Interesting 32 week appt--measured big

sillybiochemist

Well this morning I had my 32 week appointment.  My OB was on vacation last week and apparently there was some miscommunication and she wasn't in today.  So they tried to reshuffle the patients as much as possible.  Which for me wasn't a big deal b/c all they have to do is measure my belly, take my blood pressure, and ask if I've had x or y symptom.  No biggie.  I did make sure to ask that this was an unusual circumstance (which was confirmed).

Anyway, so when the nurse practitioner measured my belly, she measured me at 35 cm and said I was right on track.  Which my immediate response was "are you sure?" because according to at least one calendar I'm 32 weeks 5 days today.  So she double checked the chart and double checked the measurement and sure enough I'm still 35 cm (no big surprise there).  I'm apparently measuring big by about 1 cm (because of the "normal" leway that they give for the weekly measurements of 2 cm either way).  I've been measuring on target until today (30 cm at 30 weeks), so after asking a few more questions she said that if I measured large again next time in two weeks they will probably schedule an ultrasound to try and figure out what's going on.  Her immediate guess was that I was a week further along than they originally calculated which would kind of make sense in some ways.  My 20 week ultrasound (19 weeks 5 days) little one measured at 11 oz which I read in one of my pregnancy books was a bit more than "normal" which of course is an average.

At this point I'm going to do kick counts and keep track of anything that might seem slightly out of the ordinary for next time.  I'm also thinking of having DH go with me.  If she is right and its something simple like my due date might be a touch off then it still flips me out a bit just because I need to get my To do list before baby arrives done a touch sooner than I anticipated.  Funny thing is that I've been thinking that little one was getting big and running out of room which I didn't really expect that much at this point but maybe there's some truth to that.

Anyone else measure big out of the blue? 

Eleise96

No experience measuring big all of a sudden, but I'll be anxious to hear what your doctor says at your next appt.  So exciting! 

natalee215

I've heard that it's normal to measure up to 3 cm +/- and still be considered normal so I wouldn't be too concerned.  I measured small for most of my pregnancy, but I was just told that I carried small.  Granted, Caroline did show up a week late, so maybe you'll luck out and have your little guy early.

ash.flea

I measured ahead most of my pregnancy.  For me it just meant that I was having a big baby!  I knew my due date was right, though.

AprilJT

I measured about 1/2 week ahead until my 35 week appt then I started measuring small.  At my 20 week u/s she measured right on target.  They gave me a growth u/s on Thursday (38 weeks 2 days) to make sure everything was ok.  She is measuring small but they just think that means she is going to be a small baby.  I think there is a lot of leway on what is considered "normal".  I wouldn't be terribly concerned esp because when I get measured by someone other than my Dr their measurements are always a bit off of his.  Let us know how things go though.

sillybiochemist

Thanks!  If my due date is off its not off by much.  Its one of those situations where we took a shot in the dark and apparently hit the target, so I know the exact date when the event would have occurred to cause pregnancy.   Also with certain calculators that take into account the fact I was having 25 day cycles, the estimated due dates have been around Sept 17 rather than Sept 22.  Only 5 days different so I didn't really worry about it.  It was just the seemingly "large" growth at once is what bugged me and had me asking questions.  The nurse practitioner didn't seem that worried about it and tried fielding the questions I had as much as possible.  Guess we'll see what happens in 2 weeks.  I'm making DH go with me just in case I flip out again.

I think I flipped out more from the idea that I would have about 6 weeks to get things for baby ready rather than 7 weeks.  Does it really matter?  Probably not just have to remind myself that baby will come out when he's ready and not one minute before. 

policewife08

I measured big at 35 weeks.  They did an u/s and my guy was right where he should be.  He was born 7 pounds at 39 weeks.  But I understand the panic...I did the same.

sillybiochemist

policewife08:

I measured big at 35 weeks.  They did an u/s and my guy was right where he should be.  He was born 7 pounds at 39 weeks.  But I understand the panic...I did the same.

Thanks for making me feel normal!  No wonder I turn to you all for support!