[mitintraining]

Hey ladies,
I am a doula with 3 years expereince. I also am a mother of 4 soon to be 5 children. I went in today for my 26 week checkup and my fundal height is measuring at 30 weeks. I am moving away from my wonderfully supportive midwife in 3 weeks and am still looking for a replacement mw in the new area, which is 7 hours away. My last baby was UA after 45 minutes of labor- they were all fast and furious! I am concerned because this pregnancy feels huge! I feel movment all over the place too. I was not previosuly concerned about twins, but with moving, getting a new care provider, and everything else, I am worried something is going on. I have not been in since 16 wks, and we didn't measure fundal height, but everything felt normal. My mw wants me to do the glucose test just to check for Gestational Diabetes, I have taken it with the first three and decided against it last time. What are your thougths. I did have a viability u/s at 13 weeks which showed one baby so perhaps I am just being overly concerned, and more than a little stressed! Thanks for any info you have.

 

[MamaRabbit]

An U/S at 13 weeks would show two babies. Not likely to miss one. Every pregnancy is different. There are many reasons for measuring larger other than twins. (Though I know twins would be a great reason for measuring larger!)

 

[mitintraining]

Believe me, if there was twins it would take some time to adjust too. Not that I wouldn't be happy, just crazy for a while!!! What with moving and all that. I am more worried about the Gestational Diabetes screen, the false positive thing. Also being this uncomfortable for the next 14 wks would be alittle crummy too!

 

[MsBlack]

I would not be overly concerned about that fundal measurement--your baby could have had a growth spurt, you might have a bit more fluid than usual....other things could cause that measuremt that would all be normal for a singleton. If you are really concerned, tho, could you just get another u/s?

 

[3pink1blue]

I'm not a birth professional, but I'm a BTDT (and major total wannabe midwife.)

I measured high with DD2 just because she was sitting way up high. I measure high with DD3 because she was on the bigger side - 9lb 10oz at birth (and my easiest delivery by far.) I measured very very high with DS because I had polyhydramnios, but there was no obvious reason for it and we both are and were fine.

I have always seen an OB (for various medical reasons) but my old OB had a CNM who worked with him. Sometimes I saw her, and she was far more accurate at determining baby size and GA by feeling around, rather than just measuring fundal height.

 

[Maggi315]

First of all, you can remeasure yourself or have someone do it for you, it could be the measurement was off, it's not uncommon for different people who measure to be off 1-3 cms. from each other.

Secondly, I agree that an ultrasound should have shown two babies, but they can be missed, we just had that happen with 32 week twins!

but most likely you are just carrying high and big. I delivered someone who measured 54 cm, with only one baby, a big baby, 11 1/2 lbs. but still a huge measurement, I sent her in for an extra ultrasound to make sure all was well.

I always measure big and with each pregnancy measured bigger and bigger, partly because of lack of abdominal muscles. I am always asked if I am having twins, I get so big, i hate to go out in public because of the constant comments. My smallest was 6'11" and my biggest was 8'10".

I wouldn't put too much emphasis on measurement, it's a tool like other things, but not an exact science.