Fundal Height 24 weeks

[Gem2819]

I had my 24 week midwife appointment and they started measuring the size of my bump, they said on the growth chart baby is measuring below the 10th percentile and I’ve been referred for growth scans. I was 24+0 at the appointment.

I had a look online after and it said averagely the fundal height matches the number of weeks pregnant you are give or take a couple of centimetres either way, so should be around 24cm, mine was 23.4cm so hardly much below, I am on the short side and my bmi is within the ‘healthy range’ so unsure why I have been referred? Has anyone else had this?

It has been one thing after the other during this pregnancy as I’ve already had 4 scans and fetal medicine appointments to rule out complications earlier in the pregnancy and got the all clear at 20 weeks and now this. I don’t get paid leave ( I work full time) for appointments so I either have to take it unpaid or use what little is left of my holiday pay if it’s within work times which 9 times out of 10 the appointments are so I now have the worry about my baby and the worry of the financial impact all these appointments are having. Sometimes I’ve had to take full days off to travel to the appointments as they weren’t at the hospital near me. My midwife said it’s a legal right to be paid for my appointments but I feel I’m being unreasonable to ask my employer to pay me with all the extra appointments I’ve had to have?

The 1cm per week is a crude estimate. They now do bespoke charts based on your size.
With my daughter my bump was always on the 10th percentile but never under so didn't qualify for the growth scans. I am 5ft2 and my bump never matched 1cm per week. She was born at 38+6 at 6lb13 which was a good weight. As a child she's short for her weight - 2nd percentile for height, 35th percentile for weight. If she was the same in utero it might explain her good weight but small bump.

In your notes you should see your chart and what bump size they'd expect.

Also, check with pregnant and screwed but I believe they aren't allowed to penalise you for medical appointments due to pregnancy. I have to make up the time for regular appointments but get not pregnancy appointments

You are absolutely entitled to be paid for these appointments and your employer should absolutely be paying for this.

Please stop taking this as leave as you don’t need the added stress.

My SIL was the same as you and everything worked out fine. Niece came out about 6 and a half pounds and is a very tall teen. Try not to worry. They are just monitoring which is a good thing and should give you reassurance. Good luck.

The legal right is there to protect you in case there is any additional care required in a pregnancy. You and your baby come first so don't give work a second though is what I'd say. In the grand scheme of things you and baby are way more important and work will be understanding. In regards to fundal height it's a guide only. If it deviates from the 'norm' midwife has to refer on as its now outside her scope of practice. It's all just to be 100% sure and safe. Fundal height can vary for people based on height and body size, baby's position, even a full bladder. Likely will be all normal but there are of course cases where a baby isn't growing as expected so need to err on the side of caution. Best of luck with the scan OP!

I did have a look at legal rights during pregnancy while employed after my midwife mentioned it but wasn’t sure how to bring it up without sounding demanding!

Thank you for the reassurance! Trying not to over think it too much as I have heard that fundal height is only an estimate and not entirely accurate to size of baby!

I think the baby is falling between 3rd-10th percentile on the chart so not too far off, I am only 5’2 myself and no one in my family is tall or had big babies so I’m trying not to panic too much

I would keep it brief but mention it when you let them know about the scan.

I will be away from the office on x date for a hospital appointment related to pregnancy. I've been informed that this time shouldn't be deducted as it is a pregnancy related appointment. I expect to be absent between X and y. All going well.

Don’t bring it up. If they know you are pregnant just put into your diary when you have prenatal appointments or email your manger to let them know. It’s a normal process when you are pregnant please don’t feel you owe them anything as they are also responsible for your wellbeing and health at work. I had to have scans, blood tests and see an prenatal consultant. It took half a day every two weeks. I let my company know amd they were fine. I did try to get the first appointment so that I could return to work asap (this was before covid so not strong wfh).

It shouldn't be a surprise to your employer that they're expected to pay you when you attend antenatal appointments, I can't see that you need to "bring it up". Just tell them you have an appointment and that you'll be away between X times.

The chart they use is a little more personalised, based on the average fundal heights of women of a similar demographic to yourself. Try not to stress about it anyway, fundal height is just a very crude indicator of size. I measured big enough at one appointment with each child to be sent for growth scans, but both were actually quite small in the end.