Fundal Height

wetherbeee

I went in for my 34 week checkup today and my fundal height was measuring at 39 weeks already! They were concerned he's going to be a big baby and told me to work out more. Any other ladies have this happen and still have an average sized baby? I'm pretty terrified now.

nik6499

Hah work out more? Ummmmmm that isn't going to change the size of your fundus?! I've been measuring 5-6 weeks ahead all along

Mizuiro007

My SIL was just talking about this. She's measuring several weeks ahead but baby is measuring average. Her OB told her it is probably just how baby is positioned.

I've been measuring a couple weeks ahead all along this pregnancy. I was told after anatomyscan she was measuring small, repeat anatomy scan perfectly average. I go Monday for a growth scan and am curious what they say.

DS was a fairly large but average sized baby and I was always exactly on track as far as fundal height.

wetherbeee

Right?! And they told me to cut back my calories...which I think is insane considering I'm still feeding this tiny human. But they definitely freaked me out.

Mags128

Right now I am measuring 3-4 weeks ahead so I go in for a growth scan on Monday. With DD I measured big also and she was 7 lbs 5 oz so I don't think it's always accurate.

keiragann

Today my fundal height was 41w and I'm 36w. Baby is measuring big but only like 38w.

Peanut1128

I think fundal height is not the most accurate method, if your eating mostly healthy I wouldn't stress about it.

nik6499

Your caloric intake should be about average so no real need to change there unless you are eating grossly over 1800-2000 calories, working out won't change the size and shape of your uterus. The only way to get a better idea is to feel for fetal size and guess or send you for a growth scan. There is no exact science to predict baby size, until baby comes out

kelseyofanne

Yes... sounds like you got some weird advice. Caloric intake and exercise are going to do nothing to change the size of your uterus!

tmo51324

I am also measuring big, 38 weeks at 34 weeks. I go for a growth scan on Monday (I'll be 36+1). My last baby was 9lb7oz so I'm guessing it's just another big baby. X

GalLaura

Bub #1 measured big the whole pregnancy by about a week. He was 10lbs at birth. Some people have big snd healthy babies! I kept being told the scans could be off, etc. but I knew he would be large.

RSB1982

I'm a little confused by this whole fundal height thing.  If your docs were really concerned wouldn't they order an ultrasound?  I had a growth scan on Monday at 32 weeks.  Mainly they were checking to see if my low lying placenta moved up and out of the way (which it did - yay!).  I was also told baby is measuring in the 55th percentile, which is average so thats good.  I go online to the patient portal today and look at the notes from my visit and noticed my doctor put 'fundal height low for dates' in the patient notes.  My doc said nothing about this while I was in the office so I guess I'm not going to worry about it?  I'm assuming because I just had an ultrasound those measurements are more accurate than fundal height.  Anyway, OP I wouldn't worry that much.  

brittanycs85

I'm 33 weeks, but measuring 36. Even after the growth scan confirming (I guess - even those are off +/- 1 pound) that she's a big baby, they still whip out that archaic measuring tape... twice actually at the last appointment. Seems pretty silly to me. So many varibles... how your baby is positioned, your amount of amniotic fluid, etc. I wouldn't pay TOO much attention to those measurements.

wetherbeee

We did have a growth scan and he was measuing 5lbs 12 oz at 32 weeks, 89th percentile. But they never ordered another one before my due date. Maybe I'm just having a big baby? At this point I just want him healthy. I don't really agree with their suggestions to cut calories at this point...if I'm hungry I'm going to eat! [-X

groovylocks

I think fundal height is some sort of pseudo-science, honestly. 

I am measuring 3 cm small so they sent me for a growth scan to make sure she was growing properly. And she is weighing in a week AHEAD of where she should be. Apparently I just carry small. 

If this is a normal human thing, then there might not be huge correlation between fundal height and baby size.

nik6499

There is actually a medically proven correlation between fundal height and concern for size of baby. It is done for screening as you cannot accurately predict baby size with 100% accuracy even on an ultrasound. People measuring 3 cm above or below often undergo a growth scan to measure not only size of baby but amniotic fluid volume.

groovylocks

nik6499 said:

There is actually a medically proven correlation between fundal height and concern for size of baby. It is done for screening as you cannot accurately predict baby size with 100% accuracy even on an ultrasound. People measuring 3 cm above or below often undergo a growth scan to measure not only size of baby but amniotic fluid volume.

That's a good point. They DID measure my fluid (which was fine apparently)