How are you measuring?

RobynAshley · November 2014

How we are measured is the simplest process but seems so unreliable. Anyone else feel this way? I was just told I'm 3cm behind (I'll be 33 weeks on Wednesday) so we're doing an ultrasound at my next appt. in two weeks. I don't think I've met anyone that was right on track their entire pregnancy. How are you all measuring?

LadyXaverian · November 2014

The whole "ahead" and "behind" thing annoys me to no end. No woman's body is the same. No baby is exactly same. I had a growth ultrasound and was told baby was measuring 2-3 weeks ahead. All that means is that she will be high on the percentile chart when she is born, which is no shock to me since my 3.5 year old daughter was born at 9 lbs 2 oz.

So, your baby might be measuring below the 50th%ile, but so what? That's just how %iles work.

Also, this rant is so not at you, RobynAshley. It's at the whole measuring process in general. I know that important info can be gained from it, but I hate the way they deliver the "baby is ahead" and "baby is behind" news as though it's not expected that babies will be born at different sizes.

Ok, that is the end of my rant.

idontevenknow · November 2014

Fat as a cow. That's how I'm measuring.

If this is about fundal height, Idk because my doc doesn't measure that.

I'm sure you're fine

Milagros315 · November 2014

Yeah my doctor doesn't even measure me. She did it once because I had not gained any weight. I think I was a week behind, but the baby was a week ahead. We don't really worry about it. Like There's no one perfect healthy size for moms or babies.

4littlebears · November 2014

I have just been told at every appointment that I'm measuring "right on", she doesn't tell me the number though.

[Deleted User] · November 2014

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honeybeee3 · November 2014

After measuring my stomach, my MW always says, "(insert measurement here), perfectly normal." She never uses the terms "ahead" or "behind".

Jellybean707 · November 2014

honeybeee3 said:

After measuring my stomach, my MW always says, "(insert measurement here), perfectly normal." She never uses the terms "ahead" or "behind".

+1 for me.

IMO the terms ahead and behind are overused do nothing more than provoke anxiety in expectant mothers.

LooneyLife · November 2014

I've measured "1 week ahead" since they started measuring. So I consider that my normal and right on track.

Lanatir · November 2014

Belly measured behind the whole time with DD1 and she was born at (by the OB's estimation) 40w 3d weighing 8.5 lbs.

Belly is "2 weeks behind" this time, but I've also gained the amount of weight at almost 33w that I had gained at 40w 3d.

So here's another "Belly measurements vary and don't necessarily mean anything" opinion.

LuckyPenny1231 · November 2014

At my ultrasounds baby is always in 50-60% at my appt today my Funda height was measuring 34 weeks but I'm 32 weeks.

Vanbursl · November 2014

I have been consistently measuring about 10 days ahead apparently. My Ultra sounds and my doctors measurements have always been ahead. I don't know if it means much but I defaintly feel like there isn't anymore room in my belly for him to grow! Lol

I also had a lot of contractions this weekend but my water didn't break so the doctors was okay with it. The baby is in go position though so we were told to exspect to see Herb in 3-4 weeks. So with that being said it makes me think my measurements and ultra sounds were right!

RobynAshley · November 2014

This is why it's all so interesting to me. Everyone and every baby is so different. I'm just a curious one!

Stephij1 · November 2014

Both my ultrasound and the FH have been measuring 3 1/2 weeks "ahead" consistently. Both just mean that LO is potentially a big boy. I say "potentially" because both are notoriously inaccurate for predicting baby's size.

duckie23 · November 2014

I've been right on track pretty much all along, which is funny to me, because I feel like I and my belly have gone through definite growth spurts and plateaus. I'm really curious to see what baby's final size will be because I was small and my husband was very large.

TXUltraRunner · November 2014

My doctor doesnt measure

NatureLovers · November 2014

I'm 34.4, and at my appt today I measured 34cm exactly.

AlfiesMOM · November 2014

My doctor NEVER gives me the numbers but I did kind of ask last time because I feel so much bigger this time. She said I was technically measuring a little small, but she didn't see concerned. I think I feel so much bigger this time because I am carrying lower!

amiej1227 · November 2014

I'm one of those that are right on track LO has been measuring one day ahead of my lmp date and my fundal height is similar. But I don't worry about it too much she will come when she does

atrinh11 · November 2014

When it comes to fundal height, I have always been "right on track". With both this pregnancy and with my son. They don't measure at every appointment, but at most. Sometimes they measure and don't say a word, as we are busy chatting about other things. I just take that to mean I am still "right on track".

When it comes to ultrasound, I had one last week and baby is measuring about "2 weeks ahead". They didn't really say it that way, but I saw that on the screen. They just said she is measuring large and we will probably take another look or two before she comes. I have my OB appt on Wednesday to find out the full plan for keeping an eye on her since she measured larger than we expected to see.

FitmomJess · November 2014

I have only gained half as much weight as the first time I was pregnant and my Dr. told me last week that I was measuring 2-2.5 weeks ahead and this was a bigger baby. I'm skeptical on fundal measurements but we'll see. She scheduled me for a growth scan on 12/1 so at least I'll get to see the baby. My last baby was supposed to be 6 lbs and came out almost 8 so I don't really trust measurement estimates.

