Questioni am 24 weeks pregnant with my 4th child. i have been consistently measuring large for dates ( fundal height is now 32 weeks). i understand that it is normal to measure large after multiple gestations due to stretched muscles, however i assumed that as the pregnancy progressed the height would gradually even out until it was 'normal'. i have never measured large with my previous pregnancies, what could be the cause of this? thank you for your time.
AnswerDear Amanda,
Most often when a woman is measuring consistently large for dates the doctor will order an ultrasound to rule out possible causes. I would assume that this has been done, but I'll give you the common causes for measuring large:
-Your due date is off. (The ultrasound can help your doctor figure out your correct due date.)
-You have looser abdominal muscles than most women as a result of an earlier pregnancy.
-You have uterine fibroids.
-You're carrying twins or more.
-You have too much amniotic fluid (called polyhydramnios).
-Your baby is positioned high above your pelvis, which might be the case with a breech baby or if you have a placenta previa.
-You have a bigger-than-normal baby because of gestational diabetes. This condition is known as macrosomia. You may need to be tested to rule it out.
OR you might simply be carrying a big, perfectly healthy baby.
If the doctor has done an ultrasound to rule most of these conditions out and has determined that it is most likely your musculature to blame, it could have been the last pregnancy which did the stretching. Therefore, previous pregnancies would not have measured large as this one is.
I hope this information has helped you and answered your question. I wish you well.
Brenda
