Fundal Height 4cm behind at 28 weeks....need reassurance please. U/D Pg.2

[Sooz]

Just back from my 28 week MW appointment and now a little worried. At my 25 week appointment my FH was 23cm which was the small side of normal, today it has increased by only 1cm so I am now 4cm behind.

Normally my MW would have referred me for a scan but I had one last week and this is what I don't understand, all the measurements on the graphs for that scan were around the 50th centile except for umbilical artery PI which was closer to the 5th. My MW asked me if the hospital had said anything about her size and they had told me all was fine for her gestation. She had plenty of fluid too.

So...how accurate/important is FH? Is the scan a much more reliable indication? I'm a naturally thin & tall woman so don't know if that affects things.

I have to go back next week to have my FH checked again and if it hasn't changed then I am being referred to the hospital.

 

[CandyApple19]

It was accurate for me im afraid, my son stopped growing around 35 1/2 weeks, and i went into labour at 38 weeks, and he was born at the average 35 week size of 5lbs 15 oz, so within the 3 weeks he plonked on a sparce couple of oz here n there... but i have heard SO many women having the exreme of fundal height way too big, or fundal height too small, and baby being very average and fine!

 

[Armywife]

I believe (though i may be wrong) that before 32 weeks it's not quite as accurate as after 32 weeks. My daughter measured between 2 and 4 weeks behind all the way through but was born at 36wks weighing 6lb 10. However this time i was measuring 24 at 33 weeks so 9 weeks behind! The reason is i have very low amniotic fluid (last check it was 1.1) and baby is measuring 2 and a half weeks behind though she is still growing. I'm there later today for another scan to check on her.

If you had a scan with no problems last week i wouldn't worry, sometimes (as with my 1st daughter) you're just a little smaller than the average x

 

[flumpandme]

I measured 4 cam behind with my first baby all the way through and she was born at 38 weeks weighing 6lb 12ozs so not too bad, if they are worried they will send you for a growth scan and if your scan showed your baby was growing fine i wouldnt worry too much yet XX

 

[miss cakes]

i would rely on the scan alot more that the FH measurement ive always been told its perfectly normal to be off by 2cm either way for a start and also depending on how your baby is laying can affect the measurement aswell your scan is much more accurate x

 

[My_First]

FH is notoriously inaccurate. Please dont worry about it...

 

[Sooz]

Thanks ladies, I've looked through my fetal wellbeing USS report from last week and at the bottom it clearly says USS shows normal growth. I guess my MW is just being thorough and if I get another scan then so be it.

I also found an article online that says tall, slim ladies are likely to measure smaller and also baby being breech (which MW says LO still is) can cause small measurements so hopefully that's it (plus I think my EDD is a week out based on Ov).

Thanks again xxx

 

[prgirl_cesca]

I measured three weeks behind at 28 weeks and was beside myself with panic, even though I'm small myself (as is my husband) and I knew FH is very inaccurate. I mean, come on how can a tape measure accurately measure something that is so subjective?

Anyway by my 31 week appointment it was bang on normal so please try not to worry xxx

 

[lalaland09]

I always measure small, but it worries me everytime. With my son I measured 35cm at 39weeks. A scan showed that I was on the low side of normal for fluid, but still normal. My doctor decided to induce me and LO was born weighing 8lbs. 1 oz.

At my 28 week appt this pregnancy, I measured 24 weeks. I have a new doctor and she said if I was still measuring small at my 30 week appt she would send me in for a scan. I started worrying and got her to send me in for a scan on Monday. Fluid was fine and baby was in the 70th percentile! I think my abs are strong (used to be very athletic) as I'm only 5'5".

It sounds like you're well taken care of if you've just had a scan and you go back in a week. So try not to worry. I know it's easier said than done though!

 

[Sooz]

I had a scan at the maternal-fetal assessment unit last week for reduced fetal movement, they did an CTG and decided to do a fetal well being scan at the same time.

Being as that came back as all going well it really threw me to be told I was showing SFD today!

 

[Sazaroo]

My FH was 26cm at 28weeks so I had a scan and it showed my bubba is only measuring 26 weeks, they didnt seem overly concerned tho, just said she wont be a big baby and will keep an eye. I dont think ive grown much since but will see what I measure at my 31 weeks appointment xx

 

[Louise1985]

please try not to worry sooz...im sure your baby girl is doing just great and id always take the scan as a more accurate measurement

i have my first midwife appointment tomorrow after 12 weeks!!!! so i shall see what i am measuring

 

[Sooz]

please try not to worry sooz...im sure your baby girl is doing just great and id always take the scan as a more accurate measurement

i have my first midwife appointment tomorrow after 12 weeks!!!! so i shall see what i am measuring

You've not seen a MW since 12 weeks? That's madness! I was in at 16,21,25,28 and now 29 weeks.

I've relaxed about it quite a bit now. I really just want to enjoy what's left of this pregnancy.

 

[Noodles]

Mine measured 5 weeks behind throughout my pregnancy and I gave birth at 39+6 to a health 6lb 8oz baby boy.

Fundal height is just a guess. You could measure bang on for your dates and have a tiny baby with loads of water or a huge baby with little water, they would both measure the same.

 

[Jox]

scan measurements are MUCH more reliable than FH measurements. All they are measuring with FH is how high your womb is from you pubic bone where as a scan is actually measuring the baby... not the bump

xxx

 

[NandO1]

my dd was 5lb 9 oz at birth, measured spot on at each measurement, ds was 7lb 1oz at birth but measured 2 weeks behind from about 30 weeks, so dont worry too much they are not always accurate but will worry the hell out of you if they are off. xx

 

[Sooz]

Well well, just had my check-up to see if I need another scan and the little madam has turned CEPHALIC since last week (and given the peculiar shape of my bump in the early hours today I think this was last night) and has sent my FH up to 28cm. That's within the gestation +/- 2 quota and 4 cms on last week.

Does anyone want to swap babies? This one will be the death of me.