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Belly Measurements. Got a Question or Two :-)
What exactly does it mean when the doctor tells you that you are measuring a week ahead. My doctor said today that I was measuring 33 weeks.
Now, I have only gained 2 lbs in two weeks. Does this mean that the 2 lbs are all in the baby? What does measuring a week ahead represent it terms of due date, baby growth etc? Bear in mind that my weight gain has slowed down significantly but I guess it’s still normal….and I’m bigger than 32 weeks?
Ladies, please help me brainstorm.
Now, I have only gained 2 lbs in two weeks. Does this mean that the 2 lbs are all in the baby? What does measuring a week ahead represent it terms of due date, baby growth etc? Bear in mind that my weight gain has slowed down significantly but I guess it’s still normal….and I’m bigger than 32 weeks?
Ladies, please help me brainstorm.
I know that being pregnant (and then having a child) causes us all to go a little crazy with worry sometimes. But it really sounds to me like you and your baby are both doing great!
My understanding is that these belly measurements aren't really that accurate in terms of knowing the baby's size. Up to 2 or even 3 centimeters off either way is fine as long as the numbers keep going up steadily to show that the baby is growing.
Even with an ultrasound, the doctors really can't figure out how big the babies are. My good friend recently gave birth to a 10lb 11oz baby and the doctors had NO IDEA it would be that big! If they had known, they probably would have pressured her to have a c-section. It turned out that she pushed that big baby out herself with only a minor tear and recovered very quickly, so sometimes less information can actually be better!
So certainly ask your doctor all the questions you have, but then try not to worry if the answers aren't scary. Enjoy your baby shower and the rest of your pregnancy!
My understanding is that these belly measurements aren't really that accurate in terms of knowing the baby's size. Up to 2 or even 3 centimeters off either way is fine as long as the numbers keep going up steadily to show that the baby is growing.
Even with an ultrasound, the doctors really can't figure out how big the babies are. My good friend recently gave birth to a 10lb 11oz baby and the doctors had NO IDEA it would be that big! If they had known, they probably would have pressured her to have a c-section. It turned out that she pushed that big baby out herself with only a minor tear and recovered very quickly, so sometimes less information can actually be better!
So certainly ask your doctor all the questions you have, but then try not to worry if the answers aren't scary. Enjoy your baby shower and the rest of your pregnancy!
I've had four u/s only :(
I'll talk to my doc about the possibility of getting another one. It'd be really exciting to see my baby one more time, and make sure he is growing good.
I'll talk to my doc about the possibility of getting another one. It'd be really exciting to see my baby one more time, and make sure he is growing good.
Pk- I would ask your Dr about a sizing US and see if he can find a reason to make it medicaly necissary for the insurance to pay for it. I have medicaid which usually limits things and I've had 12 ultrasounds so far and been getting them done everyother week. I have not had to pay for any of them because there is always a reason writen in my chart.
So in this case it'd be best to wait for the doctor to decide if I should get an u/s or not. Having to pay for an u/s, with how expensive things are here, would su ck. Not seeing my baby until he is born will su ck even more lol...
You can request more u/s but if your insurance won't pay for it, you might have to pay out of pocket.
A lot of factors can cause low-birthweight babies. Umbical deficiancies, smoking, health problems in baby or mother are just a few.
A lot of factors can cause low-birthweight babies. Umbical deficiancies, smoking, health problems in baby or mother are just a few.
Ok..I will ask. But I had an ultrasound when I was 22 weeks. After that, my OB said no more u/s unless highly needed. I can still request an ultrasound, right?
This is a bit upsetting. ALL online articles and books clearly state that the uterus grows to accomodate your growing baby. Yet I know this isn't always the case. The uterus can potentially be bigger than the baby...and I mean, way bigger. I wonder if this has something to do with ill babies or women not eating right or having health issues?
And why do I keep worrying about this? I should be thinking about enjoying my shower next weekend. Ugh..
This is a bit upsetting. ALL online articles and books clearly state that the uterus grows to accomodate your growing baby. Yet I know this isn't always the case. The uterus can potentially be bigger than the baby...and I mean, way bigger. I wonder if this has something to do with ill babies or women not eating right or having health issues?
And why do I keep worrying about this? I should be thinking about enjoying my shower next weekend. Ugh..
PK they should do a size measurment ultrasound around 34-35 weeks to see how big the baby is. You should ask your doctor about it. =)
Hmmm...I don't know but the fact is women will have a 40 cm. uterus by their due date whether they have a 5lb baby or a 10lb. baby so I would guess the answer is yes.
I have question. So the doctor is measuring my uterus. Can there be the case where the uterus is growing but the baby isn't???
On this measuring thing, do most women measure "ahead" these days? I'm asking because I've been measuring right on since they started measuring my belly around 24 wks, but everybody says that my belly looks tiny (and I'll be 36 wks this weekend). I'm not especially tall or anything (5' 6"), so that doesn't account for it.
I was thinking that maybe the "normal" belly measurements are from 30 years ago when babies were smaller?
I was thinking that maybe the "normal" belly measurements are from 30 years ago when babies were smaller?
By feeling I still mean using the tape, but they have to feel for the top of the uterus.
When the Dr. measures you with the measuring tape, they are measuring your uterus. They begin at your pubic bone and end at the top of your uterus, which they find by feeling your belly. When they say you are measuring a week ahead, they mean your uterus, not the baby. It really doesn't mean much of anything. They won't change your due date based on the uterus size. If you are 4 cm. or more ahead, they will do an u/s.I've been measuring at least 2 weeks ahead the entire pregnancy.
