What's your fundal height? (singleton, multiples?) - Page 2 « Back to Group Discussions

[Trisha Kalous]

I would still like to UC, even if it's twins, but I may decide to have a friend/family member present for an extra pair of hands. We aren't ruling out having a midwife though. It'll depend on what we feel is the right thing to do. Right now, we're exploring our options- meeting local midwives, considering who we might invite, etc. We weren't planning to have an ultrasound either. Though now, we are thinking we might do one near the end of January, around 25 weeks. DH is more inclined toward one than I am. He really wants to know how many are in there, but there's a decent chance we'll be able to tell before then, by listening with the fetoscope. I would kind of like to know how many placentas and water bags if we're having multiples so we know what to expect there. In either case, if we have one it will be a short one, just to check for # of babies, placentas, and water bags. Unless something big comes up, we'll be birthing at home (with or without a midwife).

[Quinalla]

Ok, measured this morning finally, I'm 16w4d and measuring about 27cm, so yeah sounds like your measurements are very close to mine with twins. This is my second pregnancy as well.

[BaileyB]

Oooo, this is fun. How did I miss this earlier? I am having 1 baby and am 19 weeks. I measured Saturday and I was 18 cm.

[adventuregirl]

17 wks and 17 cm here. Trisha, sure sounds like you may have more than one in there!

[Renae08]

Originally Posted by BaileyB 

Oooo, this is fun. How did I miss this earlier? I am having 1 baby and am 19 weeks. I measured Saturday and I was 18 cm.

What baby # is this for both of you?

Originally Posted by adventuregirl 

17 wks and 17 cm here. Trisha, sure sounds like you may have more than one in there!

[adventuregirl]

Originally Posted by Renae08 


What baby # is this for both of you?

Ah, sorry, #2.

[Renae08]

Originally Posted by adventuregirl 


Ah, sorry, #2.

Thanks! I'm on #2 as well so I was curious

[Renae08]

So I measured again (I'm 18 weeks today) and I got 24cm. Are there any other reasons for measuring large than twins? Is this something I should be concerned about?

At first I was just thinking that this was baby #2 so that's why I've been measuring a bit bigger, but I checked back with my notes from last pregnancy and I was measuring 19 weeks at 21 weeks... that's a big difference from then and now IMO. Maybe I'm over-analyzing the situation :-/

[BaileyB]

Baby #3, pregnancy #4. One pregnancy ended at 5.5-6 weeks. Measuring big in the last trimester can mean too much amniotic fluid.

From my midwifery book: "It occurs in less than 1% of pregnancies, often in conjunction with multiple pregnancy, Rh incompatibility, or diabetes. It is also associated with fetal anomalies, particularly with atresia of the esophagus, hydrocephaly, anencephaly, or spina bifida.

Sounds like all of the above pertains to if you start having an increase starting at 28 weeks gestation. Gestational diabetes also starts around 28 weeks, that's why they don't test for it before then unless you have diabetes before pregnancy. Soooooo......my guess is you have twins!

[Trisha Kalous]

The reasons that I could find for measuring big could be that your dates are off, that you have multiples, a lot of amniotic fluid, or that you have fibroids in your uterus. Occasionally someone will also measure big with no specific reasoning, perhaps the way babe is lying in your womb. The info I could find on measuring ahead was that with twins you usually measure 4-6 cm ahead- though a lot of twin moms I've asked also measure up to around 10 cm ahead. 

[Trisha Kalous]

Originally Posted by Quinalla 

Ok, measured this morning finally, I'm 16w4d and measuring about 27cm, so yeah sounds like your measurements are very close to mine with twins. This is my second pregnancy as well.

This gives me some confirmation for what I've been suspecting! I can't wait til I can hear heart tones with the fetoscope!! The midwife from my last pregnancy came to one of my meetings last night and was telling me that it's not likely that I'm carrying multiples just because I'm measuring big.... I was thinking- and that's why you won't be seeing me this time around!  She pretty much dismissed the idea, aside from mentioning it as a possibility. The other midwife I talked to, said that it's a very likely reason to measuring so far ahead, being that my dates are certain. The wait is certainly trying my patience, but I know it's also the right thing for us! It's also bringing me a bit of peace, not being certain, because I know I'm doing everything I can to have a healthy pregnancy so far. Nothing we find out will change any immediate plans so there's no rush :)

[Renae08]

Trisha, what kind of fetoscope do you have? I've been considering getting one, but I don't want to spend $100, nor do I want a piece of junk Any suggestions for purchasing one?

