https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 28 Apr 2026 19:52:55 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-belly-measured-small#post-2718960 Sat, 01 Apr 2017 09:56:40 +0000 PinkElephant 2718960@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I measured a little behind on my pregnancies with my first two DDs - they were born at 37 weeks (5 lbs 11oz, 18 inches) and 39 weeks (5 lbs 14 oz, 18 inches); perfectly healthy, no additional interventions required due to size.</p> <p>With my third DD, the size discrepancy was caught at my anatomy scan. By the end of the pregnancy, I'd had an amino and a TON of additional monitoring. By the end, she/I were measuring around 5-6 weeks behind in certain measurements (including my belly). I ended up being induced for IUGR just before 37 weeks, and she was born weighing around 4.5 lbs, under 17 inches long. Shockingly, she didn't do NICU time, and luckily she's strong. We've had lots of extra testing/checks on her, and she's still very small (not quite 10 lbs at 5.5 months). But so far all is well! I hope it's the same for you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-belly-measured-small#post-2718931 Sat, 01 Apr 2017 07:40:17 +0000 daniellemybelle 2718931@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I measured behind and my baby was small - he was actually officially small for gestational age, and he had to stay in the NICU for 8 days for hypoglycemia resulting from his small size (5 lbs 10 oz at 40 weeks 1 day).</p> <p>Everyone reassured me that I was "within range" (I usually only measured 1-2 weeks behind) but I wish we had looked into it more. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-belly-measured-small#post-2718919 Sat, 01 Apr 2017 06:42:36 +0000 Shantuck 2718919@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've measured behind with two pregnancies. I have a long torso so I think the fundal height wasn't super accurate on me. We just did extra monitoring via ultrasound to make sure everything was going ok. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-belly-measured-small#post-2718902 Fri, 31 Mar 2017 23:35:10 +0000 Corduroy 2718902@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was a few weeks behind and sent for growth scans with both my pregnancies. My growth scans were immediate, I'm sorry you have to wait a week. </p> <p>With LO1 the growth scans showed she was on the big side at 7.5lbs at 37weeks. She was born at 41w5d at 6lbs10oz. My son's measurements were much closer to the 7lb 6oz he was at delivery. No issues with either one. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-belly-measured-small#post-2718720 Fri, 31 Mar 2017 09:13:16 +0000 kodybear 2718720@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was a couple weeks small for my first. I had a growth scan and she was normal size but had dropped and was really low, which they think is why the measurement was off. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-belly-measured-small#post-2718710 Fri, 31 Mar 2017 08:56:15 +0000 Iced Tea 2718710@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@justjules: I am preparing for an upcoming vbac as well. If things seem to turn that direction, you could look for a more experienced vbac provider since they are usually open to gentle induction methods such as foley bulb induction. I know many women in my area who have had successful induced vbacs using the favorite vbac provider in our city. You can find good recommendations via your local ICAN (International Cesarean Awareness Network) group; they typically have facebook pages. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-belly-measured-small#post-2718682 Fri, 31 Mar 2017 08:07:21 +0000 justjules 2718682@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sojellybean: thanks for sharing. This is why I'm a little anxious about it all... I don't think my OB will induce for a vbac so if they do suspect something is up with the baby's growth then I bet they will just scheduled a repeat csection. </p> <p>@IRunForFun: @Peasinapod: @JennyD: this makes me feel better. I hope she is just on the smaller side! </p> <p>@winniebee: both DH and I are on the shorter size too. (though DS was slightly bigger than average at 8..2) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-belly-measured-small#post-2718603 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 19:26:02 +0000 winniebee 2718603@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I measured behind, not really sure by how much, with both of my sons. With my first I had preterm labor and was in bed rest but he came at 38 weeks. He was 5lb 5oz and 17.5 inches! Totally healthy. With my second I had a different OB who monitored me with growth scans throughout the third trimester. At 38 weeks they said he wasn't growing anymore so induced me. He was 5 lb 6 oz and 19 inches. I'm only 5'2 and 110 lbs and my husband is 5'6. I was a 5 lb baby and he was 6. So I knew we would have small babies and wasn't really concerned about it, just followed my doctors directions to be on the safe side. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-belly-measured-small#post-2718597 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 19:13:41 +0000 JennyD 2718597@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I measured behind most of the third trimester. Usually only a week or two. They were doing regular scans to track her growth, which was consistent until maybe 37 weeks. I was induced a few days before my due date and she was totally fine. 6 lbs 1 oz, but fine. She's been like 30-40th percentile for height and weight ever since. She's just petite. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-belly-measured-small#post-2718573 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 18:02:32 +0000 Peasinapod 2718573@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I measured 4 weeks behind by my bump but my baby was actually in the 98th percentile. Turns out I just don't grow a big bump but my babies are normal sized. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-belly-measured-small#post-2718558 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 16:13:31 +0000 IRunForFun 2718558@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I measured a few weeks behind toward the end, but had regular scans at the MFM for another reason anyway, and they said it was just because she got so low down pretty early on! She came out 6 lbs 13 ozs at 39 weeks. