Baby is measuring behind...fabulous.

teacherjess · July 2012

Went in for my appointment today and the baby is officially measuring behind by a week. All I could think was, "Here we go again," because I dealt with this with DD and it was a huge PITA. For some reason, the medical establishment refuses to acknowledge that as someone who stands 4'11" tall, I will not have a large baby. With DD, once she started measuring behind, I had to go in for weekly ultrasounds and twice-weekly non-stress tests for the last 10 weeks because they were convinced she had IUGR even though she seemed fine. Sure enough, she was born perfectly healthy and in the 5th percentile for weight and height, which she remains in to this day at 4 years old.

I am putting my foot down this time-- if there are no signs of IUGR and the baby is developing normally and gaining regularly, I am not going in for the weekly battery of tests outside of the normal appointments and measurements. It was beyond stressful and made me so anxious that I wasn't able to even look forward to DD getting here because I was so worried that something was wrong with her. I just can't believe I am back here again.

terri_doula2010 · July 2012

I think it is perfectly fair that you don't want to go through all of that again! Measuring only 1 week behind doesn't seem like much, so maybe the difference won't end up being that great?

I think your doctors should definitely take your height AND your daughter's measurements into consideration when they suggest a course of action (if any).

dmfan897 · July 2012

I have the exact same problem.i am 5'2 and make small babies and always measure behind. I have had two pregnancies of nst and ultrasounds just to have perfectly healthy children. My OB is finally getting off my case and isn't making me go through all that again.

BabySeaTurtles · July 2012

I'm a FTM and I measure 5'2". LO was measuring in the 10th percentile so they made me go to a specialist. It really was a PITA because he is developing and growing normally as far as they can tell for everything else. I feel your frustration. I don't think the OB/GYNs take into account the mom's size or the fact that the general population is getting larger. So a smaller woman is pretty much screwed.

mystrana · July 2012

Ugh, I think my SiL had to deal with that sort of thing.

It makes no sense to me why there would be so much worry when common sense can say "hey, a shorter person might have a smaller baby." But I guess multiple growth charts based on the parent's sizes might be too confusing?

twoitalians · July 2012

Oh this makes me nervous. I don't go in for my next appt for another week, but now I'm worried I'll have to go through this. I am only 5' but growth was right on track a week or so ago. DH is tall, like 6'3'' so maybe I'll have that in my favor (sorta, except for small woman carrying large baby thing). When did you start measuring behind/ when do doctors start becoming concerned about IUGR to make someone start doing all the additional tests?

lizal · July 2012

I didn't think doctors even considered it an issue until you measure at least 2 weeks behind. A couple weeks ago I was measuring a week behind then this week I wasn't. It can really depend on baby position when they are taking the measurement. Hopefully they don't make a big deal out of it!

MainelyFoolish · July 2012

I'm surprised your doctor is making a big deal out of only 1 cm. Was it the same person who measured this time and last? There is some variability depending on who measures.

At my 26 week appointment, I measured 25 cm and the doctor thought that was fine. At my 28 week appointment, I saw the NP and she measured me at 24 cm -- 4 weeks behind -- so that was concerning enough that she had me schedule a growth ultrasound for 32 weeks. I went in this week for my 30 week appointment and the same NP measured me now at 30 cm, a 6 cm jump from 2 weeks earlier and right on schedule. Apparently the baby was just in a really weird position at 28 weeks! I'm still going to do the scheduled growth ultrasound, though, just because I'm curious...I never had an ultrasound past 20 weeks with my first baby.

ilovelife · July 2012

I've been measuring a week behind since my first u/s..ds measured a week behind as well. Good luck talking to your ob.

jbBeans · July 2012

ugh, that sounds really annoying. At least this time, you have some experience with the situation so hopefully it won't be so stressful/worrying. GL getting your doctors to lighten up a bit!

rervin · July 2012

I am glad I am not the only one. My DH and I are both short and our LO consistently measures about a week behind. Thankfully my Dr. doesn't seem to concerned at this point, but if she suggests additional testing I will bring up our size. Question for those that had this with previous pregnancies, did your LO arrive on time, early, or late? I have been thinking our guy is going to be late because of his size, but maybe he is just going to be a small baby.

lauram730 · July 2012

I went in for my 28 week yesterday and my doctor seems very supportive of the fact that being a petite person, I may very well have a smaller baby because that's what nature intends. My brother and I were both under six pounds and were fine, so I think she is using that info in support of my baby's size. She didn't actually tell me the measurement yesterday, but did say she wouldn't be surprised if the baby was just smaller. However, she said she would probably have me do another ultrasound at 36 weeks or so. I was measuring 23 centimeters at 24 weeks, but the doctor I saw that day said it was completely normal to measure a few off in one direction or the other. How scientific could that measurement possibly be? It relies on your position to be exactly the same, the baby to be in exactly the same position, etc. I am surprised it works for the most part.

I hope they will take into account your past experience and let you do what you feel comfortable with!

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