[Renae08]

Originally Posted by BaileyB 

Baby #3, pregnancy #4. One pregnancy ended at 5.5-6 weeks. Measuring big in the last trimester can mean too much amniotic fluid.

From my midwifery book: "It occurs in less than 1% of pregnancies, often in conjunction with multiple pregnancy, Rh incompatibility, or diabetes. It is also associated with fetal anomalies, particularly with atresia of the esophagus, hydrocephaly, anencephaly, or spina bifida.

Sounds like all of the above pertains to if you start having an increase starting at 28 weeks gestation. Gestational diabetes also starts around 28 weeks, that's why they don't test for it before then unless you have diabetes before pregnancy. Soooooo......my guess is you have twins!

Thanks for this info! So which midwifery book is this from?

So from what you're saying is that the excess fluid and diabetes doesn't really come into play as a factor until later in pregnancy? Or just not usually until later? Thanks again for the info

[BaileyB]

It sounds like it isn't really a cause until after 28 weeks. I got it from Heart and Hands Midwifery Guide.

[moriahmoonstar]

It's true those reasons above can have one measuring large, But I would be really surprised if Trisha only had one. The general rule of thumb is with a single babe your fundus is directly under your belly button at 20weeks, and you only measure with fingers before that and then cm after. But it sounds like your fundus has been above your belly button for a while. I would be curious to see what you find out.

We had a twin scare a few weeks ago when I measured large but I was re measured and everything seems normal for one. I'm also not doing any ultrasounds and having a homebirth, if it was twins I would get one later ultrasound to determine placement and placentas also, and as long as twin a's head was down I would proceed normally at home. When I was at the farm they said that if they suspect multiples or any other complications they prefer to wait until at least 24 weeks to send moms in, that they have research proving it has less of an impact at that point in development. I personally haven't seen the research but would love to.

[Trisha Kalous]

I think I paid around $20 for my fetoscope... most of them will work well, you just need to practice with them because it's not as easy to hear as with a doppler (though it's 100% safe, unlike the doppler). You can find them on amazon.com, like this one: http://www.amazon.com/MABIS-Healthcare-Fetal-Stethoscope-Black/dp/B001CCGY64/ref=pd_sim_hpc_2 I wouldn't personally bother with the $50 ones. It varies from person to person on when you can hear baby, but the earliest I've heard is 16 weeks, though more commonly it's not until 20-22 weeks that you can hear baby's heart beat.

[Trisha Kalous]

Moriah, I've never heard that waiting til after 24 weeks had less of an impact on development, and I too would be interested to see the research on that! I figured that I wanted to wait until the half way point at least to get one because most of development after that is just gaining weight, and why bother with an earlier one when it's not going to make much difference anyway. I would still birth at home regardless of how the babies presented (vertex or breech), so their position isn't so much of a concern for me, just curious as to what's all inside there! I'm fairly certain I was feeling some movements last night... and they were all over, like 3 different places and they seemed almost reactive, like "hey! you kicked me so i'm going to kick you back!" lol :) 

[Quinalla]

Well, I am really curious to hear how many you have Trisha

[Trisha Kalous]

Originally Posted by Quinalla 

Well, I am really curious to hear how many you have Trisha

So are we!!! We have shared our suspicions with family so they're all asking if we've found out anything yet, all the time! And I like that they're as anxious with anticipation as we are :) That makes sharing the wait a bit more fun!

[moriahmoonstar]

Originally Posted by Trisha Kalous 

Moriah, I've never heard that waiting til after 24 weeks had less of an impact on development, and I too would be interested to see the research on that! I figured that I wanted to wait until the half way point at least to get one because most of development after that is just gaining weight, and why bother with an earlier one when it's not going to make much difference anyway. I would still birth at home regardless of how the babies presented (vertex or breech), so their position isn't so much of a concern for me, just curious as to what's all inside there! I'm fairly certain I was feeling some movements last night... and they were all over, like 3 different places and they seemed almost reactive, like "hey! you kicked me so i'm going to kick you back!" lol :) 

I will send in an email to The Farm and see if Pamela Hunt can send me any articles. I was so enamored with Ina May and all the 'famous' midwives there that I really didn't need much convincing to listen to them ;) I am so nervous and hesitant about ultrasounds, and if there is any chance it's not as harmful later than I would wait.

I love that you are so comfortable with the ideas of twins, that's such a beautiful thing and exactly the attitude it takes to do a uc and homebirth. I just witnessed a beautiful easy twin homebirth, so cool to take some of the fear out of it.

Are you a midwifery student?