as you get further along aren’t especially accurate as the baby is so squashed in there it’s not the easiest thing to measure.

For example I’m pregnant with my second, we had the 12 week scan the other day. Baby’s position was a bit awkward and the sonographer measured the baby as being a full week ahead of the dates based on my LMP. I said I was surprised it was a whole week! Because I’d said that she re did the measurements a few times and based it off different images and she settled on a date/ size that was hopefully more accurate and just a few days a head of the original dates. If I hadn’t have said anything that could have put me in for much more pressure of induction if baby goes post dates. A difference of a few mm in measurements really makes a difference on how they report on baby’s growth.

Anyway with my first I had a huge bump, I’m actually quite skinny but carried very big. It turned out I had a huge placenta 😂 baby was born just over a week late was was 7lb 13 so not big at all considering he was also cooking for a bit longer.

Tryingtoconceivenumber2 · 13/05/2023 07:45

I had the same at my 31 week appointment. Had a different Midwife to normal, she told me my baby was going to be very large for me. My BMI at the start was about 21 I think and I didn't have a big bump at all. Worried the life out of me.

Sent me for a scan that day. The hospital scanned me and put me back on the 50th centile.

Baby was born at 40 + 2 at 6lbs 1oz so if anything was actually on the small side. At 38 weeks they sent me for another scan as I had a different Midwife again and she said baby hadn't grown since 34 weeks, again incorrect but caused a lot of worry. I'm sure when you get scanned babies measurements will be fine x

Original poster

thelma57 · 13/05/2023 08:07

Thanks so much everyone, so reassuring to hear. It can be quite stressful when they don’t give you these caveats! And at least I get to see baby again on the scan 💕

OP posts:

MelissaD10 · 13/05/2023 08:58

Had this recently myself at about 33 weeks.

when I went for my scan the babies head and legs were on track but it’s tummy was at full term size 😂. The lady at the hospital said that when working out the average… they use an average of these three measurements to help them estimate baby etc. that I came in below the centile line I was previously on top of and that I was fine. Returned to midwife led care but then said she would probably see me the following week for another scan as the baby would probably continue to measure larger.

went for my appointment yesterday and I’m back on track no scan needed. The midwife yesterday even told me that the scans are not accurate nor are measurements.
with my 2nd child, they had me in that day and estimated I would have a 7 pound baby… he was born later that night and he was 9 pound 10..🙈

don’t let it bother you too much just have the scan and see what they say. If you’re measuring big but baby is normal size on the scan they may want to check you for gestational diabetes I was told.

Original poster

thelma57 · 15/05/2023 16:15

Hi all, just to update I had the scan today and baby is perfectly average, pretty much bang on the 50th centile! So it really is all guess work!

OP posts:

Tryingtoconceivenumber2 · 15/05/2023 16:37

That's great news x

PinkButtercups · 15/05/2023 22:51

thelma57 · 15/05/2023 16:15

Hi all, just to update I had the scan today and baby is perfectly average, pretty much bang on the 50th centile! So it really is all guess work!

Ah see they can be so off!
Glad all is well x

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