Small fundal height (30cm) @ 35 weeks

Hi,

My wife (5.3 ft- 161 cm and "tight") and I are very concern about the
fundal height(FH) measurements.
She was always 3 cm behind starting with 27wks(23 cm @ 27 wks,28 cm @ 31
wks, 30 cm @ 33 wks)
We have requested an ultrasound at 31 wks; the obstetrician said not to
worry, there was an increase of FH at each visit.
At 35w4d (Apr/22) the measurement was 30 cm again and he decided for an
u/s – possible IUGR.
We are very worried and we would much appreciate if somebody can provide
us explanations these discrepancies.
Has someone else experienced something like this?

Many thanks,
B&C

criss72 wrote in message
lkaboutparenting.com...
Hi,

My wife (5.3 ft- 161 cm and "tight") and I are very concern about the
fundal height(FH) measurements.
She was always 3 cm behind starting with 27wks(23 cm @ 27 wks,28 cm @ 31
wks, 30 cm @ 33 wks)
We have requested an ultrasound at 31 wks; the obstetrician said not to
worry, there was an increase of FH at each visit.
At 35w4d (Apr/22) the measurement was 30 cm again and he decided for an
u/s - possible IUGR.
We are very worried and we would much appreciate if somebody can provide
us explanations these discrepancies.
Has someone else experienced something like this?

Has baby dropped/engaged? That can cause a drop in fh.
The measurement itself is not that worrying. I was 2cm behind at 28 weeks
and 6cm behind by 38 weeks. The baby hadn't changed engagement ossition
either. #2 was born at nearly 7lb. The lack of change may be more worrying,
but I'd suspect that the baby has just dropped rather than stopped growing.
I had an extra ultrasound at 34 weeks (due to another reason) but the
midwife would have sent me for a growth scan if I hadn't already been
scheduled for one. At 38 weeks she said "oh well, we knew you were behind!"
so I don't expect it's unusual to be that far behind. However a check will
make you feel better.
Debbie

"criss72" wrote in message
lkaboutparenting.com...
My wife (5.3 ft- 161 cm and "tight") and I are very concern about the
fundal height(FH) measurements.
She was always 3 cm behind starting with 27wks(23 cm @ 27 wks,28 cm @ 31
wks, 30 cm @ 33 wks)
We have requested an ultrasound at 31 wks; the obstetrician said not to
worry, there was an increase of FH at each visit.
At 35w4d (Apr/22) the measurement was 30 cm again and he decided for an
u/s - possible IUGR.
We are very worried and we would much appreciate if somebody can provide
us explanations these discrepancies.

Well, first of all, up until the last appointment, your wife's fundal height
measurements were within the normal range of variation and not "discrepant"
at all. A normal fundal height measurement is equal to the weeks of
gestation +/- 2-3 cm. Your doctor was correct in stating that her
measurements up until the last appointment were not a cause for concern.

He was also right to order an u/s when she did not gain any fundal height
between the last appointment and this one. That *is* a possible indication
of IUGR and bears looking into. But it is only a possible indication, not a
certainty. It is just as likely, at this stage of gestation, that the reason
she didn't gain fundal height is that the baby has dropped farther into the
pelvis and therefore the external measurement hasn't changed despite normal
growth on the part of the baby. Every woman carries her babies differently
(sometimes, one woman even carries different babies differently), and fundal
height measurements, while accurate for populations, can suggest problems
where none exist for individual women.

Has someone else experienced something like this?

I have had two similar experiences that may be reassuring.

With my first baby, my fundal height measurement actually *decreased*
between my 31wk and 33wk appointments. An u/s was ordered and baby was found

to be completely normal in size. He was born at 41w4d weighing a perfectly
average 8 lbs.

With my third baby, my fundal height didn't change at all between 33 and 37
weeks (it was stuck at 33). The ultrasound at 37 weeks showed a slightly
larger than average for gestational age fetus, and he was born a 40w2d
weighing 7 lbs. 15 oz. (By 38 weeks, my fundal height measurement had
climbed to 36cm, back to within the normal range of variation.)

IOW, don't be too freaked out. It's probably more likely than not that it is
just the way she is carrying and there is nothing wrong.
--
Be well, Barbara

Hi B&C

I am going through exactly the same thing. I was measuring 2 cm behind so
my midwife sent me off for a growth scan on Thursday and everything is
lovely and normal. The midwife told me that it could be that the baby is
just hiding. I am also 5'3" and was a little on the skinny side when I got
pregnant (not any more...)

The scan did show that my baby has dropped too - in fact to get a scan of
his head she was scanning right on my pubic hair line (sorry if TMI).

When is your scan?

Good luck
Camille
37 weeks and counting...


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Hi Camille,

We did the u/s on Friday (Apr/24). The technician said everything looks
OK. We have to wait next week to talk to the obstetrician.

I have posted here all the measurements:

http://www.talkaboutparenting.com/gr...es/717121.html

Many thanks and gool luck, too
B&C

I'm glad all is well! It's such a worry at times.

Thanks for the *gool* luck....I heard that's the best kind :-)))

Cam

"criss72" wrote in message
lkaboutparenting.com...
Hi Camille,

We did the u/s on Friday (Apr/24). The technician said everything looks
OK. We have to wait next week to talk to the obstetrician.

I have posted here all the measurements:


http://www.talkaboutparenting.com/gr...essages/717121.
html

Many thanks and gool luck, too
B&C




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