8 weeks preggers.... how do they measure baby without ultrasound?

Question

i just had my 28 week doct. appt.: the usual, check for heartbeat and such. but the doct. said i wasnt getting anymore ultrasounds, unless i pay out of pocket

sooo...how does the doct. know how big the baby is? and when does he do vaginal checkups? i havent gotten any vaginal checkups; just ultrasouds and that machine that listen to my son's heartbeat.

confused.

1st time mommy

i meant to write i'm 28 weeks (will be 29 on sat.) pregnant, NOT 8 weeks pregnant

thanks guys! i was really trying to figure that out! so i guess everything is pretty much a guess until my son is actually born.

Answer 1

Normal...they'll do the tape measure of your uterus on the outside of your belly...they can also feel for position and general size of baby.

Vaginal/internal checkups come towards or right at the due date.

Answer 2

I was not expecting any ultrasounds after 20 weeks, but since they did not get good pictures during it, I had another one at 23 weeks. I then had one at 28 weeks because I had kidney stones and am high risk for pre-clampsia (sp) so they wanted to do a growth ultrasound. She was fine. They do an estimate I think when they don't do an ultrasound. Like all the websites and books tell you an estimate based on the average for how far along you are. They also look at how big you are measuring.
The machine that they listen to the heart with is called a Doppler.
I am almost 31 weeks and was at the Dr. this week. She did not do a vaginal either. I don't think they do them until the last month.

good luck and congrats!

Answer 3

Everything was fine, then there is no need for more u/s. So long as your belly is measuring the same as your week then there isn't a need to worry how big the baby is and they don't do vaginal checkups until the last week or two to check for dialation. Relax, sounds about right.

Answer 4

they measure the baby usually just by the size of your stomache after about 6 months...after they tell you the sex they usually dont do anymore ultrasounds unless there is a medical concern. when you get around 37 weeks he should start doing vaginal exams again.