Fundal measurements

princessmanda33 · September 2010

How accurate are those? I'm measuring a little behind all of a sudden. My normal doc broke his leg and is out and I had to see someone else in the practice. I did NOT like this guy. He measured me, made a weird face and asked how big my daughter was. I said 6lb 12oz. and he said, well this baby is going to be really small too. Ummmm you can tell that by measuring my belly alone? He didn't feel around at all, he didn't check my cervix, and 6lb 12oz isn't THAT little. 7lb is average right? I just feel like he was a little bit of a prick. I know I'm cranky, but...don't worry me with unneccessary things.

qme09 · September 2010

alreeves:
fundal measurements give an idea of "normalcy". For example, at 36 weeks, you should measure about 36 cm, give or take 2 cm. Anything more than 2 away may be cause for concern about growth, but if your normal doctor hadn't mentioned anything, I wouldn't worry too much about the new guy.

This! I try not to get to stressed out, by stuff like that. My MW has been with me the whole way, so I trust her opinion. However, I do understand, because I dealt with an unfamiliar doctor last night, who had this problem of thinking their crazy catastrophic thoughts (about my LO) out loud, and then refusing explain himself. It was awful. But yeah, don't read too much into it, unless your normal OB sees a reason for concern.

AllSmiles1210 · September 2010

I had an appointment tonight and the girl who took me in the room to get me ready for the doctor measured me small. If freaked me out when she said "ok, about 24." My face/mind went "huh?!" When the doctor came in I asked her about it and she said it's probably fine but measured me again to be sure. She measured me at 26. She said my pubic bone is low so the first girl probably didn't start down far enough.

Maybe that's what your doctor did? Mine also said +/-2 is OK so as long as you're within that range everything should be OK. Will your normal doctor be back soon?

princessmanda33 · September 2010

fmgrice:

Will your normal doctor be back soon?

I don't see him until my 40 week appointment :-( I do see another doc the next 2 weeks though who a friend of mine sees and says is really good. He just really upset me

OliveBaby · September 2010

Sounds like his bedside manner could use some work. Sorry lady!

I'd agree that if your doc hasn't expressed any concern previously, don't worry about what this guy is saying.

MrsHanna · September 2010

Your fundal height measurement can vary based on the baby's position. At 36 weeks I measured at 36, at 37 I measured 37, at 38 I measured 37, and at 39 (today) I measured 36. Midwife said that LO is deep in the pelvis now, much more so then when she palpated him on previous visits, which explains why there is a decrease in the measurement (i.e., more of baby is now hidden within the pelvis, so the distance to the fundus is shorter).

earthboundmisfit · September 2010

my fundal height has been 3 weeks behind since my OB started measuring it. I've had 3 u/s since then and DD has always been in the 70% and measuring about a week ahead. So sometimes it doesn't mean anything. DD1 was 7lbs1oz and born the day after her due date, and I measured about 3 weeks behind with her pregnancy as well.

CopperT0p · September 2010

I agree with PPs. Your fundal height can change by a centimetre or two depending on where each doctor takes your measurement. My midwife always has me point to where my pubic bone is so that her measurements always start at the same spot.

Then on top of the accuracy of the starting point, you have +/-2cm to be within the 'acceptable' range for your given week.

So combine these factors together, and you could be totally fine. This new guy might just measure from a different spot on your pubic bone.

I have always measured on the large side (+2cm than what I should), and my midwife only became a little concerned last week when I had a jump up and was 5cm over. So she sent me off for a growth ultrasound and another glucose test.

So the moral of the story is, if there really is something unacceptable about your measurements, then the doctor should be sending you for further testing (ie, an ultrasound). Since they didn't do this, I wouldn't be concerned.

TAMLVSCARL · September 2010

I don't think it's a big deal really what he said. The US tech said the same thing to me--my kids were 6lbs 6ozs and 6lbs 12ozs--she said this one will be 'small' too. She said the average size now is 8 lbs so 6-7 lbs is considered a lil small now for the average person. For me she said 6-7 lbs is my average. I am perfectly happy with a 6 lb-7 lb baby I didn't take offense to it at all.

princessmanda33 · September 2010

TAMLVSCARL:
I don't think it's a big deal really what he said. The US tech said the same thing to me--my kids were 6lbs 6ozs and 6lbs 12ozs--she said this one will be 'small' too. She said the average size now is 8 lbs so 6-7 lbs is considered a lil small now for the average person. For me she said 6-7 lbs is my average. I am perfectly happy with a 6 lb-7 lb baby I didn't take offense to it at all.

I didn't take offense at all. My response was "she was plenty big enough!" ( I had several 3rd degree tears). What bothered me about him, was that he made this ominous statement creating worry on my part and when I asked further questions he wouldn't give me any answers.

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