Valm999 · November 2014

My FH is always measuring 4 weeks ahead, but my growth scan showed that he is within the 50th percentile for weight which is normal. FH isn't an accurate way to measure growth because women carry differently. From what I heard ultrasounds aren't always that accurate either.

sanbry · November 2014

A week ahead both of my last appts. Same as with my daughter. At the 22 week appt I was a week behind. I don't think it's always indicative of anything.

shannjohnston · November 2014

My fundal height is usually +3cm. It was that way with DS, and it's that way again this time. I was worried DS would be big - his dad is a big man and my MIL delivered two very large boys (one even got stuck).

Just goes to show... DS was totally normal size - 7lb12oz after being induced 10 days post EDD. Therefore, I have no concerns with this (hopefully) little lady.

funinthenorth · November 2014

I have no idea. My doctor has been measuring me for the past two months but measures and doesn't say anything, so I guess that means all is fine. I am a little curious though so I think I'll ask at my appointment next week just to hear what he has to say.

If anything I would imagine I'd be measuring behind because neither dh or I are big people but who knows, I could be in for a surprise. Regardless - I know it's all just for the charts and if he had any concerns unto this point I'm sure I would know.

cabbeeby · November 2014

Doc says my fundal height is on track but has never given me a number.

I had an ultrasound at 30 wks to check whether low lying placenta had moved up & away, and they said that I was measuring 1 week behind but the standard deviation is +/-2 weeks. So, basically it means nothing. I'm not concerned but my Endo ordered 2 extra ultrasounds for me at 33 and 35 weeks to check growth (she said that my gestational diabetes can actually result in low growth, although high growth is more common).

cassied7 · November 2014

I'm pretty sure my midwife measures me at every appointment solely because she is supposed to. She's never given me any number, she's always just said, "you're perfect". I really don't thnk is measurement is significant, IMO.

Mrs_Bennett · November 2014

I measured right on track at my last appointment, but was a week behind at the previous appointment. Before that, I measured two weeks ahead. Totally inaccurate, and it can change depending on the baby's position. My doctor has not been concerned at all.

RibbetRibbet · November 2014

I had to have an additional ultrasound because I was measuring "ahead". It turned out the baby is in the 75%tile and I have fluid on the higher end of normal. But my doctor said it was all still normal and not to get my hopes up that he/she would come early because of it.

csjsmom · November 2014

I measured ahead all the way through with my first. He was 9 days late and 7 lbs 5 oz. this time I've been measuring 2 weeks ahead for the last few months. Probably doesn't mean anything!

marvan5 · November 2014

The covering OB I saw two weeks ago said I measured just barely ahead, so we'll see how I measure tomorrow. With GD I was a little nervous about that, but I am 5'10" with a very long torso and I have a feeling this LO will be on the longer side. I haven't been gaining weight in 4 weeks though, I keep fluctuating between 170-175 (+20ish lbs where I started from)... but I know pooping changes that daily (yay, daily! lol).

peggels24 · November 2014

Per my OB and fundal height measurements - I am "right on track"; Per my MFM and my every three week cervical checks (transvaginal ultrasound) - baby is measuring 39th percentile.

WormyGo · November 2014

I'm in the don't match up category. Last OB appointment at 26 weeks I was measuring 6 cm ahead by fundal height. At 26 weeks I had only gained 8 lbs and some people still couldn't tell I was pregnant so it was sort of funny to be measuring at 32 weeks. Did a growth scan at 28 weeks to check on things and LO is in 53% for size and I have normal fluids levels. So smaller on the inside than out. It will be interesting to see how my fundal height has changed at my 30 week appointment tomorrow.

robsbabygirl08 · November 2014

Per my provider I measure "right on track" every time.

TMast21 · November 2014

meh - I don't really put much thought into the measurement. Last appt doc said I was 1-3 weeks ahead, but he really couldn't tell since she was jammed so high under my ribs on one side. I haven't had an ultrasound since 18w, so I was given the option to get one in a few weeks covered by insurance since she seems rather large. I'm going to go for it just because I want to see her and her position, but all in all, not concerned at all. My sister and I were 21" and 9 lbs each so I expect this baby to be of similar size.

MamacitaChiquita82 · November 2014

4littlebears said:

I have just been told at every appointment that I'm measuring "right on", she doesn't tell me the number though.

Same here. I don't get any numbers. Probably because my doctor doesn't want me going home and googling it to death.

laceysbryan · November 2014

We had a growth scan today because I have velamentous cord insertion (my cord isn't in the middle like it's supposed to be), and baby measured in the 55th percentile. They didn't really tell me anything more specific about his size. My OB said the ultrasounds have about a 15% margin of error for size, so I wouldn't get too concerned with any "exact" figures that could come from the ultrasound, unless they were really really high or really really low.

BackseatDriver · November 2014

They haven't told me specifically, but they have been happy with how things have been going. Last pregnancy I was 2 weeks behind at some point close to delivery, but I surprised everyone with a baby that was bigger than they were expecting (8.5lbs). Fluid estimates were right where they should be based on ultrasounds so I guess I just hide it well? I don't know. I just figure it will give them a chance to look into things with an ultrasound if it seems off.

longcat07 · November 2014

i don't get a growth scan, so i can't comment there. fundal height...my OB has been measuring since 18w but hasn't said a word about it till the last appointment, where she told me i've been "spot on" the whole time. with DS i measured 2w "ahead" from about 28w till 36w, when i started measuring "on time" again. honestly, if you're talking about fundal height, something as silly as what position the baby is in can throw that off. i wouldn't put any stock in it.