Fundal height advice please!

[mersmam]

I'm 35 weeks pregnant with my 4th baby. I've been quite worried about my fundal height measurements - my last baby was 9lbs3 so I've been expecting this one to be big, but so far my fundal height measurements have been very small - 27cm at 30.5 weeks and 30cm at 34.5 weeks.

My midwife has been plotting them according to my due date based on my monthly cycle which puts them just on the 10th percentile line, but if I plot them based on the scan due date (5 days earlier) they're below the line - and it says in my notes that if they're below the line I should be referred for a growth scan.

I rang my midwife this morning who was very nice about it (didn't make me feel like the paranoia queen I sometimes feel I am!) and I am seeing her tomorrow so she can reassure me. She says the charts are really unreliable and from her examinations the baby feels an OK size.

I'm just wondering should I be more insistent about getting a scan (as I do feel a bit worried, particularly given my last baby was big and the others have all been over 8lbs) or should I just accept what the midwife says and not take too much notice of the growth chart?

Any opinions and advice much appreciated!

Fundal heights can be smaller sometimes if the baby is in a breech position. This happened to me, I was sent for a growth scan but baby was normal size, just in a funny position. He turned the right way before he was born. I would ask to be sent for a growth scan to give you some reassurance. Good luck.

fundal height can vary depending on what position baby is in. also varies depending on exactly where the MW positions the tape measure.
so, not that accurate overall.

growth scans at this state are notoriously inaccurate, do a search for them on here and yhou'll find hundreds of stories from people who were told their baby would be a certain weight and ti came out totally different.
so I definitely wouldn't be pushing for one as it could affect the care you receive and the birth you ahve for no reason at all.

if your midwife is happy i'd beh appy too. she knows what she's doing and has prob palpated hundreds of women. she'll h ave a better idea of what's going on than a scan pic

thanks Flock! The baby is definitely head down (very well down the midwife said last time) so i don't think it's the position that's making the measurements small.

Thanks iwontbite - you are probably right, I do trust my midwife and i know the scans are very inaccurate. I'm just a bit worried that there might be some problem that would show up in a scan that I would not otherwise know about (like having not enough fluid or there being something wrong with the placenta...) I don't mind the baby being small if that's just the way he/she is made... it just seems strange given that my last one was 9lbs3 and I've been worried all the way through til now about this one being huge!!

It might be the 'head very down' position that is making the measurements small from what I've learned this week, mersman. I'm 30/31 weeks pg and my fundal height on Monday was 25cm. Had a scan and baby's growth fine, but was told by both midwife and sonographer that the head is very low in my pelvis which makes the fundal measurement smaller. Apparently, 3cm either side of the 'average' measurement ie between 27-33cm for a 30 weeker is considered normal.
Having said that , I'd insist on a scan if it will reduce your anxiety.

Thanks Rosebud - that's quite reassuring! I'll see what my measurements are when I see the midwife tomorrow...

I'd just like to second Rosebud's point, I'm in the same boat, measuring small at 31 weeks but growth scan showed everything is fine and the baby's head is just low in pelvis. Oddly its back was almost transverse (so head down but body sidewise) so it must be very uncomfortable but it doesn't seem to mind!

I'm sure everything will be fine, good luck.

BTW I found out yesterday that's it's protocol in my area to get a referred growth scan appt within 24 hours of your midwife's request so hopefully it'll be the same for you and you can get some reassurance quickly.

Thanks Oufty... have not seen my midwife yet but will let you know what happens!

Good luck MERSMAM . I am also seeing my midwife thgis afternoon to check on fundal height due to baby's 'unstable lie' .

Good luck MERSMAM . I am also seeing my midwife thgis afternoon to check on fundal height due to baby's 'unstable lie' .

Have seen my midwife - fundal height has increased 2cm from last week and she is not at all concerned about the size! So that and this thread have eased my mind (for now )
Hope you got on OK Diege!

That's great news MERSMAM . Just back from my appointment and baby is head down and measuring 29 weeks at 28 +4 . So now of course I'm obsessing over a large baby . Midwife perfectly happy though

wouldnt stress
also pg with no.4 ds was 9lb1 both dds were 6lb14.
Went to mw on tues and at 28wks dd3 is apparently measuring 31wks but she is breech and very much at the front!! Think fundal height is soo inaccurate as can the scans be as I was told dd1 would be over 10lb and that was after a growth scan but she was 6lb14 and I just had a LOT of water

Hi NEMO! HOw are things with no.4? Do you feel as shattered as I do this time round?