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Measuring small - update #10

post #1 of 11
Thread Starter 
Ever since my OB started measuring my fundal height, I've been measuring small. Not sure what my measurement was at 28 weeks but she had me get an extra ultrasound then (which showed the baby to be on target, 51st percentile).

At 30 weeks, I was measuring 28.
At 32.5 weeks I was measured twice, first try was 26, second was 29 (I think the difference was whether I breathed in or out).
At 34.5 weeks (today) I measured 28 again.

The last three appointments were with different doctors (my primary OB wants me to meet the other doctors in the practice), so I know the measurements can vary a bit, but I also haven't gained any weight this trimester (my weight gain was fine through the first two trimesters). My appetite has definitely been down this trimester, I think because my stomach is squished.

The OBs have said it might just be because I'm petite, two of them also commented on how impressive my ab muscles are. Could that affect it?
I got another ultrasound ordered today but the earliest appointment I could get was in a week.

Other than my measurements, I've been really healthy throughout my pregnancy, no drinking/smoking/caffeine/drugs, staying active, eating well (mostly whole grains, beans/tofu/tempeh, lots of veggies and fruit, along with healthy fats such as nuts, avocados, olive oil and flaxseed). Blood pressure and all urine tests / blood tests have been great. Baby is quite active and his heartbeat has always been great.

I guess I would just like a little reassurance so I don't stress myself out waiting for my u/s.
post #2 of 11
You sound okay to me. Fundal height is just one of many indicators of fetal growth. I wouldn't sweat it.
post #3 of 11
I wouldn't worry. With DD I measured small consistently but gave birth to a happy healthy 5 lb 7 oz girl who nursed great and thrived from day 1. They thought she had IUGR but she was just small. I am petite (5' 2" - 115 lbs or so went not preggo) and was a small baby as was my DH so that might have had something to do with it. But as mentioned above, fundal height is variable and just one factor. It can even change depending on babes position.
post #4 of 11
Especially since it's your first, the baby will engage a lot earlier in your pelvis and that can affect your fundal height. Also, are you long torsoed? I know you said you are petite, but wasn't sure if you were long torsoed with shorter legs, or what. If you are longer torsoed, the baby will have a lot more room in which to shift around in, so you can measure smaller but be just fine. I'm short torsoed, but tall (5'10") so my torso even short is longer than most women's. I measured small with DD, and she was 8lbs7oz and 22 in at birth - so you just never can tell.
post #5 of 11
Thread Starter 
Thanks mamas, that does help me feel better.

kalamos23, good point. I do have short legs and a longer torso (5'4" with a 28" inseam).
post #6 of 11
I've been measuring consistently small give or take with this pregnancy. Not small enough to worry about. I had a second US to check everything...and everything looks good. I'm 37 weeks and measured 35 today. But the baby was really lopsided and moving a lot while I was laying there so me and my MW were laughing that it just wasn't going to be anywhere close to accurate today. Some weeks I'm small..and some I'm right on...I've never measured big yet. lol. I think 2-4 on either side of your weeks is really normal. And I've heard the "impressive ab muscles" thing before...my MW with my first mentioned how tone I was, and my MW with my second and this one mentioned the same things to me...not in relation to measuring small but just in "good abs for having a baby."
post #7 of 11
My last pregnancy I was measuring "small" by two weeks, I think, and my baby was 9 lbs 5 oz. So, like the pps indicated, I would take it with a grain of salt. If everything else is looking good, then I wouldn't let this one factor alone stress you out.
post #8 of 11
ab muscles DO have something to do with it! I measured small with my ds and at 30 weeks now I'm measuring 28. My ds was 7 lbs 9.5 oz, but I measured small till the end and they sent me for ultrasounds and scared the tar out of me
post #9 of 11
I had a second US too for measuring small and it is scary...but I'm glad I did it. Unless I was really measuring small..I mean small, scary small...I wouldn't really accept any more USs than one to make sure.
post #10 of 11
Thread Starter 
Thanks again everyone for your support. I had my u/s yesterday.

He is measuring just under a week behind (which is at least much better than the 6+ weeks behind in fundal height measurement). The radiologist said that is ok for now, but she was concerned because he was a couple of days ahead last time, so his growth has slowed by 8 days since the last time (7 weeks ago). She is recommending to my OB that I get another u/s in a couple of weeks.

I know that u/s gets less and less accurate the farther along I am, but combined with my fundal height and weight plateaus, I think she's right that things have slowed a bit. Meanwhile, I'm trying to stuff some extra calories into myself but it's not easy.

Quote:
Originally Posted by terra-pip View Post
I had a second US too for measuring small and it is scary...but I'm glad I did it. Unless I was really measuring small..I mean small, scary small...I wouldn't really accept any more USs than one to make sure.
They wouldn't have ordered one for me if I had been increasing while measuring behind. They were concerned because my measurement had been the same over the course of at least 6 weeks.
post #11 of 11
Go with high protein foods too. I hear eggs are great for packing weight on babies! Good luck!
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