Fundal Size question

Hi,
I went for my 15 week check up and this was the first time they measure my belly. The nurse measured it at 25 cm. which was obviously wrong because she meausred all the way up to where my belly ended and the doctor first measured it at 18cm then changed it to 15.5 cm. I'm confused. I thought twin pregnancy was suppose to be bigger. Should I be worried. The doctor was not worried but of course with my pregnancy history I am worried. Has anyone else experienced this?

Thanks for you help,
Mindy

 

Hi,
I went for my 15 week check up and this was the first time they measure my belly. The nurse measured it at 25 cm. which was obviously wrong because she meausred all the way up to where my belly ended and the doctor first measured it at 18cm then changed it to 15.5 cm. I'm confused. I thought twin pregnancy was suppose to be bigger. Should I be worried. The doctor was not worried but of course with my pregnancy history I am worried. Has anyone else experienced this?

Thanks for you help,
Mindy

 

I never measured big until 20 weeks. my OB said it's very common to not measure big with twins until after 20 weeks. It just depends on the person.

I have a friend who's pregnant with one who has been measureing big almost the entire time, but she's deffinately just having one. everyone measures and carries differently.

don't stress about it just yet. stress isn't good for any of you, and I'm sure if it really was something to worry about your Dr. would let you know.
Michelle

 

I would not be worried. The fundal height is more for enjoyment in my opinion. There is no standard measurement for twins that I am aware of. These measurements are standard only for singletons. Every person has a different body and grows in different ways.
If your doctor knows your past pregnancy history and was not worried, then try to trust that everything is going to be great! Easier said than done when we are so hormonal!

 

I wouldn't worry! I have asked the peri and my regular OB and they both said there is a HUGE range of "normal" for twins. At 15 weeks I measured right at 15 weeks... at 18 weeks, I measured 29 weeks. At 21 I measured 34 and today at 24 I measured 36. But, I also have a lot of fluid in there and I just delivered my son 11 months ago, so my uterus is ready to stretch!

 

I wouldn't worry either. I didn't even know I was having twins until I was almost 20 weeks- never measured big & wasn't gaining weight!
However, by 36W I measured 48W.
Good luck!

 

Sounds like the nurse didn't know what she was doing! I wouldn't worry either. There are some cases where a very fast growth in fundal height could indicate a problem, but, like other posters have said, this measurment just isn't as reliable as it would be for a singleton. I had TTTS with my last pregnancy and measured full term at 22 weeks...that's really NOT normal! Since I'm expecting monochorionic twins (sharing a placenta) again, I kind of keep track of my fundal height to make sure I don't have a huge growth spurt all of a sudden (because of excess fluid).

Because of the doctor's measurements, let's just say you probably measure between 15.5 and 18 cm., which is not a problem at all. Also, a full or empty bladder can change a fundal height measurement. Ultrasound is a much better way of determining if the babies' growth is where it should be, not fundal height.

Congratulations on your twins!!

 

my doctor doesn't even measure because he says it is not very accurate, his method of choice is ultrasound.

 

I think alot of it depends on who does the measurements and how they do them. At 28 weeks the dr said it was 34, at 29 weeks the practioner said it was 33 weeks and today (4 days later) the dr. measured 36 weeks!

 

I wouldn't worry about it at all. I had measured several weeks ahead at about 18 weeks (maybe 27?), but then at my last appointment (25 weeks) I only measured 26 weeks. And I know I have grown! The babies are measuring right on target, so everything must be okay!
Helen

 

quote:
Originally posted by Michelle B:
I would not be worried. The fundal height is more for enjoyment in my opinion. There is no standard measurement for twins that I am aware of.


Or HOrror! My doc didn't even do them except for fun so we could get a good laugh at how big i was getting. The measruement is not helpful for twins but most OB's do it out of habit I think.

 

I would not worry. My peri never measured my fundal height, just did a quickie U/S every time I went in with more in-depth U/S's every 2-4 weeks.

What is important is to have a transvaginal U/S to measure your cervix length.

 

I didn't measure big until 16 weeks and then it was just by a tiny bit. My midwife only mentioned it in passing. We found out about the twins at 19 weeks.

 

Dont let measurements worry you. Everyone is different in the way you carry a baby (or 2 in our case)..

I only ever measured 2cm over my weeks and at 35 weeks, my fundal height was on 37 and I gave birth to 2 happy healthy babies weighing 6lb 1oz & 7lb 13oz.