Why is my baby bump measuring 3 weeks too small?

Question

I'm 29 weeks pregnant and I've just had my fundal height measured at 26cm. I've been told they will remeasure at 32 weeks and possibly send me for a growth scan, but what could this mean?

This is my first child and I used to be a gym freak so maybe my abs are just holding baby in well. I'm 5'7"ish so maybe thats a factor too.

Answer 1

baby is smaller than average babies, this has happened with all four of my pregnancys as i have had small babies, good luck with everything

Answer 2

It doesnt really mean anything. They compare you throughout pregnancy to an average of a couple hundred pregnant womens measurements. This is so they can guess how your baby is growing and developing.

But the truth is that no woman's anatomy is the same, and no two babies grow at the same rate. Some women are just small clear through out pregnancy, and their bellies are small as the baby has sufficient room inside their bodies and the uterus doesnt have to expand so far outwards.

The scan is simply a precaution to make sure this is normal for your body, and that the baby hasnt for some reason slowed it growth, or lost fluids. Which is hardly ever the case.

So, dont worry, theyre just playing it safe. The fact that theyre waiting nearly a month to do the scan should indicate to you how unserious it can be. Theyre waiting to see if your stomach grows any between now and then, and if not they want to check it.

Again, its generally absolutely nothing.

Answer 3

With my first pregnancy I measured around 4/5 cms small for dates for about 4 months! I was scanned and everything was fine so I wouldn't worry. My little girl was 8lb 4 at birth!!! It all depends on baby's position and also the layout of your insides. Bump size isn't an automatic factor in baby's well being as some people will naturally be bigger than others. Also if you're a 'gym freak' you're likely to have very strong stomach muscles which will be holding baby in!
Don't worry hun!

Answer 4

Babys move. Your doc should have wiggled the baby around to see if it made a difference for one thing. You can also measure this if it worries you. Measure from public bone to the top of the uterus (which yes you can feel easily). Sometimes babys are smaller too. But on the off chance that you have UGR your baby will need to be evaluated again.

Cnaces are there is nothing wrong at all and this is just one of those things.

Or it could be the dates are wrong too. A scan at 32 weeks will tell the doc this.

Answer 5

If your really worried go speak to your midwife or doctor and explain your fears and they should be able to help reasure you. but everyones pregnancies are different even your own. When I fell pregnant with my first child I never even got a bump never even looked pregnant untill 36 weeks and only put on 3lb. I went for growth scans every second week and they said he was a little small but healthy. But when I finally got to 40 weeks I gave birth to a very healthy 7lb 6oz baby who was just perfect. So I wouldnt worry to much because im a week off my next baby and im HUGE. So just relax take it easy and enjoy being pregnant the best you can. good luck hun x

Answer 6

Rule of thumb is they measure your fundal height by the amount of weeks you are. It doesn't matter if its just slightly over or under. Plus the normal pregnancy now is recored as 40 weeks plus 2 so maybe your dates are a little out.

It could be that your baby hasn't had a growth spurt inside the womb as yet, dont worry Im sure he/she will catch up. As long as its not a significant amount I wouldn't worry hun

Answer 7

The closer you get to term, the more 'accurate' the measurements should be. HOWEVER! Fundal height measurements aren't a pure science. You can be off because of things like, fetal position at the time of measurement, amniotic fluid levels- tend to fluctuate, you might just measure small- I've always done. Nothing to give much worry to.

Eat healthy and take care of yourself, as well as your growing baby.

Answer 8

Have you, yourself gained any weight since being pregnant, if not your baby is probably a bit underweight, I'm not sure if eating more now will benefit your baby at this late stage. If you are really worried about this, go and see your doctor instead of waiting 3 weeks for the next scan. But I'm sure their is nothing to worry about.

I wish you all the best.

Answer 9

I was told with all three of my kids that I was "Small for dates" yet they all weighed in at a respectable seven and half pounds!

I wasn't carrying much water, in fact almost none so that may have been a factor.

I wouldn't let them worry you too much. It is part of the pattern for them to make you feel that you have/are doing something wrong.

If baby is small they will monitor progress a bit more vigorously to make sure it gets the best start in life.

It's not long now before you help your baby into that amazing adventure called life. A wonderful, if somewhat painful, privilege.Good luck.

Answer 10

Scans and fundal measurements were a complete mess for me when I was pregnant, every new doctor scanning my baby kept saying he was big for dates they even put me through 3 solid weeks of testing for gestational diabetes - turned out my son just had a big head (and still does) maybe if they'd seen my husbands big head they could have spared me all the panic!!!!

Answer 11

Very little, don't worry. I've been measuring 4 weeks to big for alomost the entire time of my pregnancy. As long as baby has a relatively constant growth rate, you're fine. Be aware that different practitioners measure differently anyway, so even on the same day you can be week's out.

Best of luck.