Measuring Small at 33w

[BusyBee]

I had my appointment yesterday at 33 weeks, and the doctor (not my regular OB) said the baby is measuring small, the same size as last time, 3 weeks ago.
She gave me a referral for an u/s to measure growth before my next appointment in 2 weeks.

He/she has been moving and kicking (hard) constantly, and was even scooting around while the nurse was trying to count the heartbeat.

Until now, I have always measured on-target, even with my first. My daughter was born 8 lbs at 39w, and has almost always been in the 95-100 percentile (DH is very tall), so we were surprised. Have I been eating enough? My weight is good, they said - I've gained 20 lbs so far, and gained30 lbs at the end with DD.

What could this mean? My first instinct was that the measurment is just off (but by 3 weeks?). Maybe he/she has dropped low, but wouldn't the dr. say something about that?

I'm exhausted, and not looking forward to driving 1 hour+ each way in ruch hour traffic for an extra u/s if its unnecessary. Especially if it's only a couple of days before my next appointment anyway. Is this something they could act on, or is it just extra info that I can only worry about as we wait & see.

Thanks!

[KRL626]

I measured small like that and I think it is because of DS dropping low into my pelvis. He ended up weighing over 7 lbs. We were also sent for U/S and even they were off.

[Lizard]

It could very well mean nothing. I measured small at that point too, after measuring pretty average until then... I can't remember the specifics but I think I was measuring 2 weeks behind at 34 weeks and 3 weeks behind at 36 weeks. The doctor wasn't concerned because at that point the baby is starting to shift and drop and I might just have a small baby. I WAS concerned, but it turned out to be nothing and DD was 7lbs 12oz at birth.

[kimthebride]

My 1st thought was: different doctor, different measurement technique. Even it is technically the same, even just the slightest difference in where/how they measure can mean a difference in end result.

Are you doing belly pics? Can you or DH see a difference in your bump size or position? Can you feel a difference? As in, I can definitely feel my DD is fattening up in there and taking up more space...she's not quite as 'pointy' when she jabs me.

I recently read that there is a condition where the baby is fine but not growing as fast as it should, which is likely why they are sending you for another check just to be sure.

Hope its nothing, just an annpying extra trip to the doctor. Good luck!

[littlemia]

The worry with a small measurement is IUGR (intrauterine growth restriction).

I wouldn't worry, though, about one small measurement. Fundal height measurements are anything but an exact science. Take a look at mine (from what I could remember):

22w=22cm
26w=24cm
28w=25cm
30w=25?cm
32w=27cm
34w=31cm
36w=28cm (I don't know what happened here)
37w=31cm

The first four measurements were all done by different people, so I just figured there was lack of intermeasurer reliability. But my midwife has done the rest of them and they have all been small. My midwife never worried and I didn't start to worry until about 32 weeks but that's because I spend too much time on the Internet reading about worst case scenarios. I had an ultrasound at 35 weeks (not to check size, but placenta location) that backed up what my other 2 ultrasounds at 19 and 26 weeks showed- baby appears to be developing normall and is average sized.

I have no idea why my fundal height is small and why it didn't change some weeks. I've gained plenty of weight and my belly has grown, so I guess I'm just carrying funny.

I think fundal height measurement is kind of like measuring weight on a scale. Weigh yourself twice in a day and you very well might get very different weights. If you have unreliable scales, you might get different weights even if you weigh yourself twice in a row. You have to look at the average of the weights over time to make any meaningful conclusions.

[marchfamily]

I measured "small" through my whole first pg. I even had an u/s right before my csection and they said I'd have a small baby. My 9 pound, 1 ounce daughter was born at nearly 41 weeks.

I'd say get the u/s, just for peace of mind.

[Wrighty26]

I measured small starting around 32 weeks. At my 40 weeks appt I was measuring 36 weeks. While I was in labor my Dr. predicted that I was going to have a small baby -- he predicted around 6lbs. He was VERY surprised when my son was born and was 7lbs 13oz. Not huge, but definitely bigger than expected! I was definitely carrying low and I think I dropped pretty early -- I think it was hard for other people to tell because I'm tall with a short torso, but *I* could definitely tell!!

I would get the u/s done too -- but chances are your baby is just hiding out in there :)

[Dally]

The U/S will help. Although they are not always spot on, either, it will give you more of an indication.

I measured small at 36 weeks. There was no change from 34 weeks. They scheduled me for an U/S, and found the baby was very small and that there was restricted blood flow in the placenta. They estimated the baby was five pounds. They induced labor, and it turned out my DD was born at just over four pounds. What had happened was called Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), which just means that the baby stops growing the womb. They didn't know why it happened in my case (I think they often don't know). They told me they induced because we could better grow DD outside of my body, since the placenta was no longer working well.

It was all very scary at the time, but it turned out fine. My DD, while still slender, has grown fine and is very healthy.

I don't want to scare you because it's likely your baby is growing fine and this measurement was either off or taken just before a spurt. But in case it is IUGR, I wanted to share my story.

[Sebski]

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