Measuring 2 wks behind, end of pg?

SeaSoul · June 2011

Cal's babysitter had a prenatal appt yesterday, at 39w 1d, and the fundal measurement was only 37 weeks, so they are scheduling an u/s to check baby's size.

What does this mean? What are they looking for? Is it a concern?

kme930 · June 2011

Fundal measurement is really imprecise, so they probably are looking for an actual measurement. If the baby is curled up extra tight or in a weird position, measurements can be way off. I know I had to go in for an u/s around 30 weeks because I was measuring behind on a fundal measurement but then the baby was measuring in the 80th percentile based on actual measurements from the u/s. (I later swung to measuring far ahead because Will liked to stick his butt out!) I hope everything is fine!

GuitaristsGirl · June 2011

I don't know what all the possibilities are, but I know that this was always a risk with me due to my history of preeclapmsia/ HELLP Symdrome, both of which often result in IUGR. There just comes a point sometimes when the mom can't continue to give the baby what it needs - she's just tapped out - and at that point the baby is better out than in. I suspect with the ultrasound they'll do a BPP and check for breathing, heartbeat, amniotic fluid levels and etc., and quite possibily go ahead and decide to deliver (especially since she's so far along anyway).

browneyedgrl4282 · June 2011

They might be checking for IUGR but the baby could just be positioned in way that the measurements aren't accurate!

SeaSoul · June 2011

Thanks for the info, girls!

AlissaCell701 · June 2011

GuitaristsGirl:

I don't know what all the possibilities are, but I know that this was always a risk with me due to my history of preeclapmsia/ HELLP Symdrome, both of which often result in IUGR. There just comes a point sometimes when the mom can't continue to give the baby what it needs - she's just tapped out - and at that point the baby is better out than in. I suspect with the ultrasound they'll do a BPP and check for breathing, heartbeat, amniotic fluid levels and etc., and quite possibily go ahead and decide to deliver (especially since she's so far along anyway).

This Exactly!

Well, I was measuring on track at my 37wk apt. My belly was measured right where it should have and a few days later I gave birth to a 3lb 11 ounce baby! I had IUGR/sticky placenta that must have formed late in my pregnancy..I was feeling fine otherwise had just a little elevated blood pressure..nothing serious though...

So it's probably a good thing she is going to checked out and if its IUGR they will probably either put her on bedrest or at 37wks she could have a c-section and deliver the baby. Either way I hope all works out.

PhillySue · June 2011

kme930:
Fundal measurement is really imprecise, so they probably are looking for an actual measurement. If the baby is curled up extra tight or in a weird position, measurements can be way off. I know I had to go in for an u/s around 30 weeks because I was measuring behind on a fundal measurement but then the baby was measuring in the 80th percentile based on actual measurements from the u/s. (I later swung to measuring far ahead because Will liked to stick his butt out!) I hope everything is fine!

This!! I was measuring about 2 weeks behind at my 32 week appoinment. The doctor sent me for an u/s at the MFM (which of course panicked me). Turns out Katie was measuring 2 weeks ahead and it was just how she was postioned. I would tell her not to stress. It is always good to get the u/s to be sure but I am sure that everything is fine.

howleyshell · June 2011

Ditto PP's - they're gonna try to see why she's measuring behind. They'll check body measurements, fluid levels and probably do a blood flow study to check the placenta.

If they do diagnose her IUGR they will not let her go past 38 weeks as the incidence of mortality increases sharply at that point. They also had me do an amnio to check lung development before they delivered him just to know where we stood and what kind of resources to have on hand for him at delivery but I don't think that's common based on what I've seen others do.

The way they explained it to me was decrease in growth/size often indicates that you've reached a point of diminishing returns meaning that the baby's better off out than in.

Sounds like she may end up going earlier than you guys had planned! I was diagnosed at 34 weeks and told to go straight to my office, tell HR I was gone and pack my stuff to go home and sit on the couch.

I know this is probably scary for her but honestly it's GREAT that they've caught it and are sending her for further study so they can make the best decisions for her and the baby.

And FWIW - my IUGR baby? Turns out that he was just skinny with a huge head- just like his dad. Not every kid's gonna fall in the middle of size charts, KWIM? Chances are everything is fine with the baby and they're just being cautious.

lrrb · June 2011

Thats really nothing to be worried about. It CAN mean something but typically it means nothing. The baby can be in a weird position causing the smaller measurement or it could be something more serious like low fluid or a baby thats not getting enough from mommy. I was measuring 3 to 4 weeks behind in my third tri and everything was just fine, she was just small (and still is). I wouldn't be over overly concerned if they were THAT concerned they would have done the u/s that day or sent her to L&D.

Mrs.Babbsy · June 2011

Cali always measured 1-2 weeks behind!

Germanwife2b · June 2011

My fundal height measured small at my 38-39 week appt too (smaller than it had the week before by a week or two). It was because baby had dropped and was ready to be born! I had him about 5 days after this!!!

I would be willing to bet that her baby has dropped into the pelvis and is getting ready to be born. But in this day in age, they need to cover their backs to make sure that they don't have a case of IUGR going on. But it seems to me that this late in the game, they would have been concerned about that before now. They may also want to check fluid levels...

LisaMarisa · June 2011

Often, a decrease in fundal height happens because the baby dropped or is in a different position. They're doing an u/s just to be safe but this late in pregnancy I would bet that is the reason.

SeaSoul · June 2011

Thanks again, everyone! I don't think she's too concerned... And since her due date is this coming Tues. (sounds like some of you misunderstood how far along she is) it won't negatively affect us if they induce her now. We have child care lined up for next week and the week after, so we were kind of hoping she'd either go a little early or on time! If she goes late, we're screwed!

AvaLikeLava · June 2011

My best friend was measuring behind with her daughter. Her husband is very anti-intervention and they had a big disagreement over even doing an u/s test to check baby's size. But in the end they did, and even the u/s said their daughter was too small.

They, however, decided NOT to induce. O was born a week late to boot, at a very healthy almost 7? lb kid. PS. both my BFF and her hubs are small, so a 7lb kid is a very good size for them, even at a week late.

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