Confusing appointment

Emilyherr · September 2013

Had a follow up u/s today to try to get better images since my baby did not cooperate last time. The Tech said the baby measured right at where she should be for 22 weeks and four days. Then when I saw the doctor she measured my stomach and said I was measuring at 21 weeks. I am having a hard time desifering what this means or if it even means anything. This was not a doctor I had seen before and it was a really awkward visit. Our personalities did not match up. That's neither here nor there. But anyone have any thoughts about measurements? My son always measured right on so I am not experienced with this. I'm leaning more with the u/s since that is pretty advanced and it was a measurement of the actually baby.

bnik · September 2013

Our ultra sound tech wasn't allowed to say anything about anything for that specific reason .. I'm not sure who you believe though

HappyDoc · September 2013

I am guessing that you got different answers because they used different ways of measuring. I agree with you, the U/S is probably more accurate.

kwinkle1980 · September 2013

I would not worry about it. I think the other posters are right-on when they say the two different methods could have different results. My son was all over the place!

aessary03 · September 2013

Measurements are not always the most accurate. For example, my co-worker's fundal measurement is bigger than the ultrasound measurement. I wouldn't worry about it too much. As another pp said, it's dependent, too, on how you're being measured.

mommygrams0730 · September 2013

Well the u/s measured the actual baby inside your uterud (still can be slightly off, more so in reference to weight) and your dr probably measured your fundal height...right, in cm? So that can be close or off a bit too...some drs don't even start measuring fundal height until after 25 weeks. General rule of thumb is fundal height in cm is equal to your gestational weeks. Again this can be off depending on how the baby is positioned.

Last pregnancy I went in for an appt and was measuring right on, then 2 weeks later baby moved and I measured a week it 2 behind...really not a big deal.

ETA: clarity about u/s measurement.

ScarlettDahlia · September 2013

Yea, the fundal height measurement could be off. When my midwife checked at my last appt, she said I was measuring a little higher than what I should be. She then added the caveat that everybody is different, so it can be off and it's perfectly fine.

bellamatson · September 2013

My OB did my fundal height measurement today. I'm only 23 weeks and she said I am where I should be...

dltate29 · September 2013

I would just mention your confusion at your next appointment but I wouldn't stress about the differences. Why? Because I have already experienced first hand how the u/s tech, the midwifes, and the doctors can differ in opinion, measurements, etc. We were told baby was in the 9th percentile for weight when it turns out he was actually in the 20th percentile. then the following week the midwife measured my belly and said everything was on track. Talk about confusing signals. For me, I decided to base my opinion on the fact that the specialist doctor said everything was fine and our baby is probably just small (as we are shorter as well). Of course there is a part of me in my head always second guessing and worrying but ultimately it will do me no good so I will wait until my next follow up appointment with the sepcialist to confirm if I should or shoudln't worry again.

I am sorry you are getting mixed signals and I completely understand the frustration. All you can do is keep asking questions and bringing up your concerns.

PBP2002 · September 2013

Ditto PPs, but I will add that your fundal height is "where it should be" if it's within 2cm of how many weeks pregnant you are. For example, I was 21 weeks at my last appointment, but measuring 19cm. (At the ultrasound the week before baby was measuring 19w5d, so I'm sure he'd grown since then). The doctor wasn't concerned.

MrsGraham06 · September 2013

My baby likes to lay sideways (head on left side, butt on right side, sometimes the other way around) so my fundal height is always on the "low" side. But, since there is definite growth, and the heart rate of baby is fine, my OB isn't concerned at all.

AnnikaD20 · September 2013

My last two u/s have had my LO measuring a week ahead, but my OB said that anything within 10 days is normal and they won't change my EDD for that.

I thought the main thing with fundal height was to make sure your uterus kept growing. You should gain 1cm or half an inch a week (approximately).

rowanthefrog · September 2013

U/s is more accurate than stomach measurements. I wouldn't worry.

A

LexGator · September 2013

I would trust the u/s measurement, and your fundal height is not that far off anyway. My fundal height measures big but both babies have always measured on track. There's a little give with these measurements, and none of them are 100% accurate anyway.

ababymaybe · September 2013

A week is a non issue anyway. They don't start to worry unless you are consistently measuring several weeks off.

pennstated912 · September 2013

I wouldn't be concerned.

My MFM and Ob don't actually agree on my due date. My Ob thinks it is the 19th and MFM thinks it is the 23rd-24th. It's so close together though that they left it. I have measured anywhere from 2 weeks ahead to a few days behind.

miam4 · September 2013

Last time I did mine they said LO measured 2 weeks more (i was 23 weeks and she was measuring 25), when I asked about lbs she said they don't really guess that anymore, but they have a chart with probably weight (tks a lot! I don't want to know the average! I wanted to know my baby!lol)

Every place is different. Don't stress.

Emilyherr · September 2013

Thanks ladies!

HereWeGo2 · September 2013

My dr said ultasounds in the second trimester have a 2 week "margin of error" so if it is close they don't worry. I'd expect the belly measurement has a similar margin.

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