Fundal Height/IUGR - Updated : )

[montessori_mama]

I had an ultrasound today and my baby girl is just fine.  She's only measuring two days off from my due date, which is nothing at this point.  She's just breech, and of course with almost 14 weeks to go, she has plenty of time to get into a more favorable position.  I'm irritated with my doctor for entering everything into the system wrong so that it took me a week and a half to get an appointment(!), but i'm relieved that all is well.

It seems like every time I have a prenatal visit, I leave with some new fear I need to quell here in the 'ol cafe.  This time, it's about fundal height.

I had an appointment on October 20th and my fundal height was 19 centimeters.  I was almost 20 weeks, so that was fine.  I had an ultrasound that week as well, and my baby seemed to be the perfect size for GA.

I had another appointment today, at 24 weeks, 6 days.  My fundal height was only 20 centimeters!  It should be around 24, at least, so not only is it low, but it has also only increased by one centimeter in five weeks. 

My doctor ordered an ultrasound, but due to the way the whole system works out here, I can't even schedule it until tomorrow.  This is the first time it has been proposed that anything might be wrong with my baby, and I am beside myself with worry and hate this waiting game.  I nearly cried when the doctor told me he had to order another ultrasound - I held it together so as not to embarrass myself. 

I guess my question is - have any of you dealt with the same scenario?  Did you measure small for gestational age, and end up having no other problems at all?  I can handle reality, too - if you measured small and there really was an issue, I want to hear your story, too.

[blindfoldedlady]

My baby measured small the whole time after maybe 5 months? Lo and behold, she was a perfectly healthy 7lbs 7ozs, and 19 1/2 inches. They kept telling me she was so small, and not developing correctly. They were wrong. They were guessing mine on external measurements though, not ultrasounds. I only had one ultrasound. They did tell me once that if she wasn't growing, they would order another one....they never did. I also don't think they gave a shit, either. If I ever got pregnant again (GOD FORBID!)....that doc's office would be the LAST place I'd go. Bad experiences all around.

[doulala]

What position is baby in?
Was it the same person that measured you this time as last time?
Did they recheck?
Did they start above your pants?

[montessori_mama]

I'm not sure what position she's in.  The doctor did mention that it could just be that she's on her side, and I hope that's the case.

It was the same doctor who had measured me last time, and he started the measurement below the waistline of my pants.  He spent a long time on the measurement, and it seemed that he must have been questioning and rechecking himself, but I'm not certain, to tell the truth.

Quoting doulala:

What position is baby in?
Was it the same person that measured you this time as last time?
Did they recheck?
Did they start above your pants?

[montessori_mama]

I'm glad you have a healthy girl!  I hope my case is the same as yours : )

Quoting blindfoldedlady:

My baby measured small the whole time after maybe 5 months? Lo and behold, she was a perfectly healthy 7lbs 7ozs, and 19 1/2 inches. They kept telling me she was so small, and not developing correctly. They were wrong. They were guessing mine on external measurements though, not ultrasounds. I only had one ultrasound. They did tell me once that if she wasn't growing, they would order another one....they never did. I also don't think they gave a shit, either. If I ever got pregnant again (GOD FORBID!)....that doc's office would be the LAST place I'd go. Bad experiences all around.

[blindfoldedlady]

I hope so too! Good luck!

Quoting montessori_mama:

I'm glad you have a healthy girl!  I hope my case is the same as yours : )

Quoting blindfoldedlady:

My baby measured small the whole time after maybe 5 months? Lo and behold, she was a perfectly healthy 7lbs 7ozs, and 19 1/2 inches. They kept telling me she was so small, and not developing correctly. They were wrong. They were guessing mine on external measurements though, not ultrasounds. I only had one ultrasound. They did tell me once that if she wasn't growing, they would order another one....they never did. I also don't think they gave a shit, either. If I ever got pregnant again (GOD FORBID!)....that doc's office would be the LAST place I'd go. Bad experiences all around.

 

[doulala]

The position is my first thought when a fundal height is a bit off.
Your doctor did not palpate your belly?
You might try belly mapping to see what you come up with.
If this were me, I wouldn't worry too much.   I would see how it goes next time...    If it continues to measure off for a while then I might look into it.

Good luck!   :-)

Quoting montessori_mama:

I'm not sure what position she's in.  The doctor did mention that it could just be that she's on her side, and I hope that's the case.

[doulala]

Maybe this can help some, too:

Quoting montessori_mama:

It seems like every time I have a prenatal visit, I leave with some new fear

Worry is the Work of Pregnancy

December 3, 2007 by talkbirth

This is a concept I like to introduce in childbirth classes. I first came across the phrase “worry is the work of pregnancy” in my most favorite of birthing books, Birthing from Within by Pam England. I’ve noticed that women often feel like they shouldn’t have worries during pregnancy and that talking about their fears is somehow “dangerous” (like it will make the fear come true). Bringing fear out into the open and “looking at it” instead of keeping it tucked away and bothering you is actually one of the best ways to work with it. Another common concern is that your worries are “silly” or unfounded. It is okay to have worries, even “silly” ones! The strategy Pam suggest for exploring your worries is as follows:

Explore each worry with questions:

° What would you do if this worry /fear actually came true?

° What do you imagine your partner and/or birth attendant would do/say?

° What would it mean about you as a mother if this happened?

° How have you faced crises in the past?

° What, if anything, can you do to prepare for, or even prevent, what you are worrying about? What is keeping you from doing it?

° If there is nothing you can do to prevent it, how would you like to handle the situation?

 

[montessori_mama]

Thank you so much!  I will try that.

The funny thing is, I'm just finishing up Pam England's book now.  I loved the part about worry being the work of pregnancy.  The first advice everyone wants to give is "don't worry!"  We give it such a negative connotation, but sometimes worrying is the best way for us to explore and come to terms with our worst fears so that if we had to, we could face them with courage.  Such a good insight - that book is great!  These days I think of worry and the research and thought process that goes with it more as the grown-up equivalent of play therapy.

Quoting doulala:

The position is my first thought when a fundal height is a bit off.
Your doctor did not palpate your belly?
You might try belly mapping to see what you come up with.
If this were me, I wouldn't worry too much.   I would see how it goes next time...    If it continues to measure off for a while then I might look into it.

Good luck!   :-)

Quoting montessori_mama:

I'm not sure what position she's in.  The doctor did mention that it could just be that she's on her side, and I hope that's the case.

[montessori_mama]

Oh, and no, he didn't palpate my belly.  He always seems to be in such a rush.  I can't wait to transfer my care elsewhere.

Quoting doulala:

Your doctor did not palpate your belly?

[pumpkinpie778]

Got measurements wrong on my son he was born 1 day overdue at 7 pounds 4 ounces and 50 and half cm long.