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Natural Birth
Late ultrasound?
I'm all for doing things as naturally as possible. I chose a practice that I feel very confident in. I don't feel like they will do anything at all unnecessarily, especially if it poses a risk to baby or mommy.
At my 37 week appt yesterday, I measured at 40... which is REALLY abnormal for me. I'm usually struggling to keep up. DS1 was born small (6 lbs 9.5 oz) and they've already guessed that this baby will be bigger (I already thought so too), but now that I'm measuring so much bigger (I never reached 40 with DS1), they want to do an u/s next week to check fluid levels. Someone suggested that there's no reason for me to have an u/s until I'm closer to 42 weeks (another pro-NB mama). I completely expected her to respond that way, but I'm curious about what YOU would do. I don't see the harm in having an u/s.
Because I'm delivering at a birth center, I understand that they want to make sure there are no complications or extra risks involved in my L&D. And I feel like this u/s is just making sure everything is on track. Unless something is REALLY wrong, they won't force an induction or other intervention on me. I haven't even seen an OB this pregnancy, just the 4 midwives that handle deliveries at the BC. They only call in one of their OBs if there is a serious problem.
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Re: Late ultrasound?
You probably just dropped- that always caused my measurements to be off. The fundal height measurement is really pretty arbitrary and can vary just based on who is doing the measurement and any number of reasons. My MW told me there is even talk about doing away with it since it can be so off. I personally would not have a u/s for that reason.
That said, if you WANT the u/s, then you should get it. Just make sure that you are prepared to deal with any opinions (not medical issues) that might come from it. I had a late u/s with my second (to confirm she was no longer breech) and had to listen at length about how big she was...but it didn't bother me. I knew going in this was going to be the commentary. For someone else that might cause worry or stress.
I would do it. If you were on track at 36 last week & jumped up to 40 in 1 week that seems like a big enough change to check out.
I would do it, BUT I have to disclaim that I had close to 20 u/s with my pregnancy because LO was high-risk. So I'm obviously not anti-u/s.
I had a really similar experience to you though. I consistently measured at least 2 weeks behind in fundal height the whole time. At my 38 week appointment, I actually measured on track. My baby had been pretty low, but she had shifted up higher the day before. My MW said that was probably why there was the difference in measurement, so your situation could totally be the baby's position.
If you do decide to get the u/s & it is just a fluid check, it will literally take 5 min or less. They put the wand on, check each corner of your uterus, and you're done. It's a really minimal u/s.
Are you able to wait another week to see if measurements are still off? If it normalizes by next week, then you can avoid the issue altogether, but if you are still measuring abnormally, then you can go ahead and get the u/s to see what is up.
I have a history of fluid issues (with my last pregnancy and with this one), and they always wait to see if my measurements are a trend, or just a growth spurt, or just the baby's position, etc.
My measurements were always bigger after dropping- with both girls. ::shrugs::
I am not anti-us and as I said, you should get one if you think it is necessary or even if it is comforting, but for ME the sudden change in fundal measurement alone (without any other concerns like BP, swelling, etc.) would not be enough of a reason for a u/s for me at that point in the pregnancy.
GL! I am sure everything will be fine either way.
I had three ultrasounds throughout my third trimester due to my measuring ahead. I knew that DS3 was big just based on his movements and wasn't concerned about being able to deliver him, but my MW and OB wanted to confirm that there were no issues with fluid levels or anything else. The measurements were off of course (he was estimated at 8.5lbs the day before I delivered and was born at 9lbs even) and I wouldn't have allowed any unnecessary interventions based on ultrasound estimates alone, but it certainly didn't hurt anything to have it done.
Given that measuring ahead is abnormal for you, I'd definitely have the scan done.