Has anyone experienced this? At my last visit I was 3cm behind. My OB requested I go in for an ultrasound next week just be sure everything is ok. She wasn't overly concerned and said that's why she was ok waiting a week but now I cant help but be worried especially since I had low fluid with my 1st. Any experiences with this?
One of the reasons she gave for this is that i might be carrying lower since this is my third
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I know tons of people (myself included) who experienced this. Not trying to diminish your concerns, but more say that in my anecdotal experience it's usually no cause for concern. According to my OBGYN, the fundal height measurement is incredibly antiquated and can be impacted by so many things (hydration, baby position). I measured as much as 5+ cms behind with my LO2. She was perfectly fine and actually bigger than LO1 who I measured normal. It was just a position issue with LO2.
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@LBee: yeah I felt like my belly can be drastically bigger or smaller depending on even just the time of day! She said she wasn't overly concerned but I couldn't help worrying. Thanks your post is reassuring
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We had the opposite with DS measuring 2-3 weeks ahead in fundal height. After a few weeks where that kept happening they sent us for an ultrasound which showed more fluid but there was never any reason for it and DS was perfectly healthy although born early. I agree with PP that it’s a pretty inaccurate tool so I would take comfort in your Doctors thoughts...easier said than done I know!
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@muffinsmuffins: yes it is easier said than done but your responses are helping me put my mind at ease! Cant wait for the ultrasound next week!
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@Mrsbells: me too! My fundal hasn’t changed in 3 weeks (im 36 weeks now) and so they are doing a growth scan at my next appointment just to be sure, but they obviously aren’t super worried since it was over a week away (I went in on Wednesday, my next appointment is a week from today) they are assuming that baby has moved into my pelvis but better to be sure I guess. They said as long as baby is moving around it’s almost surely nothing to worry about, but I am worried about IUGR too.
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@Mrsbells: Are you tall? I always measured behind and my doctor told me it was likely because I had a long torso so baby had plenty of room without my belly having to stick out too much. My husband's sister is really short and she always measure ahead because baby had nowhere to go but out.
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@Truth Bombs: yes I am 5ft 11 with a long torso! She did mention that my height can sometimes play a role in it too.
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I was the opposite direction of you, measuring 5+weeks ahead starting at 32 weeks, but I was sent for an ultrasound as soon as my OB helped me sit up. The fact that you weren't sent for an ultrasound immediately is probably a good sign. I am tall too (just over 6') and I was surprised that I was measuring that far ahead when I had been right on track.
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Yes, I had a few growth scans to check and everything was always fine. Baby was a little on the smaller side, but nothing dramatic at all. I was actually glad he was not a big baby because I went to 41+ weeks! Exact same thing happened recently to a friend - her baby was also just a bit smaller than normal but not that much! I think they just like to be safe.
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Ok can I just say how weird it is that freaking CENTIMETERS on a measuring tape can allegedly measure your baby's size development accurately?!! Like how is that a thing?! 🤷
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Hahahaha agree @pachamama:
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@pachamama: haha so true its 2018 for goodness sake! Considering all our different body types and the way we carry I'm surprised the fundal height system is still used
@periwinklebee: @Sams Mom: thanks thats good to know the measurement is off for othet people too
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@mrsbells I'm also tall, 5'9'' and long slender body type. I measured behind with both my kids and had growth u/s with both to check - they were fine. Both of my kids were SUPER low in my pelvis from very early on (and came blasting out with super fast labors too - lol). I did have borderline low fluid with my 2nd toward the end, though, so I got a bunch of extra u/s to check. Anyway, both kids were fine (7 lb 9 oz and 7 lb 6 oz, respectively).
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@Mrsbells: O, I had extra fluid on top of other issues so I had weekly BPP/non stress ultrasounds until delivery; but the fact that you weren't whisked away to Ultrasound makes it seem like you're not at any major risk.
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@MrsADS: ah ok yeah my babies are always quite low in my pelvis as well!
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@Mrsbells: Like others have said, it’s typically no cause for concern. My fundal height went down 3 cm from one week to the next which made my doc pause, but a quick ultrasound and NST showed all was well. I think they more use it as a benchmark within an individual pregnancy? Since I was behind and then shrunk from one week to the next, my doc wanted to check fluid levels, hence the ultrasound.
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@Mrsbells: Nothing you haven't heard already, but I was consistently behind in fundal height with my oldest. It was totally due to her positioning and my body shape. I had to have an US at 36 weeks to check on her growth, and she was born 7lb 13oz at 39+6.
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@MrsADS: This was me - us tech remarked multiple times that LO was super low, and he came blasting out in two pushes after a short labor. Not to threadjack, but how much shorter was your second labor than your first?
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I was. I carried low, but on top of that it turned out my LO really was small. I guess all babies are different because based on previous experience we weren't expecting that. ETA: So far she is healthy, just smaller.
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@periwinklebee my first, I went into spontaneous labor after my water broke at 39w. My water broke about 7am, I got to the hospital about 9am (I was checked then and I was 4cm), got an epidural about 11, baby born at 1pm after about 10 minutes of pushing (with epidural - couldn't feel anything). So 6 hours of labor (really more like 4 of "real labor", 6 from when my water broke).
Because of that and my childcare situation (had to have my mom fly in to watch my 2yo), I decided to be electively induced for baby #2 (my cervix was really favorable - would not have done it otherwise). Anyway, they put in Cervidil about 10pm, planning to start pitocin about 4am to kick things into gear. I had some crampy contractions, was starting to get painful around 1:30am, but the nurse said I was still only 2cm at that point so I didn't get an epidural. I walked the halls for about 30 minutes. My water broke at 2:30am, from 2:30am-3:30am I was in screaming agony pain. The anesthesiologist came in to give me the epi at 3:30 and while he was putting it in, I started pushing. They laid me back down and baby came out in about 2 pushes at 3:35 am. I was numb after the delivery (big help, lol) and the baby was delivered by my nurse - the OB didn't make it in time.
So I'm not sure how to count the length of the labor - only an hour from when my water to broke to baby, but I think the "labor" probably started an hour or two before that. Either way, I'm really glad I decided to be induced bc if this had happened to me at home, I'm afraid baby would have been born on the side of the road or in my bathroom at home or something...
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@MrsADS: Crazy! Good call on the induction! My first labor was so fast - which was great for a first labor, but if we have another I know I'm going to be a bit worried about the side of the road scenario
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@periwinklebee yeah I was so on the fence about being induced. My OB was very must like - it is totally up to you but I think you'll have a smooth labor. In the end, I'm REALLY glad I did (I didn't even need pitocin). One of the reasons I got induced was to make sure I would have time to get an epidural and LOL - that didn't happen. But if I were to have another kid, I would do the same (that is hopefully not happening!).
OP sorry to thread jack!
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So, not the same but my fundal height measured quite a bit ahead (like 5+ cm ahead) from 20 weeks on with all 3 of my pregnancies. I had an average baby, followed by a 10 lb giant baby, followed by a smaller than average baby. All born at the same estimated gestation, with average amniotic fluid pockets at my last ultrasound. Honestly no explanation at all!
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Thanks everyone I feel much better about it
So I'm not sure how to count the length of the labor - only an hour from when my water to broke to baby, but I think the "labor" probably started an hour or two before that. Either way, I'm really glad I decided to be induced bc if this had happened to me at home, I'm afraid baby would have been born on the side of the road or in my bathroom at home or something...
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