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-belly-measured-small#post-2718546 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 15:36:54 +0000 sojellybean 2718546@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My OB sent me for a growth scan at 36 weeks (I think) because I was measuring small. Then had another at 37 and was scheduled for induction 5 days later due to lack of growth. Baby's small stomach measurement was concerning in proportion to leg measurements. She clearly wasn't getting the nutrition she needed. Anyways, my water ended up breaking two days before induction and she was just 5 lbs at 38 weeks, perfectly healthy. I hope you get the news you want at your scan. Sounds like your Dr is being cautious, like mine was. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-belly-measured-small#post-2718542 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 15:29:04 +0000 justjules 2718542@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone for your stories. I'm trying not to get too worried about it. But I'm counting down the days till my scan! (a week seems so far away to get assurance!!) </p> <p>@sarac: @agold: definitely will up my water intake! </p> <p>@MrsADS: @2littlepumpkins: yes, hopefully the growth scan will ease my mind on low fluid levels, size, etc. I'm small but do have some hips on me so hopefully it was just the position of the baby that threw off the measurements so much.</p> <p> @Iced Tea: I had one at 8 weeks- I forgot that those are the most accurate. So my due date is probably still the same</p> <p> @skipra: @Mrs. Microscope: ya maybe the baby is just small/low. That's what I'm hoping! </p> <p>@2PeasinaPod: yes it was just the tape! I know aprox time so it definitely would not be off by as much as 4 weeks. Maybe 1 week off. But good to know about the tape being inaccurate. I hope it was just the position DH was in! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-belly-measured-small#post-2718526 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 15:17:55 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2718526@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Was this just a doctor measuring your belly with a tape measure? If so, those are so inaccurate. I went to a practice where they didn't even do those types of measurements because they are so inaccurate. The growth ultrasound can help, but even those are inaccurate as well. I wouldn't worry so much. Do you know around when you conceived/ovulated? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-belly-measured-small#post-2718521 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 15:07:38 +0000 Mrs. Microscope 2718521@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I measured 2 weeks behind, but growth scans were fine. DD was super low, and the doctor described it as "use it or lose it" on the space. She was born at 38 weeks (hypertension induction) and actually was smaller at 6lbs 4oz </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-belly-measured-small#post-2718494 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 14:22:28 +0000 skipra 2718494@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With my first pregnancy my belly never got bigger than 32 or 33 weeks and they diagnosed IUGR. He was 5lb11oz but totally healthy.<br /> Because of that I had several growth scans with my second and third, especially since my belly measured small again but they were both 7.5-8 lbs. I think once baby drops measurements are not at all reliable. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-belly-measured-small#post-2718490 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 14:18:17 +0000 Iced Tea 2718490@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Did you have any early ultrasounds? The earliest ones are supposed to be quite accurate for dating. If that lines up with the due date you are using, then I wouldn't worry about a grossly inaccurate due date. </p> <p>I did measure a little behind. I forget, maybe 2 or 3 weeks? My LO turned out on the small side (but acceptable to them). They thought part of the reason for measuring small was just the way she was laying. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-belly-measured-small#post-2718463 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 13:51:48 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2718463@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was pretty small. I have wide hips so baby just was able to fit in there well. With my son I also had lowfluid. I also had an extra scan but just was told fluid was borderline (around the same time in my pregnancy as you) and to drink a lot more, and things were totally fine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-belly-measured-small#post-2718457 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 13:49:03 +0000 MrsADS 2718457@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sarac agreed. in the 3rd tri (especially the last 2 months), I consistently measured 2-3 weeks behind, but not as far as you are. My OB did send me for another growth scan, which measured okay. I think as long as your doctor is checking it out and getting the scan, that's the important thing. I'm tall and my doctor seemed to think I just had a lot of vertical space for the baby so I didn't go out as much. Hope you have a good result from your scan! My son was born at 39 weeks (spontaneously) and was 7lb 9 oz. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-belly-measured-small#post-2718455 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 13:47:44 +0000 agold 2718455@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My belly measured small. My baby was normal size, though. I had low amniotic fluid. I'm not sure if that was the cause. Everything worked out fine. I did have some extra monitoring. ETA: I agree with above suggestion to drink water. Drink an insane amount of water each day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-belly-measured-small#post-2718454 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 13:44:37 +0000 sarac 2718454@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I measured behind and was induced due to low fluid at 41 weeks. I would suggest drinking a lot of water before any future scans to see if that helps - but four weeks behind is a pretty serious lag. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-your-belly-measured-small#post-2718449 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 13:36:43 +0000 justjules 2718449@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm 35weeks, almost 36. And at my appointment my belly measured at 31weeks. My OB scheduled me for another growth scan to make sure everything is fine. I'm guessing DD is just petite but I am also worried that maybe my due date is wrong too. I really want a vbac so it would be great if the baby was on the smaller side, but I'm worried that I will have to go over my due date by a lot causing concern for the docs. </p> <p>So if your belly measured small did that just mean your baby was small.... or did you go over your due date as well? </p>