Getting an idea of your baby’s size relative to his gestational age helps ensure that your pregnancy is going as expected and your baby’s growth is on track. What your doctor will do if you measure big or small Sometimes a baby may measure large or small because your estimated due date isn’t accurate. You may measure off by a week or two because of other factors, including your baby’s position and the volume of amniotic fluid on that given day. Estimations of your baby’s size can be off by a pound or more, and being a centimeter or two bigger or smaller than the expected measurement is usually no cause for concern.įundal height can be less accurate if you’re obese or have a history of uterine fibroids. There’s always a margin of error when it comes to estimating the exact weight and size of an unborn baby. In fact, research suggests fundal height measurements are often off by two weeks in non-obese women. Measuring bigger or smaller than the average is usually perfectly normal. Every mom is a different size and shape, as is every baby inside. How accurate is my baby's size in utero?Īny estimation of your baby’s size in utero is simply a best guess based on averages. And while ultrasounds are very safe, doctors recommend against unnecessary ultrasounds during pregnancy. But there’s no reason to have an extra ultrasound to estimate the size of your baby if your fundal height is on track.Īlthough ultrasounds are generally accurate, they can over- or underestimate a baby’s size by 10 to 20 percent, which may in rare cases lead to unnecessary interventions like C-sections. In the third trimester, ultrasound can be used to measure various parts of your baby's body to estimate his size and weight and ensure that everything is progressing as expected.Īs you reach the end of your pregnancy, you may be eager to know exactly how big your baby will be at delivery. In the first trimester, ultrasound is helpfully for confirming your estimated due date by measuring your baby's crown-to-rump length, or the distance between the top of the baby's head to his bottom. Ultrasound can also be used to help estimate your baby's weight. When will my practitioner measure fundal height and how big my baby is in utero?ĭoctors begin measuring fundal height at around week 20 of your pregnancy and at every prenatal appointment until your baby is born. An ultrasound wand sends sound waves that bounce off of your baby to produce the image you see on screen.ĭuring an ultrasound, a sonographer will take various measurements of your baby, which are then used to estimate your baby’s weight using a computerized algorithm. Transvaginal and transabdominal ultrasounds are another more accurate - but still not foolproof - way that doctors estimate a baby’s size. When Babies Develop Taste Buds and Start Tasting Food That means if you’re 29 weeks pregnant, your fundal height will usually be about 29 centimeters.īetween weeks 37 and 40, your baby starts to descend into your pelvis in preparation for birth, so the measurement of fundal height begins to decrease. Your health care practitioner will also palpate your abdomen to get an idea of your baby’s size.Īfter 24 weeks of pregnancy, the fundal height in centimeters is roughly equivalent to the week of gestation.
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Fundal height measures the distance from your pubic bone to the top of your uterus in centimeters. The simplest way to gauge a baby’s size in utero is to measure an expecting mom’s fundal height.
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How to measure fundal height: How does my doctor measure the size of my fetus in utero? Since measuring your uterus from the outside isn’t a precise science, it’s usually perfectly okay if your fundal height doesn’t measure up exactly with your estimated due date. Most of the time, fundal height gives you extra peace of mind that your baby’s doing well. Your doctor will compare your fundal height to the average fundal height of moms at your same week of pregnancy. It’s used to help estimate your baby’s length and weight. What is fundal height?įundal height is the measurement in centimeters from your pubic bone to the top of your uterus. Here’s how your practitioner will measure your fundal height and your fetus size throughout pregnancy, and why these measurements are sometimes a bit bigger or smaller than expected. Your doctor, though, has a few more accurate ways of gauging your baby’s size to help ensure your pregnancy is going as expected. As your pregnancy progresses, you might compare your baby’s size to the fruit or vegetable recommended that week in your pregnancy app.