Growth scan vs fundal height question

[RainbowDrop_x]

Hope you don't mind me popping ladies, figured I'd get more answers here than third tri!

Went for my 34 week appointment today and my FH is measuring 35cms which I didn't think was a big deal but at my 31 week appointment I was measuring 30cm so my MW said that because I've grown a bit more than the line suggests I should I've been booked in for a growth scan at 36 weeks.

I'm a little bit nervous about it, only because my MW told me the worst case scenario situation which would involve induction if the baby is bigger than she should be, and aside from a c-section induction is one of my only labour fears.

So I was just wondering for those that had growth scans based on "unideal" chart growth what was the outcome of your growth scan and what was your baby born at?

DD1 was 8lb 2oz born at 39+6 so I'm not worried about having a good sized baby I've just never had to go for growth scans etc so feel a bit worried that's all.

 

[staralfur]

I was sent for a growth scan at around 36 weeks because my doctor had measured my fundal height had gone down from the last measurement and she had me measuring 3 weeks behind. She got me all worried about lack of growth and then told me I had to wait 5 days for my scan. I was a mess and went straight to the hospital to make sure everything was ok because there was no way I was waiting almost a week when my doctor was telling me she was concerned about lack of growth.

Anyway, I got there and they measured me 3 weeks ahead and said I had absolutely nothing to worry about. They also stressed that fundal measurements can be very, very unreliable depending on who's doing them (if it's a different person than who did the last one it's possible they measure slightly differently), depending on the position of the baby, and even depending on little things like how much you've eaten or how full your bladder is.

I already had the scan booked so still went, she measured exactly how she should down to the day. She was born at 8lbs7oz at 41+1.

Try not to worry, I'm sure they're just being extra cautious! And also don't be afraid of induction if it should come to that, I was induced and had a really lovely labour.

 

[minties]

My fundal height was 35cm at 33 weeks and 38cm at 35 weeks with my daughter. I had a couple of growth scans and she was estimated to be on the 86th centile. At a 36 week scan they said she was about 7.5lbs I think, and I had her at 39+2 and she was 7lbs 15oz.

I would think 1cm was a variation on normal? I only had a growth scan because I had sugar in my urine, combined with a positive result for gestational diabetes.

 

[sil]

My fundal height with DS1 was 32 cm at 36 weeks so they worried he was small. Growth scan showed him in 50th percentile. Then he came out at 38+5 weighing 8lb1oz!

With DS2, my fundal height was 31cm at 36 weeks. He also measured in the 50th percentile on the growth scan. He was born at 38+2 weighing 7lb7oz.

So while both can be good estimates, in my case they weren't!

 

[_Meep_]

I measured exactly on target the whole time and LO came out at 8 lb 15 oz! That would be classed, in most circles, as macrosomic (a 'big baby').

It's a pretty unreliable method if you ask me!

For what it's worth, baby arrived at 40+6 after going into labour at 40+5. She did get stuck in there for a few hours as she decided back-to-back would be a better option , but eventually came out the normal way without the need for any invasive procedures (just induction of stronger contractions as mine had tailed off due to exhaustion, and an epidural to help me deal with said contractions).

Really wasn't that bad!

 

[RainbowDrop_x]

My fundal height was 35cm at 33 weeks and 38cm at 35 weeks with my daughter. I had a couple of growth scans and she was estimated to be on the 86th centile. At a 36 week scan they said she was about 7.5lbs I think, and I had her at 39+2 and she was 7lbs 15oz.

I would think 1cm was a variation on normal? I only had a growth scan because I had sugar in my urine, combined with a positive result for gestational diabetes.

I didn't think 1cm was enough to warrant any concern but my MW said its not the extra cm that causes the concern more the way the growth has gone off the line of ideal growth.

This is what my notes look like

 

[MumToEva]

I had to have growth scans with DD besause my fundal height was low. They scared the shit out of us for weeks saying that her limb length was disproportionate to her head circumference etc. Well she came naturally at 37 weeks - yes, she was small (5lbs), but perfect apart from that. So try to take the growth scans with a pinch of salt if you can!

 

[His Princess]

My fundal height always measured way ahead- at 28 weeks, I was measuring 37cm. I had multiple growth scans and by 36 weeks his growth had actually slowed drastically. My little boy was 6lb 10oz when born at 36+6.

 

[MemmaJ]

Looks like 3 different people have done all of those measurements - and they can be very subjective, as each person may do it slightly differently. It would slightly be more accurate if each measurement was done by the same person but that's not always possible, obviously...
Also it can vary depending on the position of the baby (you can measure slightly smaller if baby is back to back, or can measure slightly bigger if baby is right round in the front).

I was measuring small (32cm at 35 weeks and still 32cm at 37 weeks), and here, you're only sent for a scan when there's two 'off' measurements in a row, as one on its own doesn't necessarily mean anything.
So I was sent for growth scan and his estimated weight was 5lbs 4oz. They weren't concerned, just said he's probably on the small side because I'm very petite...
He was born naturally a few days later, at 37+4 weighing 5lbs 14oz, so it was a little bit out.

