Baby not growing

[Rainbowbrite]

Hi again,

Have just had a very stressful visit to the Clinic. I'm 36 weeks today and have just been told that my measurement is only 33cm, same as it was 2 weeks ago They have basically told me that the baby must not be growing and thriving anymore. What is amazing me though is that my stomach looks a lot bigger than it did then, and everyone has noticed it. It has definitely changed shape though too.

To make matters worse, they are sending me for an “urgent” ultrasound – but I can’t get in to have this until Friday NEXT WEEK. Not happy at all So for the next week I’ll be ****ting myself and hoping that all is well.

I’m really scared now and don’t know what to do. I had all intentions of staying at work for another week, but don’t know if I’ll be able to concentrate or cope with the stress. That and we’re moving house tomorrow. Really don’t need this at the moment.

Any advice, please?

[Mumof2+1]

Hi darl,
Try not to stress(hard I know) I got big realy quick & my measurements haven't realy changed for a few weeks now but like you my belly has gotten alot bigger and different shape. Also if your 36weeks, it's possible that you have already started to drop and that can cause your mesurements to stop or even decrese.
In saying that, it is possible bubs is not growing much and the ultrasound will show if thats the case & if so they may want to induce you early wich from what I've been told, will be fine at 36or 37weeks. Remembering that they class you term at 37weeks. My advice is to do your fetal kick counts and if there fine don't worry about anything.

Trish

[Jamily]

I am now 34 weeks but at my 33 week appointment my fundal height was 31cm and only 1cm more than my 30 week measurement. The midwives weren't concerned at all - I was told that I had a long body! Apparently fundal height measurement is not as accurate as once thought and its used as a guide. I suspect that everyone is being over-cautious which can only be a good thing - I am trying not to worry too much!

Have a look below:

Fundal height measurements were adopted mainly because it was believed they were more accurate than just the caregiver feeling (or palpating) the woman's belly with their hands. Observational studies in the 1980's estimated that detection rates of very small babies by palpating were about 30 to 50% successful and by doing fundal heights this may be increased to about 56% to 86%. However, a small random study in 1990 found that fundal height measurement was about 28% accurate and abdominal palpation about 48%. More recently, a larger random study found that fundal height measurement was about 46 to 48% accurate, with abdominal palpation about 24 to 29% accurate.

At this stage there appears on balance to be some benefit in doing fundal height measurements. However, caregivers concede it is not always reliable and we don't really have any technique that is more than 50% accurate. Bearing this in mind it is important to view fundal heights as just a guide, with very limited ability in detecting unusually small or large babies. Even the popular use of ultrasound in recent years to estimate a baby's weight has been shown to be up to 10 to 15% out, or + / - 400 to 600 grams (1lb, to 1lb 6oz) and cannot really be relied upon.

and also....

Fundal heights tend to be used from about 16 to 37 weeks of the pregnancy, with their greatest benefit believed to be between 22 to 34 weeks. A 'text book' fundal height is supposed to equal the same amount of weeks as the pregnancy. For example, 20 weeks pregnant = 20 cms and so forth (up until about 36 to 37 weeks). However, fundal height measurements can fluctuate 2 to 4 cms higher or lower than the 'norm' for various reasons, with the baby still being very normal and healthy. The reasons for not having a 'text book' fundal height can include:


The position of your baby. Fundal height measurements are designed to measure babies who are lying in a head down position. A baby in a breech position may measure higher and a baby in a transverse position (lying across ways) or oblique position (lying diagonally) will measure significantly lower.

Physical differences in each woman's height and weight. The fundal height can vary between very tall and very short women. Also women who are very slim can measure less and women who are over their ideal weight can measure more.

If this is your first or subsequent baby. Women having their first baby tend to have tighter abdominal muscles and ligaments that hold their uterus in place more at the 'expected' level. Women having their second or subsequent baby tend to carry lower and may measure less, although during earlier pregnancy the uterus can be more bulky and measure higher.

Differences in a woman's family history and ethnicity. Some women tend to have smaller babies in their families and other women tend to have larger babies. A baby's size will tend to follow the woman's family history not the man's (contrary to popular belief). Women of Asian ethnicity often tend to have smaller babies when compared to women from pacific island or Maori backgrounds.

Different caregivers. It has been acknowledged that the accuracy of fundal height measurements is very much affected by the woman seeing different maternity caregivers at each pregnancy visit. Each caregiver will measure in a slightly different way, affecting the overall results.

The caregiver 'accommodating' the measure. Although not intentional, it has been noted that caregivers can tend to 'make the measurement' closer to what they would like it to be by overstretching the tape or making it looser. This can also make women feel better if they see that their measurement is 'normal'. Some caregivers will turn the tape over and measure the fundal height blindly before looking at the result to try and overcome this .

Sorry for all the info, but thought it might be useful and put your mind at rest.

