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What Does It Mean If I Am Measuring Small Or Large At My Prenatal Appointments?

By Rachel Lacourciere, edHelperBaby

  What Are Fundal Height Measurements?
           Fundal height (measured in centimeters) is the distance measured from the top of the pubic bone to the top of the uterus.  This measurement will be taken by the doctor beginning at or around the 20 week prenatal appointment and will continue throughout the rest of pregnancy.  It can be a useful baseline for a woman who receives prenatal care from a clinic with several doctors, as it gives the doctors a way to evaluate the growth of the uterus even without seeing the same patient at each of her visits.  Ideally, the fundal height will equal the number of weeks a woman is pregnant; therefore, if a woman is 20 weeks pregnant, her fundal height should more or less measure around 20 centimeters.       

       However, as a general rule, fundal height is not the only measurement used by a doctor to evaluate if the size of the uterus is consistent with the gestational age of the baby.  Usually, if there are any questions related to the size of the baby, an ultrasound will be performed by the doctor to have a better gauge of the true size of the baby.

 		   

  What Does It Mean If I Am Measuring Small At My Prenatal Appointments?
           At times, a woman may measure small (at least 2 centimeters smaller than the average fundal height)for her baby's gestational age even though she is having a healthy baby.  However, it can also be due to several other factors:
  • The mother is small in size herself.
  • The mother's due date is incorrect.
  • The mother's abdominal muscles are fit and in good shape.
  • The mother has a below average amount of amniotic fluid.
  • The mother has intrauterine growth restriction, which is a condition where a baby's weight is below the 10th percentile for their gestational age.

       You should take the time to talk to your prenatal care doctor if you fall into any of the above categories.

 		   

  What Does It Mean If I Am Measuring Large At My Prenatal Appointments?
           At times, a woman may measure large (at least 2 centimeters larger than the average fundal height) for her baby's gestational age even though she is having a healthy baby.  However, it can also be due to several other factors:
  • The mother is carrying multiple babies at one time.
  • The mother's due date is incorrect.
  • The mother's abdominal muscles have been stretched out from an earlier pregnancy.
  • The mother has an above average amount of amniotic fluid.
  • The mother has gestational diabetes, which is a condition where the mother's pancreas does not produce enough insulin to breakdown glucose causing the baby to put on extra weight in the upper body.
  • The mother has uterine fibroids, which are tumors that grow from muscle tissue in the uterus causing the uterus to grow abnormally.
  • The baby is in a breech position.
  • The baby is high above the pelvis due to placenta previa, which is a condition where the placenta is covering all or a part of the cervix.

       You should take the time to talk to your prenatal care doctor if you fall into any of the above categories.

 		   

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