Measuring behind, OB ordered an u/s. Anyone else? I'm worried

Re: Measuring behind, OB ordered an u/s. Anyone else? I'm worried

• AshBow171 member

  April 2011

  I am dealing with a similar issue right now. I go for an u/s on Thursday to see if LO is growing as she should. OB "can't find" the top of my uterus when measuring my fundal height due to my rib cage. LO's head is engaged. Just to be cautious she ordered an u/s. I am just hoping everything is ok. Here is my post from earlier on May '11.

  Stay away from Dr. Google. Good luck at your ultrasound! 
  

  

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• LawLove08

  April 2011

  Ashbow171:

  I am dealing with a similar issue right now. I go for an u/s on Thursday to see if LO is growing as she should. OB "can't find" the top of my uterus when measuring my fundal height due to my rib cage. LO's head is engaged. Just to be cautious she ordered an u/s. I am just hoping everything is ok. Here is my post from earlier on May '11.

  Stay away from Dr. Google. Good luck at your ultrasound!?
  

  Thanks, and thanks for the link to your post on the May board! ?Hope your u/s goes well on Thursday. ??

  

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• IU_baby member

  April 2011

  I'm the opposite.  I've been measuring 4 weeks ahead since 23 weeks.  I had an ultrasound at 30w and they found that she was right on target, 45%, but I measured 39w at my appointment today.  I'm having another ultrasound next week to see how big she is, but I'm praying she's not ginormous.

  I wouldn't worry too much about IUGR for measuring 1 week behind.  They're just checking up on everything.

  

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• JoyfulW&M member

  April 2011

  There are a few things it could be...

  a) you could simply make small babies.

  b) your not as far along as you thought
  

  c) for some reason baby isn't getting the nutrients it needs and isn't growing well...this happened to both my aunt and my best friend, my best friend went into labor on her own at 35-36 weeks and my aunt was induced at 37 weeks because her husband was being deployed 5 days later for 6 months, they didn't know anything was wrong before hand. If this is what is going on then it is good that you are getting an US and they will probably induce soon if something is wrong with the umbilical or placenta.

   It is natural to worry, calling your doctor and asking what other reasons there are for measuring so early is a good idea. But I wouldn't really freak out until you know more, try to stay calm. Your doctor is probably just being cautious. GL!
  

  

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• Erin&Rod

  April 2011

  I measured a week behind for most of my third trimester with my first pregnancy.  My doctor didn't worry until around 37 weeks when I started measuring 2 then 3 weeks beind at 38 weeks.  At 39 weeks, I had and u/s and found that my amniotic fluid was very low.  I was send to L&D and had a c-section.  DS was born perfectly healthy.  He was on the smallish side, 6lbs 7oz. 

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• cchrisler

  April 2011

  I know its stressful...I measured 2-3 weeks behind a couple months ago. My OB was concerned at 3+ cm variance and we opted to do an u/s just to be certain everything looked good. It can be alot of different things - position of baby, amount/location of fluids, etc. Don't stress until AFTER the u/s since they are doing it to be safe. In our case, we had the u/s and the initial one showed low fluids, we went in for further u/s with a specialist and it showed normal fluid levels. (Somehow pockets were missed) Since baby has dropped, I'm measuring right on with my week even after being behind before. The u/s measurements will trump any fundal external measurements they told me. Even though it was stressful to go through, I am really happy I have an OB that was so proactive and had a 'better safe than sorry' mentality.

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• LittleDelany

  April 2011

  It is normal to measure up to 3 weeks behind in late pregnancy.  I'm measuring 31 weeks and am being induced tomorrow at 38+6.  I've had 2 growth ultrasounds and they show the baby is on the smaller side but still in normal range.  I'm 5'2" and 115ish pre-pregnancy, so my OB is not surprised that I'll be having an (estimated) 6.5-7.5lb baby.  Things should be just fine... good luck to you!
  

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• Loreali2010 member

  April 2011

  I was measuring behind as well, but when we had the u/s the baby measured perfectly.  Try not to stress.  Fundal height measurements are not too accurate and a week off isn't bad!

  

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• ksales31

  April 2011

  I haven't seen this mentioned but at my last appt I was 35 weeks and measuring a 33. The doctor was not concerned because I had mentioned that I felt like baby had already dropped. She said one way they can tell if the baby has recently dropped is you will sometimes measure smaller because baby becomes more compact in there as she scoots down. Like I said i've never heard anyone else mention this so who knows my OB could be full of it lol

  

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• letolar member

  April 2011

  I have consistently measured small since about 30 weeks and have had 2 growth scans just to make sure everything was okay.  Both times, baby measured right on track.  My OB said I just have a small belly.  There are plenty of good and bad explanations, but I'm betting that everything is just fine with your baby.  Try not to stress, definitely avoid Dr. Google, and just hang in there
  

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• heather_09_15_07 member

  April 2011

  I consistently measured 1-2 weeks behind with DD and had growth u/s weekly the last month of my pregnancy with her.

  She measured around 12-15 percentile, and IUGR is 10% or under, I believe. She was just small. Only 6 lb 2 oz and 17 1/4 inches long at birth. Perfect and small:)

  I wouldn't worry too much.

  2 girls and a dog

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• KimandTravWed

  April 2011

  I always measured a bit behind with DS and towards the end it seemed to slow even more..usually due to the placenta getting a little "older". Don't worry..if your OB is concerned they will monitor it closely by doing BPP ultrasounds and if they feel that things are really slowing down as far as growth then they will probably induce you at 39 weeks. That's what happened to me and I had a perfectly healthy baby and successful induction. The funny part is that he's just a small guy in general is a VERY slow grower still so it's just him and probably was nothing really wrong with my pregnancy. So, don't google..it could just be that you have a small person is all but perfectly healthy.

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• Val3G

  April 2011

  I am in my 3rd pregnancy, and always measure 1-3 weeks behind!  It's definitely not always a reason to worry.  I have had two perfect daughters, who were not even small.  Both at the high end of seven pounds!  I just carry very low.  Also know that even if an ultrasound says your baby is small, it's NOT necessarily true.  My friend's baby was estimated at 5lb and something, and was born at 8 lb and more!!!!!

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• glmorgan03

  April 2011

  Loreali2010:

  I was measuring behind as well, but when we had the u/s the baby measured perfectly.  Try not to stress.  Fundal height measurements are not too accurate and a week off isn't bad!

  This exactly!  I was measuring a full month behind and went for an ultrasound to determine what was going on.  Not only was my little guy fine, he was on the larger side of normal!!  The following things contributed to me measuring so small... (1) Baby is transverse and balled up tight - he was sucking on his own toes! (2) I have a long torso and very firm upper abdominals holding my uterus deep and down.

  I was told no worries and the U/S put my due date right at my calculated date.  I stressed like crazy for no reason. G/L to you! 

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