I know it's easier said than done, but try not to worry; even if that last fundal height measurement IS right, it may be that baby has has just had a bit of a growth spurt or something - you're actually still measuring within normal limits for your gestation

 

[Monix]

Hi RainbowDrop I had a fundal height scare too (and I totally freaked out) but the growth scan was very reassuring.
Similar to you I was measuring small (always 2 cm smaller than week), then measured big for 1 week (at 30 weeks I was 31 cm), then fell way behind (at 36 weeks I was still 31 cm!!) I had a growth scan then and was told he was measuring fine. He was born 6 days late, perfect, weighing 7lbs15oz!!!

 

[geordiemoo]

As I'm larger my midwife didn't even bother doing fundal height measurements as she said they would be wildly inaccurate! I had growth scans with both of my girls, with dd2 they predicted her to be a very large baby with large abdominal circumference and diagnosed borderline gestational diabetes. Was advised to have induction or c-section at 38 weeks but that induction would have great risk of shoulder dystocia so I reluctantly opted for c-section, she was born 38+5 at 7lb9.5. No measurements are completely accurate so try not to worry and take comfort from the extra care they are offering xx

 

[Larkspur]

I would definitely not panic too much! Even growth scans themselves cannot tell a whole story.

I had about a million growth scans in my second pregnancy as they thought baby might be very small (under 3rd percentile at one point). I was also induced at almost 42 weeks and it was fine.

Inductions with second babies are vastly easier and they usually take them much more gently. Mine was basically a dream birth (3 hours from water breaking to delivery, no epidural or pethidine) and baby arrived at 8 pounds 3, long and skinny and has been 95th percentile for height ever since.

 

[Jaxvipe]

I measured big with DD and at a growth ultrasound at 36 weeks they told me to expect a 9-10 lb baby and I'd probably need a csection. Well she was born at 39 weeks weighing 7lbs 15oz, she was just very long and lean. I wouldn't put too much into the measuring as it seems they are wrong a lot if the time! I'm also measuring 1 week ahead with this one, I'm thinking he will be about 8.5lbs at birth.

 

[sequeena]

I had a lot of scans. My fundal height was always right for where I was in gestation. Thomas was born at 40+3 weighing 6lbs 8.5oz

 

[RainbowDrop_x]

I had a lot of scans. My fundal height was always right for where I was in gestation. Thomas was born at 40+3 weighing 6lbs 8.5oz

Were the weight estimates from your scans anywhere near accurate though?

 

[sequeena]

I had a lot of scans. My fundal height was always right for where I was in gestation. Thomas was born at 40+3 weighing 6lbs 8.5oz

Were the weight estimates from your scans anywhere near accurate though?

Nope! At 36 weeks Thomas' estimated weight was 6lbs 3oz meaning if the scan was right he only grew 5.5oz in a month. I personally thinj he was 4lbs so I'm glad I refused infuction At 36 weeks.

 

[RainbowDrop_x]

I had a lot of scans. My fundal height was always right for where I was in gestation. Thomas was born at 40+3 weighing 6lbs 8.5oz

Were the weight estimates from your scans anywhere near accurate though?

Nope! At 36 weeks Thomas' estimated weight was 6lbs 3oz meaning if the scan was right he only grew 5.5oz in a month. I personally thinj he was 4lbs so I'm glad I refused infuction At 36 weeks.

This is the concern I'm having! My MW said if DD is measuring big at the scan they'll get me back in 2 weeks later to rescan just to double check that the growth is still too much too quick and if it is they'll induce me. By that point I'll be 38 weeks anyway but I've never heard of induction just for having a big baby

 

[sequeena]

I had a lot of scans. My fundal height was always right for where I was in gestation. Thomas was born at 40+3 weighing 6lbs 8.5oz

Were the weight estimates from your scans anywhere near accurate though?

Nope! At 36 weeks Thomas' estimated weight was 6lbs 3oz meaning if the scan was right he only grew 5.5oz in a month. I personally thinj he was 4lbs so I'm glad I refused infuction At 36 weeks.

This is the concern I'm having! My MW said if DD is measuring big at the scan they'll get me back in 2 weeks later to rescan just to double check that the growth is still too much too quick and if it is they'll induce me. By that point I'll be 38 weeks anyway but I've never heard of induction just for having a big baby

If baby is fine still moving as normal etc then I would refuse it unless you have a history of big babies and difficult births. My waters had broken at 14 weeks so it was amazing I actually went overdue. The doctors were at The point were they thought he had enough time to grow and they didn't want to risk me going near My due date or overdue but I knew he was fine. His head is small, just misses The chart for microcephaly but that is due to seperate issues.

 

[bathbabe]

My fundal height was 42cm at 34weeks had a growth scan at 36weeks (previously booked for different reason) said baby was on the chart so they arnt worried. Here (I dont know about anywhere else) as long as baby is between the 5th and 98th percentile on scans they wont do anything, they arnt worried and they wont induce early.
As it happens.. I had my baby at 36+4weeks and he was 5lb 11oz x

 

[StranjeGirl]

All of it is so inaccurate!! My dr ultrasounds every visit toward the end and measured the growth, but told me that it could be off by 3 weeks. My fundal height was always low with dd1 and growth scan a couple days before birth showed her at 6lb. She was born at 8lb 4oz, so that shows you how accurate these are! I also know 2 people that were given c-sections because their doctors said the baby was getting two big and both those babies under 8 pounds. I personally would only be worried if multiple scans were showing no growth or you had gestational diabetes and are at high risk for very large baby etc. Otherwise I wouldn't even think twice about it! Congrats!!