"Measurement" question again

[Nannysbaby]

I posted a few weeks back about DD measuring 2 weeks ahead of EDD.

Today she is measuring 39 1/2 weeks but is actually not due until December 3 which puts her at 36w2d. Therefore she is measuring 3 1/2 weeks ahead of her EDD.

Is this still a non issue? She said her MW mentioned that she has a lot of amniotic fluid (DD words to me... "poly" something) I'm thinking she was told polyhydramnios, but not sure. That worries me.

Any info would be great. Thanks!

[bobandjess99]

My understanding is that anything up to a 3 cm difference is completely normal, so, for example, a woman at 36 weeks would be expected measure anywhere from 33 to 39 weeks and have that be normal, whereas a larger difference would be cause for concern. Also, that it is more about the PATTERN of growth than anything else..so like, if you have always been 2-3 cm ahead, then that is normal, but like, a jump from 1 cm under to 3 cm over in a few weeks time would be like cause for concern.

Sounds like you are measuring a little bit over but still within expected normal limits, and perhaps have a little excess fluid, but not anything to worry about!

[Reha]

Originally Posted by bobandjess99

My understanding is that anything up to a 3 cm difference is completely normal, so, for example, a woman at 36 weeks would be expected measure anywhere from 33 to 39 weeks and have that be normal, whereas a larger difference would be cause for concern. Also, that it is more about the PATTERN of growth than anything else

:

Also, here is something about the necessity of even measuring fundal height:
http://www.cochrane.org/reviews/en/ab000944.html

[MidwifeErika]

Keep in mind that the measurment is in cm. It is really easy to be off by a few either way. I think that being 3 1/2 off isn't too worrisome.

[JunipersMom]

Is the mom concerned? I've had moms measure bigger and have no issues at all - but I've also had a mom measuring big all of a sudden and turned out to have polyhydraminos with her babe having some pretty serious life changing issues. I always say that statistically it may not be anything - but if its you and your babe statistics dont mean squat.
If the mom isnt concerned and the midwife isnt - then I would think that just keeping a good eye on the growth pattern would be sufficient, along with a possible ultrasound to check for issues if needed later on may be a possibility.

[Nannysbaby]

Originally Posted by JunipersMom

Is the mom concerned? I've had moms measure bigger and have no issues at all - but I've also had a mom measuring big all of a sudden and turned out to have polyhydraminos with her babe having some pretty serious life changing issues. I always say that statistically it may not be anything - but if its you and your babe statistics dont mean squat.
If the mom isnt concerned and the midwife isnt - then I would think that just keeping a good eye on the growth pattern would be sufficient, along with a possible ultrasound to check for issues if needed later on may be a possibility.

Update:

She is on the phone right now telling me how she read about polyhydramnios and is very upset. I am encouraging her to call her MW to address her concerns.

[Nannysbaby]

Originally Posted by Nannysbaby

Update:

She is on the phone right now telling me how she read about polyhydramnios and is very upset. I am encouraging her to call her MW to address her concerns.

Should she request an ultrasound to ease her fears?

[dcgrl]

I have a hard time believing she has poly if she's measuring only 3.5cm ahead. if it would ease her concern at this point, she should have an ultrasound.

I'm 38 weeks, measuring 43. My fluid at my last ultrasound (3 weeks ago) was 15, which is perfectly fine--over 23 is poly. The baby is probably going to be big. He's also very long, and seems stretched out instead of curled up. I have a short torso and started the pregnancy overweight. I think all of these factors combined cause me to measure big. I'm having another u/s (*sigh*) on Monday to appease my midwives, but I'm not worried about poly or any other issues with the baby.

[turtlewomyn]

I consistently measured big by about 2 cm (maybe even three, I would have to look at my records again). My midwife (a CNM within an ob practice, bound by their rules) kept saying "this is going to be a big baby." Well, I went past my due date (which had been moved up by ten days due to an early ultrasound) and they did an U/S to check "if there is enough fluid". My baby measured 9lbs10oz on the U/S and my AFI was 25 (when I researched this later I read that a "normal" AFI was between 12 and 24) so I had mild polyhydraminos. The midwife told me to have a c-section, and when I went in to consult with a doctor (I was upset and flabbergasted) I was told that they had most likely missed GD (I later found out that my GTT was a 67, so not even close) based up on the polyhydraminos and the LGA baby. Well, I let them coerce me into a c-section based upon fears of injury during a SD event. I later found that ACOG does not support c-section for fetal macrosomia. It also has been suggested by someone on the ICAN list that I had reactive hypoglycemia based upon my GTT (which makes sense, as I have hypoglycemic reactions sometimes, and I am a total sugar addict and caffeine addict). Someone on here had told me to cut out sugar, and I later found out that my AFI had dropped to 21 (we had another BPP because we did delay the c-section to the following week, hoping that DD would come out before) possibly from cutting out the refined sugar. Well, I ended up with a perfectly healthy 9lb8.5oz baby girl, who had no blood sugar issues after being born (via a c-section).
Measuring large does not mean that she has polyhydraminos, it could be based upon the baby's position, or it could be just be a large baby. Even if she does have polyhydraminos, if it is a mild case, it may not mean an unhealthy baby either. Sometimes it just happens.
Is her midwife a homebirth midwife or is she birthing in the hospital? She could have an U/S to see what is going on, but that could lead to an unnecessary c-section, depending on her midwife. If she isn't careful about sugar, I would make sure she is cutting that out (I ate a LOT of icecream, and after the first trimester I also allowed myself to have a Mt. Dew, for a while, I was having one per day, I kept within the caffeine requirements, but I definitely think that too much sugar is one of the many factors that led to my unnecessary c-section.)

ETA: Do big babies run in your family? What was your DD's birth weight? I was my mom's biggest baby at 7lbs, but she smoked throughout all three of her pregnancies, and was restricted to a 15 lb weight gain by her doctors. I had cousins that were 9 and 10 pounders though, so big babies run in my family.

[Nannysbaby]

This is her second child and her first baby weighed 8lbs 4oz, which is good size and she knows that.

She is giving birth at a birthing center.

[Reha]

Personally, I wouldn't be thinking polyhydamnios with only 3.5 cm over the # of weeks. That is only 1/2 cm. more than the normal range. Even just a change in baby's position at that point in pregnancy can affect the measurement.

I think it is important to watch our words. She isn't 'measuring 3.5 weeks ahead of her EDD'. If she is 36 weeks, she is measuring right on for dates if she is measuring anywhere from 33 cm-39cm.

[Nannysbaby]

That's a really good point, thanks.

She did speak to her MW and she assured her that she was fine and that if she in any way thought there was a problem she would do something about it.

I was just with her and the little guy is kicking up a storm and DD told me that she thinks he is telling her... "hey momma, I'm doing great, I cannot wait to meet you in a few weeks, stop worrying."

[Reha]