Anxiety over growth scan

[Cherrybaby1]

I’m 32+3, I’ve had two fundal height measurements and both have measured big.
second exceptionally so at 34cm so referral for accelerated fetal growth and a growth scan is booked next week.

Has anyone else found this process really overwhelming? I was quite happy in thinking everything was going along smoothly until they started plotting my stomach size and telling me they weren’t plotting correctly. I’m finding the terminology is really getting to me.

I really don’t care if baby is 12lbs or 7lbs at birth I was confident that I was in a healthy pregnancy and able to give birth to whatever my body has been able to grow until now, being put into a chart that says is ‘too big’. Baby is also possibly breech which again I thought would be okay as they can move but apparently c-section is on the cards as they’ve ‘usually turned by now’.

I’m now so conscious of the way I’m sitting, sleeping even more so, worried I’ve caused the breech somehow, I’m just really on edge & don’t know how to proceed further if it’s just going to keep being checked with inaccurate results that will just feel confusing. I feel like I’m not in control of what I want and my head is being filled with unnecessary ‘issues’ … anyone been through similar?

I had regular growth scans due to health reasons to do with me but my bump was also measuring 30cm at 28 weeks, so I would have been referred for one anyway. Exactly a week before my baby was born, a growth scan had him “measuring” over 8lb, I was induced the following week at 39 weeks and gave birth to a 6lb 11oz baby. Take it with a pinch of salt, a big bump does not equate to a big baby, and I’m proof that measurements on scans aren’t accurate either! I was of the mindset that my body wouldn’t grow a baby that it couldn't birth, but I also ended up needing an emergency c section (which was also fine!) so it wouldn’t have made any difference what size he was. It’s honestly not worth stressing yourself over!

Fundal measurements are WILDLY inaccurate, I don't actually know why the do them anymore.

Growth scans can also be 15-20% inaccurate either way. So massive pinch of salt is needed.

At 32 weeks I wouldn't be worrying about a breech baby yet, plenty of time to turn. Have you had a look at spinning babies?

You are absolutely right, these are unnecessary issues.

I can totally understand that the breech is a bit of a worry, you could consent to a positioning/growth scan at 36 weeks to see what's going on and then make a decision.

I don't understand what a growth scan at 33 weeks is going to achieve as so much can change in that time.

Even at my 36w scan baby was 5lbs something, putting me on track for an 8lbs baby. He was born 6lbs 3oz and pe
rfectly healthy.

I don't think fundal measures are accurate at all, I never measured beyond 35 cm and my baby's have all been decent sizes, my eldest nearly 9lb and my youngest 7.5lb 2 weeks early.

Thankyou I’m going to try and work on relaxing through the process a bit!

I’m not sure why it’s all got to me so much? I’m worried I’ve done something wrong after trying to eat, move do everything the right way for months & now all of a sudden it’s not quite fitting the mould …I also feel VERY sensitive which I’m aware may be hormones so it could be that at play! … & breatheeee!

It seems so bizarre that the process is even in place if it doesn’t work!?
I wish there was an option to say if you want to measured or not as I really don’t care if they’re ginormous as long as they’re healthy!

I find it so hard to not listen as I think so literally and it feels even harder when they’re talking about baby.. it’s like I can’t switch off haha. It’s obviously my first so I don’t know if it’s just because of that!

I have and I’ve been trying to get into better positions with the ball etc!

Thankyou that’s so helpful! I could maybe cancel the 33 week one and just see how it goes. Am I allowed to do that? I have no idea what you can say no to as everything is just ‘done’ ..I’m scared they’ll say I’m not checking on them or caring or something 🤷‍♀️

Fundal measurements are definitely unreliable. At my 38 week appointment my measurement was 36cm and the midwife said she'll refer me for a growth scan because I'd had no growth since the last appointment. She measured again just before she left and got a measurement of 39. Baby had moved, I was lying down differently etc...

My baby was also breech until 36 weeks. Check out spinning babies website
I also went to acupuncture and moxibustion and an osteopath. Baby turned head down at just over 36 weeks.