I got measured first time at 27 weeks and I was measuring 31 a whole 4 weeks further. I was then booked for another ultrasound to check on the size of baby but she was measuring right one about 4 days ahead.
I measured 31 again last time I was 29 weeks. I didn't grow at all in 2 weeks. They had me in for another ultrasound that week and she looked good still. I am getting another ultrasound tomorrow to check on her growth to make sure she is still growing. I can tell that my stomach has started to grow again I feel the stretching and tightening of my stomach again which I wasn't feeling for a few weeks.
Maybe that is why I felt her move around all over the place is because I was bigger. Now some days I don't feel her move as much but still all over the place. I know that the further along the less room they have so less movement but thats not the case with her. She just pushes my stomach lop sided and rolls. I can always tell where she is by touching my stomach too.
I measured 31 again last time I was 29 weeks. I didn't grow at all in 2 weeks. They had me in for another ultrasound that week and she looked good still. I am getting another ultrasound tomorrow to check on her growth to make sure she is still growing. I can tell that my stomach has started to grow again I feel the stretching and tightening of my stomach again which I wasn't feeling for a few weeks.
Maybe that is why I felt her move around all over the place is because I was bigger. Now some days I don't feel her move as much but still all over the place. I know that the further along the less room they have so less movement but thats not the case with her. She just pushes my stomach lop sided and rolls. I can always tell where she is by touching my stomach too.
feather,
That's interesting. Doc measures my uterus with a measuring tape. How do they measure by feeling?
That's interesting. Doc measures my uterus with a measuring tape. How do they measure by feeling?
They measure your uterus(by feeling) usually from the pubic region bottom to the top. The measurements are in cm and most often are around your week. It was the same with me. I was 32 weeks and I was 33cm top to bottom so measuring a week ahead. This is a good indicator the baby is growing. It doesnt mean you will deliver early.Amniotic fluid can also influence how big your uterus feels.
Unfortunatley, it stays the same... I know I got all excited too thinking I was really ahead until the doc rained on my parade lol :(
It isn't accurate towards the end because babies sizes vary so much. For example, I had my size/weight ultrasound done on Friday. I was still 34 weeks and they are estimating him to be 6 lbs and some change...lol. I think average for 34 weeks was 4.5 pounds which I measured at 31 weeks. So, I was measuring around 34 weeks when I was about 31 weeks. Some babies are born at 39-40 weeks at 6 lbs. I was a two weeks past due when I was born and weighed 6 lbs. That is perfectly fine. Some babies are born at 38 weeks at 8 pounds, some at 37 weeks at 8 pounds, or 40 weeks at 7 lbs. If your baby is measuring bigger than the average baby it's going to say you are farther along than you are. Make sense?
Even though my baby is big enough, it doesn't mean that if he is born now he would be OK. Lung development is still questionable, baby may have jaundice if born at 35 weeks, and also babies have a hard time controling their own body tempurture until 37 weeks. So, keeping the due date the same is best.
It isn't accurate towards the end because babies sizes vary so much. For example, I had my size/weight ultrasound done on Friday. I was still 34 weeks and they are estimating him to be 6 lbs and some change...lol. I think average for 34 weeks was 4.5 pounds which I measured at 31 weeks. So, I was measuring around 34 weeks when I was about 31 weeks. Some babies are born at 39-40 weeks at 6 lbs. I was a two weeks past due when I was born and weighed 6 lbs. That is perfectly fine. Some babies are born at 38 weeks at 8 pounds, some at 37 weeks at 8 pounds, or 40 weeks at 7 lbs. If your baby is measuring bigger than the average baby it's going to say you are farther along than you are. Make sense?
Even though my baby is big enough, it doesn't mean that if he is born now he would be OK. Lung development is still questionable, baby may have jaundice if born at 35 weeks, and also babies have a hard time controling their own body tempurture until 37 weeks. So, keeping the due date the same is best.
Heather,
So besides having a big boy, my due date will most likely stay the same then?
So this doesn't mean that I will most likely give birth a week before my due date? Do you see where I'm coming from here? LOL I'm so ready to push him out hahahaha...
Why is it hard to determine a due date towards the end? I was completely mistaken then. I thought that as you get closer to 40 weeks the measurements are more accurate. Thanks for mentioning that point.
So besides having a big boy, my due date will most likely stay the same then?
So this doesn't mean that I will most likely give birth a week before my due date? Do you see where I'm coming from here? LOL I'm so ready to push him out hahahaha...
Why is it hard to determine a due date towards the end? I was completely mistaken then. I thought that as you get closer to 40 weeks the measurements are more accurate. Thanks for mentioning that point.
It just means you have a giant baby in there...lol. Means he is the size of 33 weeks and your uterus probably is too to accomadate him. They will not change your due date unless it is really signifigant (like a month) because all babies are different sizes and towards the end it's hard to determine a due date because of this.
I have measured a week or two ahead since 20 weeks.
Also, it's normal to slow in weight gain. Even if you didn't gain anymore weight the baby would take what he needs from you and still gain. =)
I have measured a week or two ahead since 20 weeks.
Also, it's normal to slow in weight gain. Even if you didn't gain anymore weight the baby would take what he needs from you and still gain. =)
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