Dr. Marjorie Greenfield
Specializing in pregnancy and birth.
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 Ask Dr. Greenfield
Worried about Large Fundal Height Measurements | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Greenfield,
Hello, my name is Kimberly, and I went to the doctor yesterday, and they really confused me. I am about six months pregnant and they were measuring my belly. She said this is weird and got another doctor, and they said that I looked big for my month. Then they said the baby could be breech. I don't understand. Then they asked if anyone in my family has had diabetes. Please explain to me what they are talking about. Thanks.— Kimberly S. in Killeen, Texas | | | ANSWER |
May 23, 2001 | | | Dear Kimberly,
There are lots of reasons why the measurements we take at prenatal visits may be larger than expected. Let me see if I can help you to understand the possibilities.
Fundal height measurements, taken from the pubic bone to the top of the uterus, are not an exact way to estimate the growth of the baby, but they are the standard method of screening fetal growth at routine prenatal appointments. In overweight women, for instance, and in women carrying twins, the measurements are very inexact, and we often have to use ultrasound to judge fetal growth.
When the uterus measures bigger than expected, the baby may be large or there may be extra amniotic fluid. Both of these situations are more common in diabetes of pregnancy, which is why they were asking you about risk factors. Alternatively, the baby may be positioned in a way that stretches her out lengthwise. They may have mentioned breech position for this reason. Sometimes it is just the way you are carrying the baby and there isn't any specific cause for measuring large.
Most of the time when we measure a pregnant tummy and it seems big, it doesn't turn out to be a serious problem. It often takes an ultrasound to sort out the possibilities. I hope you get your answer soon.— by Marjorie Greenfield, M.D. |
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