I went to my 28 week appt this morning, had my glucose screening test, and then my OB appt -- the OB says I am measuring 2 weeks ahead. A month ago it was 1 week. She said if I measure ahead at the next appointment, they will do an ultrasound to find out why....BUT my next appointment is not for FOUR WEEKS! I just don't know if I can wait that long :( I exercise pretty much daily about an hour (cardio, circuit training, spinning, running), do not have any signs of excess fluid retention (still wearing my engagement and wedding rings that I had to give up at 28 weeks last time around due to summer hand swelling), etc. My abdominal muscles are not lax and I am not fat (both of which throw off measurements). Any advice? Stories to share? I get the results of my glucose screening test Monday but since I didn't have gestational diabetes with my other 2 kiddos, I am not expecting to have an issue here.
Thanks mamas!
MORE INFO: I am not looking for an impact on my due date- I know my date is right. I also just got permission from my OB to go 2 weeks late if necessary to do a VBAC (1st was vaginal, 2nd was c-section due to short cord...this baby's cord is great). Baby will come when it comes....was more worried about the things I saw that excess amniotic fluid can cause the big for size thing and that it could mean a sucking/swallowing problem for baby :(
Don't worry, just keep doing what you are doing. They thought my first baby was going to be more than a pound heavier than he turned out to be. I had a lot and I mean a lot of amniotic fluid. That little guy had no problem swimming and bouncing around to the very end, he never dropped either. Health baby. The measuring is very inaccurate and the ultrasounds also have an over/under.
With my first, I measured right on to even on the small side. With my second, I was measuring big. Once I got classified as "high risk" (only because my first was a bit premature and the Drs never knew why), I got lots of ultrasounds and the baby was also measuring a couple weeks big based on her leg bone. Turns out the baby was just going to be on the big side (for me).
She was born 3 weeks early and weighed over 7 lbs. I can't imagine what she would have been if she'd gone to term.
So, there could be lots of non-scary reasons why you're measuring a bit on the larger side. If your Dr isn't overly concerned, just keep doing what you're doing. Measuring the outside is not the most accurate anymore...it's just a general guide.
I wouldn't worry too much about it. I measured ahead with both of my sons. Which resulted in me getting a 37 week u/s to determine if there was a risk for a vaginal delivery (which there wasn't). I didn't have any issues (gestational diabetes, excess fluid). My kiddos were 9lb 1oz - 2 days past due date & 8lbs 7oz - 1 week before due date. So not HUGE, but not tiny either. Honestly, sometimes it is all how you carry.
I measured big, and then bigger, and then bigger..... got sent for a Level 2 ultrasound and was told at 37 weeks that I did have excessive amniotic fluid and a big ol' baby.... Dr. said "C SECTION RIGHT AWAY" ... midwife said.... 'relax, let's just wait and see" ..... a week and a half later (@38.5 weeks) induced by midwife.... (we knew that girl was big) vaginally delivered a 10lb 7 oz baby girl..... no sucking/swallowing problems at all..... exclusively breastfed from day 1..... hope it all goes smoothly for ya!
Good Luck!!!
I am a midwife. It is perfectly normal to measure 2 weeks ahead or 2 weeks behind. Babies go through growth spurts just like people. Don't worry. You are fine. Doctors love to scare women with all their poking, prodding and unneccessary testing.
Lisa
Exact same situation w/ my last pregnancy, also 3rd baby. I did end up having U/S, ended up just big baby. I delivered week early, due to previous c-sections & his size. He was almost 9#'.
Are they sure there's not two in there? I'm only 1/2 kidding.
I always measured bigger than I was in weeks because I'm so short (5 foot 2) and I have long legs and a short torso. Emphasis on ALWAYS measured bigger... and every single one of my kiddos came past their due dates.
Measuring big in the belly would not be related to gestational diabetes, so don't worry about that ;)
MY first suggestion is ....relax...it could be that the baby was laying in a different position when you were measured this week...and that caused the difference in measurement. It is such an exact science....just a rough estimate...nothing exact. My middle daughter got about 4 different "measurements" through out the last 6 weeks of her pregnancy...it just depended upon who was doing the measuring, how the baby was laying, and a host of other variables.
I Would just keep the original due date in your head at the date you are shooting for...and if it happens earlier...or later..it happens!!
Good luck and congratulations!!
I measured 'ahead' for most of my pregnancy. I was 4 days over-due when I delivered. I wound up having a big ol' baby though...
Did you measure "ahead" with your previous children? The abdominal measurements are so inaccurate that my OB didn't do them unless asked. I always measured "small" but had big babies (9.2, 8.12 and 7.5). They really are just an estimate - if your baby is low or high, or in a weird position, or your belly is more relaxed from your other kids and stretched out more, you can easily measure bigger or smaller than normal, so I don't think you have anything to worry about for now. Wait for your next appointment, and if your OB thinks there is anything to be concerned about she can order the u/s and they can see if it's fluid or a big baby or just position and then you can know if you have something to worry about. In the meantime, try to not stress about this - there is no science behind the abdominal measurements and they can be very, very inaccurate.
I measured several weeks ahead for both of my pregnancies. And I had two "big" babies - first was 10 lbs and second (I tried hard to eat less sugar) was 9lbs 2 oz. And I'm not a big person by any means (5 foot three inches on a good day, average weight). I birthed vaginally - second I had at home with no meds whatsoever. "Big" babies are wonderfully healthy and happy babies who generally sleep very well. Everyone acted as if carrying big and having a bigger baby was a problem. I failed to ever see what the problem was. Trust your body! Afterall, it knew how to make your two previous babies, so it probably knows how to make this one as well. Good luck!
Haha! I always measured big with my last baby.. No worries, he was just 9 lbs. :)
Measurements are just an estimate. I wouldn't be concerned. Worry is not good for you or the baby. If this were serious the doctor would do the ultra sound now.
My daughter's measurements are not consistent. Again, I would not worry. If you continue to be concerned call your doctor and ask for more info.
For T.B. they use a measuring tape to measure the abdomen from point 1 to point 2, roughly the edges of the uterus. Before US this was the way they determined growth of the baby.
I am curious how your doctor measures you without an ultrasound. My doctor does an ultrasound at every office visit. I understand this is not the norm which is another reason why I so love my doctor! He measures the baby's head, the thigh bone....everything he does always matches up to my due date so how does a doctor determine your baby is measuring 2 weeks ahead without doing an ultrasound first?
