customised fundal height charts

Discussing with my mentor today about ladies with long abdo measing small for dates etc. My mentor mentioned that mayb a customised growth chart will be appearing soon taking into accound of maternal observations based on 1- BMI 2-age and someting else.


Any one heard of this?

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I have heard about it on an american birthing programme and the third thing was height.

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Coffeebean xx


Student Midwife

We use them in my unit.. Will find the website that explains them for you x

ETA http://www.gestation.net/fetal_growth/fetal_growth.htm

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Duel X
3rd Year!
Moderator

Thanks Duel!

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Coffeebean xx


Student Midwife

I think they are FAB!!

With my height and weight.. If I was 36 weeks pregnant I should only measure 31cm cause i'm so ickle! hehe.. Hoping it works out that way hehe... Don't want a moosive bump...

I love having a play about with the programme creating different charts!

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Duel X
3rd Year!
Moderator

Makes more sense really to adjust your expectations to the patient .

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Coffeebean xx


Student Midwife

Ooooh we allowed to download it, dont want a scary man knocking on my door in the morning if i do...

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hehe yes u can download it x

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Duel X
3rd Year!
Moderator

They didnt have these when i had first baby in 2003 but when had second in 2006 they did one of these for me and put it in my green book.
I didnt find them very useful at all. Yes it was customised to me but i was measuring extremely large to what my growth chart was saying i should have been and i had to have a growth scan at 38 weeks as fubdal height was measuring babys weight as 9lb 11oz. Midwife was telling me to expect a 10lb+ baby (was pretty scared at this thought!) Went for growth scan and baby was measuring 7lb 10oz. When he was born 2 weeks later he weighed in at 8lb 1 and a half oz.
My sister was also told to expect a 9lb baby because of her growth chart and they were worried about her pelvis being too small (she is a dainty size 6 with no ounce of fat on her lol) but her daughter was born weighing 7lb 1oz.

Not saying they are bad for everyone but in my case i was not too impressed with them. They worried my sister and I for no reason at all. Not everyone is going to conform to a chart some people gain alot of weight during pregnancy some a little. Some people carry all around others all front. Think i may have waffled off the subject a bit but oh well.

What i am trying to say is in personal opinion i dont like them but i am probably just a small minority.

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Wolves Sept 2008
SM.NET Project Manager
SM.NET Wolves Student Rep

I think Fundal Height as a whole is very subjective and I am sure many will agree with me. I get the feeling that these charts do not take into account the way babe is lying(transverse lie can make a Fundal Height measure smaller) the amount of weight mum has put on, Gestational Diabetes so yes a big baby. I am only in my 1st year but hear it time and time again about how Fundal Height is subjective, I will let you know after these customised charts come into our trust later in the year.

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