My doc doesn't measure fundal height.

Rogue Lily

And it has me nervous. I 100% trust my doctor and I know he is one of the best in the area. I had one appt with the other doc in the office @ 26w (when he was on vacation) and she did measure, and said I was right on track. He does palpatate my belly and he has told me in the past that my uterus was in the right spot. I just worry that this method isn't scientific enough and we wouldn't be able to detect IUGR or low fluid as I move farther along.

 That said, I can feel my uterus almost all the way at my sternum, so I have no idea how it could even get any bigger.

I will ask him about this next week, but can someone tell me to stop worrying? LOL.

sspyles

I'm sure you're fine, but I understand the concern! Just ask next time you see him if he thinks it's necessary. My doc never took a urine sample. My new doc does. It's weird how different practices are!

Bonzer

fundal height doesn't detect low fluid or IUGR anyway. You'd need a U/S to tell that and I think honestly a veteraned Dr would be able to tell the same thing from palpation as the wet behind the ears dr can tell with a tape measurer.

bananasmomma

I would try not to worry about it.  Just because he isn't using a tape measure, doesn't mean he isn't measuring it.  He could be estimating just by feeling where it is and knowing where it should be at this stage of your pregnancy.

smilelari

Unless it's really far off, fundal height doesn't really tell you much of anything.  The doctor can probably tell without measuring whether you're far enough off to warrant an u/s

bannedmonkey

I'm sure it's just fine. They didn't start measuring mine until my 26 week appt. Then, when a different doc did it at 30 weeks she measured from a different spot on my pubic bone that I know would make at least a 1cm difference...

SO, not that scientific either...

Rogue Lily

Bonzer:

fundal height doesn't detect low fluid or IUGR anyway. You'd need a U/S to tell that and I think honestly a veteraned Dr would be able to tell the same thing from palpation as the wet behind the ears dr can tell with a tape measurer.

yep, I know that, but usually a fundal height measurement is what triggers them to send you for a growth u/s.

goldenleaves

My OB always measures, but I have friends with doctors that never measured. Some say it's not an effective or accurate tool of measurement anyways.

sawyer2

fundal height can be way off, because the baby can be in a wierd postion causing inaccurate measurments.  If he palpates he is seeing where everything is and its just as good.           Alot of docs dont go by it anyway

thetwistedwillow

Most OBs are stopping this practice because it is NOT scientific. It's just a means to show that your uterus is definitely growing but the actual numbers can vary from woman-to-woman (with the average having her fundal height match her weeks of gestation).

besszilla

My doctor doesn't either. Stop worrrying. It's just one of those numbers that people (ie the bump people) like to get a gold star for or freak out over.

Mine doesn't check your cervix either until 39 weeks. No point in making you worry about something that can't be quantified.

Rogue Lily

Thanks guys!!

Mrs.tlcS

If he's palpating your belly, it's pretty much the same thing.  He's feeling for the top of your uterus, and "eyeballing" the measurement.  If you see enough 28 week (or whatever you happen to be right now) bellies, you can pretty much tell where on the abdomen the top of the uterus is going to be.

When they do internals and vaginal exams during labor, they tell you how many cm dilated you are, but they're not shoving a tape measure up your vadge, kwim?  They can make measurements by feel.

PAIrishBride

I've heard that fundal measurements are good if you are in a practice where you see different doctors each appt so that the number can give them a baseline of where you were the last appt, but if you go to the same doctor every appt he doesn't need the number.  I think this makes sense b/c you were measured once by a different doctor probably just so that your regular doctor knew where you were the last time you were seen.

Rogue Lily

PAIrishBride:

I've heard that fundal measurements are good if you are in a practice where you see different doctors each appt so that the number can give them a baseline of where you were the last appt, but if you go to the same doctor every appt he doesn't need the number.  I think this makes sense b/c you were measured once by a different doctor probably just so that your regular doctor knew where you were the last time you were seen.

 Oooh, you are smart! Good thinking, I bet you are right.

holdn5

My doctor doesn't do them either and I'm not concerned. Like pp, he won't do internals until week 40 either!

Temp6313048411121614

If you want to be measured just ask him to measure you.  My OB doesn't feel it necessary to measure twin bellies (because it's totally pointless), but he does because he knows I'm curious about how far ahead I'm measuring.  There have been weeks that he's almost forgotten and I just ask him to. 

Dancer6978

My clinic called it "old school" to do that, so they don't.  I'm not really worried.