Importance of Measuring on Schedule

[phoebemommy]

I've been measuring exactly on schedule the whole time, but at my last appointment (30w3d) I measured 31.5. No biggie, I know, but my midwife said I have to be within 2 centimeters to homebirth in our state. I'm getting bigger quickly, too. One more thing to have a nagging worry about! So what's the importance of measuring on schedule?

[grace's voice]

I don't think there is any importance. I've measured ahead as much as 3 weeks with both of my babies. My mw is fine with it. My babies are good sized and I have plenty of fluid. Its totally normal for a woman to measure right on at one appt, then 2 weeks ahead, then right on, and so forth. Babies go through growth spurts in the womb, just like they do after they're born. No worries... other than that silly law, I've never heard of that one before!

[flapjack]

I have never ever heard of someone requiring that you're within 2cm- bigger than gestation+3cm can be an indicator for closer examination due to suspected polyhydramnios or a large baby (but I had a very large baby and measured exactly right for dates.)
Where are you? I'd be inclined to post in midwives, doulas and cbe and check whether this law actually exists- it sounds like this woman is trying to test your mettle and see how committed you are to your homebirth.
BTW, often if you start measuring bigger than usual it's because baby turned breech. If baby turns head-down again you'll shrink again.

[Mama8]

Here is the thing. With different people you can get different measurements. Being within 2cm is a idiotic requirement. It is too narrow of a window. Lots of things can affect measurements.

[phoebemommy]

I'm in Alaska. It was a really quick comment by the midwife (my back-up midwife, in fact) that we didn't discuss at length, and now I'm wondering if I misunderstood her. I'm going to ask my main midwife about it next visit. I looked up the statutes, and if I'm reading them correctly, it looks like they're supposed to refer me to an OB if I measure too far ahead or below (which was not specifically defined), but that I can still homebirth so long as the doctor says I'm okay. I'm also wondering if her apprentice didn't measure me quite right -- DH said he thought there was slack in the tape, and she asked me where my pelvic bone was, to which I said, uh, here? I think? I can't really tell. Also, he wasn't breech at this visit, but he was in a weird position that made it hard for them to feel him, so I wonder if that had something to do with it.

This was my first visit to this back up midwife, who I have because we had a scheduling snafu with my main midwife and she'll be on vacation until just before my EDD. I like the b/u midwife a lot, but everything was a little confusing just because it was a different office with a different procedure and different vibe. I'm thinking I won't worry about it until next week with my main midwife.

[mamacarla]

The first thing that I thought when I read your post was that you probably had someone other than the usual midwife measuring you. Sure enough!

I think consistancy is a key to these types of things. I would not give it one more thought or worry. The back-up midwife mis-measured and mis-spoke it sounds like.

Take care.

Carla

[Hayes]

With my 3rd babe, I measrued 6 weeks ahead towards the end because of his position. He had his head wedged into my right hip. When he finally moved into my pelvis, I measured right on. I wouldn't worry about it much at all.

[blissful_maia]

Seems ridiculous to me! I would think that measuring ahead (or behind) all throughout pregnancy would be more of a concern for midwives (low fluid volume, IUGR, etc. etc.). But large jumps and drops can totally be triggered by changes in positions, growth spurts etc. as a PP said. Hope that dumb law doesn't prevent you from having your HB!