Midwives: measuring abdominal girth?

[MsBlack]

Good Morning--

I am wondering if any of you measure abdominal girth during pregnancy along with fundal height.

Why or why not? What benefits or bummers do you see this providing?

If you do this, do you do it routinely with all moms? Or are there particular circumstances in which you feel it is necessary?

Thanks!

[Peppamint]

: because I've never heard of measuring this way except measuring momma's belly with toilet paper at baby showers!!

[nashvillemidwife]

I start at 40 weeks to keep an eye on my postdates mamas. Decreased girth is a warning sign of diminishing fluid volume.

[sweetsadie77]

I don't measure abdominal girth at prenatal visits.

I don't because it wasn't part of my training and I haven't seen any research that it improves outcomes to do so. I wouldn't know what to do clinically with this information so I don't collect it.

On a non-clinical level, I hope that women find visits with me enjoyable, and I personally wouldn't enjoy going anywhere where I knew a tape measure was going to be going around my girth .

[MsBlack]

"On a non-clinical level, I hope that women find visits with me enjoyable, and I personally wouldn't enjoy going anywhere where I knew a tape measure was going to be going around my girth ."

I am SO totally with you on that! laughup

As for diminished fluid volume, I just spoke with another mw who agrees with this (girth measure--from 24wks onward-- for keeping track of fluid level generally). But I have found that I can feel this with my hands on palpation (variations in fluid). Does it seem to you, Nashvillemw, that girth measure adds something to your sense of how things feel on palpation?

Just curious, thanks!

[MsBlack]

bump!

Anyone else?

thanks

[nashvillemidwife]

No, I can't say it has any bearing on palpation. It's just another "tool" at my disposal. I'm not necessarily concerned about AFV at 40 weeks, but it's important to have a baseline measurement in case it becomes a concern. I certainly don't do it routinely beginning at 24 weeks!

[MamaRabbit]

I remember reading somewhere that with twins it helps to check on growth, especially if the mother doesn't always increase in cm. vertically. But horizontally (girth) it should continue? But that's specific to twins. Though I guess it would help in suspected twins as well.