[mummyb]

hello
i can imagine now scared you must be, but try not to get to upset.
if your still feeling loads of kicks (if your not i found the best trick was going and getting a really icey cold drink sitting down somewhere realy quite and drinking it down then put your hands on your belly and count the kicks it may be old fashion but it worked for my lazy baby.
if they thought it was really urgent they would squeeze you in or send you somewhere else they have a duty of care to you and your baby.
but if tommorow your still worried ring the hospital and ask to be seen explain how worried you are and ask if you could get moved forward in the ultrasound clinic.
if that dosent work go to your g.p and talk to them they will know you well enought to be able to tell if your over reacting or not.
dont let people bully you around cause your young ,explain clearly what your concerns are .
im sure everything will be fine but you need to understand what is happening and from the sounds of it someone hasnt done ther job probally ,
let us all know how you go where all here no matter what your going through .
good luck

[Rainbowbrite]

Well I have just had the worst night of my life I have not slept at all, and have not stopped bawling since i got up. Its probably just me being tense and stressed but i haven't felt her move as much as normal, and no-where near as strong. I'm pretty sure she has the hiccups as we speak. But i just can't help but worry.

I tried my hardest to get a scan early- believe me, but because there is a specialist on site they already have an emergency waiting list of more than 10 people. They said that I am at the top of that list so hopefully someone will cancel.

Might have to try the cold drink again. How many movements should i feel and in what time frame?

What is worrying me is that big baby's run in my family, so they have always been worried that it'll be too big. So do early arrivals, so i can only hope she's laying strange. Pretty sure she has begun to drop though because my bladder can hold nothing at the moment.

Oh well i guess i'll go sit down, have a cuppa and try to compose myself a little before going to work. If i stay home it'll just give me too much time to think.

Thanks again
Rainbowbrite

[Mumof2+1]

Morning rainbow,
I guess your as tired as me. Have also been awake all night due to extreme pain.
Very often bubs movements slow down and aren't as strong as you get closer to delivery. Usualy this happens around 36weeks. When you do your fetal kick counts, you should feel about 10 in 1hour. If you don't, that's ok. Just have something warm or cold(cold is usualy better) to drink then lie down & try the kick count again. Still don't be alarmed if you count less than 10 , it could just be that bubs is sleeping. Wait a few hours & when you feel bub move, lay down & do the count again. If a whole day goes by & you've tried to do the kick count a couple of times but still have not had many kicks, then I would go and see your doc.
hope that helps.
Thinking of you.

Trish

[pinkandblue]

Hi
I just went and found my card from when I was pregnant with my daughter. When I was 36 weeks I measured 37. At 37 weeks and 38 weeks I was still 37. At 39 weeks I was 38 so for 3 weeks I was the same. I was never told there was anything to worry about and had my daughter at 41 weeks and she was born with no problems.
Hope this makes you feel a little better. Try not to worry too much, everything should be fine.
Natalie

[H&B'sMum]

Hi Rainbowbrite,
I feel for you cause I know excately what you are going through. This happened to me when I was pregnant with DS. At 32 weeks I measured 30 weeks and was send off to have an "urgent" u/s as well. I was luckier than you it appears as I only had to wait 2 days for mine. If bub wasn't growing they were going to get us to 36 weeks then induce, as my GP said "better out than in at this stage". At the u/s the Dr measured everything really carefully and although bub was on the small side of averge he was still within the averge. Harry was born at 39 weeks weighing 6lbs 6ozs, a little small but still normal.
I believe it also has to do with the parents build. My Dh and I are both tall so I figuered that Harry was going to be long and thin, which he is. I still have people commenting on how small he looks but that's only cause he's not a chubby bubby. So if you and/or you partner are tall then that may have something to do with it. I know how hard it is not the worry you have been told something like this, just try to keep your strength up and rest as much as possible.
Good luck

[xkwzit]

Hi Rainbowbrite
In the hope of making you feel better, my OB NEVER measured fundal height or even weighed me. He did not think that they were important. He would listen to my baby's heartbeat at every visit and palpate (is that the right term?) feel the baby and check her size that way. With DD1, he did a late ultrasound to check the amount of fluid remaining around her and the condition of the placenta (was just a routine check though - he had an ultrasound device in his rooms). With DD2 even that wasn't done.

I hope this helps to put everything in perspective. Remember lots of very large babies come from seemingly small wombs (and vice versa ).

Cheers (and hopefully cheerier tomorrow)

[bubhub]

Hi Rainbowbrite

I had exactly the same thing with both my second and third pregnancies.

At my 36 week check-up (with my second child), they suddenly decided that the fundal height measurement had actually gone down from the previous measurement and that they needed to do an ultra-sound to check that bub was ok. They did manage to get me an ultrasound that afternoon, and everything was absolutely fine. The baby's head had just moved down further into my pelvis and so was taking up less space in my stomach and so the measurement of the fundal height seemed less. Baby was born at 41+ weeks at 6lb 11oz, which is on the smaller/average side, but when they have to come out, small isn't so bad!!

With my third child, the fundal height measurement was again low at 36 weeks, but I'd had a scan at 32 weeks where everything was fine, and so the midwives just decided that as they had a heartbeat and movements, everything was fine. Bub was born 40 weeks+9 days at a very respectable 8lb 2oz.

Fingers crossed that you have a similar situation and there's nothing to worry about. Could you ask to get a private scan just to put your mind at rest? Last time I had a scan privately it cost about $120, I think, and about $80 was refunded on medicare. This was done at a Southern Cross Centre in Brisbane - you'd need a gp referral.

Good luck
hilary