37.5 weeks measuring 34? Cross-post

[ldsapmom]

I had an appt today and my belly measured 34 weeks even though I am 37.5. Should I be concerned? I know he is much lower in my pelvis than either of my babies have been, but my two babies were 9 1/2 pounds, and I can't tell if this baby is that big?

I did put a call into my midwife to ask about it -- I guess it didn't hit me until I left. I am sure she will call back after lunch.

Everything else is great, including movement, heart tones, etc. My big worry would be oligohydramnios.

What do you think?

[StarCat]

was it a different person doing the measuring? That always makes a difference. My understanding is that you really don't measure according to week after about 35 weeks anyway- so as long as you are showing growth and not going backwards I would think that it wouldn't really be that big of a concern. But I'll be interested to hear what your mw has to say.

[selazenby]

I'm 36.5 weeks and I measured at 35 today - my midwife said it's fine - she said that baby has moved down and that affects the measurements. I would say not to worry - but let us know what your midwife says.

[ldsapmom]

My cross-posted answer:

She called back and I am still not entirely comfortable, especially since she checked and said last week I also measured 34 -- but it was a different midwife -- do the measurements vary from person to person? (I see you answered that, Star).

She said up until week 36 you are expected to be 2 either way, and last week I was (being 36 weeks, measuring 34). She said after 36 weeks it's not really accurate as babies start to drop, and I know this baby is low and has been for a long time. I also only gained 1.5 pounds since last week. I know the weight slows down, too, at the end. Hmmmm, I don't know what to think.

I am going to call a dear friend who is a retired granny midwife and see what she says. I am a worrier, if you haven't noticed.

[MistyB]

As baby engages into the pelvis...the measurement will often stop increasing and can often go back a bit.

[DesireeH]

I was thinking that about the engaging into the pelvis too. Last week the baby was wayyyy up in my lungs and I couldnt breathe. This week she is much lower so I wonder if I will measure smaller. I've been measuring about 4 weeks ahead each time so I'll let you know on Fri (my next appt) if it's less this time.

[Geofizz]

(1) If you're still not comfortable with the explanation and you're still worried, go back and get another check. Your instincts might be telling you something.

(2) There are a lot of things that make the measurements vary by a few cm. I almost always have a contraction at my midwife's office right when I lie down for the measurement. Out of curiosity, we checked during and after the contraction and the measurement was different by 2 cm, made by the same person just 60 seconds later.

[spiralmg]

On Tuesday I had this exact same thing happen - I am at 36 weeks but was measuring at 34 weeks. (A new midwife was measuring me, but last week it was the same thing with my other midwife.)

After taking this measurement, the midwife felt to see where the baby was - and sure enough, the baby's head is REALLY low in my pelvis. This made the midwife happy because she at first had been concerned that my measurement was low. Then she said it is actually a really good thing because it can point to a faster and possibly easier labor. Also she said the baby seemed fine in terms of size.

I have been having a lot of pelvic pain in this pregnancy, and it all makes sense now.