Fundal height measurement question

This may be a silly question but I have been wondering. I have never
understood why they measure fundal height, with a measuring tape.....

Wouldn't it make a big difference, if you are tall and long waisted, or
short/short waisted? Or am I missing something.

Also I don't see how it can be accurate anyway, since with me at least, they
just plop the tape down and I always wonder how they know what to
measure.....do they just say ok at x-weeks, your uterus is x-inches above
your belly button? They don't seem to feel around for anything........

Just wondering, probably a dumb question, but Gee thanks OBs for being so
informative. (Yes, I am changing OBs).....

Jill

They're kinda sorta supposed to be able to feel where your uterus starts
at the bottom (below your belly button) and where it ends at the top
(above your belly button). Then they try and measure that length.

Lots of things effect fundal height - how fat a tummy you have for example.

I think the general rule is that your fundal height is supposed to
measure in cm how many weeks you are... but it varies for each person
and the OB is supposed to figure that out and take it into
consideration. Like if you *always* measure 2-3cm more than the 'norm'
then that is YOUR 'norm'.

The fundal height is just a ballpark kinda measurement. It's used to
pinpoint possible problems that need further investigation. Like if you
consistently measure 2-3cm ahead, and one week suddenly you're measuring
2cm behind, they'll flag that as a potential problem.

Jill wrote:

This may be a silly question but I have been wondering. I have never
understood why they measure fundal height, with a measuring tape.....

Wouldn't it make a big difference, if you are tall and long waisted, or
short/short waisted? Or am I missing something.

Also I don't see how it can be accurate anyway, since with me at least, they
just plop the tape down and I always wonder how they know what to
measure.....do they just say ok at x-weeks, your uterus is x-inches above
your belly button? They don't seem to feel around for anything........

Just wondering, probably a dumb question, but Gee thanks OBs for being so
informative. (Yes, I am changing OBs).....

Jill

Jill wrote:
This may be a silly question but I have been wondering. I have never
understood why they measure fundal height, with a measuring
tape.....

Wouldn't it make a big difference, if you are tall and long
waisted, or short/short waisted? Or am I missing something.

Well, that's the beauty of fundal height. It measures from the top of your
pelvic bone to the top of the uterus (fundus) and this measurement in cm
just happens to correspond fairly neatly to number of weeks' gestation, and
this is true regardless of your height. Now, there's a certain fudge factor
in the measurement--a normal measurement is equal to the weeks' gestation in
cm +/- 2-3 cm--and two practitioners will often get different measurements
on the same woman at the same point in pregnancy, but it's still a
reasonably useful indicator of how things are progressing. A fundal height
measurement that is well of where it should be or doesn't change for several
weeks can be an indicator of problems like hyperhydramnios (too much fluid),
oligohydramnios (too little fluid), or IUGR (intrauterine growth
restriction). It doesn't *always* indicate problems if the measurement is
off (I had a late u/s for suspected IUGR with Vernon because my fundal
height didn't change for 4 weeks, and he was fine), but it's a diagnostic
tool that can point towards problems before they become serious and that's
why they do it

Also I don't see how it can be accurate anyway, since with me at
least, they just plop the tape down and I always wonder how they
know what to measure.....do they just say ok at x-weeks, your
uterus is x-inches above your belly button? They don't seem to feel
around for anything........

They are feeling for the top of your uterus. Believe it or not, it's pretty
easy to find without too much poking or prodding g.

Just wondering, probably a dumb question, but Gee thanks OBs for
being so informative. (Yes, I am changing OBs).....

Nah, not dumb. I'm glad you're changing OBs!
--
Be well, Barbara
(Julian [6], Aurora [4], and Vernon's [2] mom)

All opinions expressed in this post are well-reasoned and insightful.
Needless to say, they are not those of my Internet Service Provider, its
other subscribers or lackeys. Anyone who says otherwise is itchin' for a
fight. -- with apologies to Michael Feldman

This may be a silly question but I have been wondering. I have never
understood why they measure fundal height, with a measuring tape.....

Wouldn't it make a big difference, if you are tall and long waisted, or
short/short waisted? Or am I missing something.

Also I don't see how it can be accurate anyway, since with me at least,
they
just plop the tape down and I always wonder how they know what to
measure.....do they just say ok at x-weeks, your uterus is x-inches above
your belly button? They don't seem to feel around for anything........

Just wondering, probably a dumb question, but Gee thanks OBs for being so
informative. (Yes, I am changing OBs).....

They measure from your pubic bone to the top of uterus... you can feel the
top if you poke around

There is some room for differing measurements I guess... But mine has always
been spot on... quite strange