Development in the End

I would wait to see what you measure in the next few appts before thinking your dates are different. The baby's position can effect the measurement. Say the baby is really in front so a bigger curve means more centimeters than if the baby is a little off to the side. Does that make sense? The big difference in lung maturity happens between 36 and 37 weeks. Many more kids at 36 weeks have lung issues than at 37 weeks. Keep telling the baby s/he needs to grow inside until at least 37 weeks!
Also, babies grow at different rates so you could measure ahead and then be right on for your original date.
The real bottom line is to make sure you're eating really well(harder to focus on with a toddler!), get sustained exercise, like pushing your toddler in a stroller, minimize stress in your life, and trust that your body, the baby are healthy!
Good luck!
J.
mom of 2, 21 and 15; RN, IBCLC

Dear A.,
All due dates are guess dates so it really does not make sense to talk about "so any weeks" What I mean is, your baby comes when she's ready and I recommend that you think of all of June as your due month. That way you won't have to worry about how many weeks.
Best to you,
S.

Hi A.,

I was told the same thing all throughout my pregnancy that I was measuring about 2 weeks ahead of where I was. Don't get your hopes up like I did! I had to be induced 4 days past my due date!! I found the end of the pregnancy to be the most anxious time as you are always thinking that you could go anytime. Hope that helps.

E.

If you're fairly certain of your conception date, then you are just measuring large and your baby is still at the 32 week development. I measured large on my second baby. Measuring further along can be due from several factors such as more amniotic fluid, the position the baby is in, or the size of the baby. My first baby always slept with her butt sticking out, so whenever I was measured I would measure further along than I was. My second baby, however, was big and was born at 40 weeks weighing 9 pounds, 6 ounces and 20.5 inches long. He's now 7 months old and a very big boy. Hope this helps!

You are talking about abdominal measurement? In that case, it is notoriously inaccurate: Different practitioners will measure 2-3 centimeters different on the same woman at the same time. The baby's position can affect the measurement, as can your position while being measured. It has nothing to do with development or dating or much of anything unless there is a large difference between the dates and measurements. If you are talking about an ultrasound measurement, they are also quite inaccurate at the end. Ultrasound dates in the last trimester have a 2-3 week margin of error. Babies generally come when they are ready within a week or two of your due date; your baby will be born on his/her birthday! Have a wonderful birth!

Not necessarily. Sometimes babies grow at different rates. The shape of a woman's stomach can't be predicted by measurement. My due date was 12/4, but my son came almost two weeks early. I suppose it depends on how much you eat. Its been a long time, but you don't forget those things.

Hi-my daughters measurments were always 2 weeks ahead of schedule...she was born 8 day late, 8 lbs 8 oz. She is tall for her age now, but pretty average! Good Luck!

No this just means that your uterus is measuring big. The baby could also be a big baby. But remember they ultimately go off the date of your last period to calculate the due date. Also remember your uterus has stretched already once so the elasticity is not the same. It is a muscle and like any muscle that has been stretched before it doesn't have the same elasticity as it once did.

If your due date needs to be recalculated, I'm sure your doctor will do that. How big was your first baby at birth? It may just be that this second child is going to be a big baby. I'm not positive, but I don't think being larger than expected means the baby is more fully developed. Again, this is something your doctor should tell you. You don't have to wait until you next appointment. Can now and ask. At the very least, they will take a message and someone will get back to you with the info. You may even get the answer right then.

Hi A. I am an OB nurse and mom of three.Babies inside have growth spurts just like kids do.So at 32 weeks your baby could measure 35 weeks compared to an average size but the important
inside growth(like organ development)is still only 32 weeks
along.We all make different size babies at birth,just look at the variation in birth weights.So at 32 weeks five different
moms could be carrying five different sized babies but they are all still 32 weeks development and still premature and will
hopefully stay inside until at least 37 weeks.You as mom are the best incubator for that little baby and the closer to 40 weeks you deliver usually the better. R. H.

A.,

My understanding is that it can be a combination of the two or you could be just showing larger. It can be miscalculated dates where your due-date is off or you can present larger because you are having a larger baby.

Congrats on the new baby coming!

Molly

Development goes by time, not size. Belly measurements are only one part of determining an overall picture of health. Many factors can affect the size of the baby, for instance genes or gestational diabetes. It does not necessarily change the rate of development. Please write yourself a note to discuss this with your doctor for a complete explanation.