Fundal Measurements

[PickASize]

Hi.

One very confused mum here who would like reassurance. I have been told at my 12 week and 20 week scans respectively that baby girl was on the smaller side measurement wise so 20th centile.
Then I had a student do my 28 week fundal measurement which was 50th centile.. Fine perfectly average.
Just been to my 31 week appt to find I'm now measuring 90th centile apparently?!

This is my second baby and my ds measured a perfect 75th centile the whole way through my first, so I don't really understand why this girls sizes appear to be all over the place.
Her position might have changed as she is definitely head down now since 28 weeks but just finding it a bit odd.
Any words of wisdom that might calm me down a bit, as I'm worried at my next appointment she will be off the scales, and I want to birth naturally again. Perfectly normal healthy pregnancy so far.

Thanks.

Don't stress. Have they booked you for a growth scan?

I have been measuring in the bottom 15-20th percentile throughout, and at my last midwife appointment (38 weeks), I suddenly measured over the 90th percentile. The midwife remeasured a few times and was certain. I had a right panic, but the growth scan showed the baby was still around the 16th percentile. They said the measurement could be off because of a bit of extra fluid, the midwife measuring off, a bit of weight gain, and the baby's position.

I've had several friends this has happened to and baby’s size has been fine. Using a tape measure is often inaccurate.

No growth scan yet as they said she's technically still within the normal range just the top end.
I think if my measurements go above the 90th then they probably would refer me.
I was also wondering about the measurements being off, as 2 different midwives have done both and maybe because it's my second baby I'm bigger? Thank you for your response. ❤️

So a fundal height measurement is a measurement of your whole uterus, not a specific measurement of fetal size. It gives midwives an idea of the rate of growth, and is a tool in helping them identify babies which may not be growing at the rate that's expected. It's also why it can be affected by fluid levels, and does differ between midwives (in my experience).

The measurements on scan are a more accurate measurement of the baby. You can't compare the fundal height centiles with the ultrasound centiles!

I would potentially be concerned that the fundal height is showing accelerated growth?? The midwives will have guidelines on what needs referring for a scan though