Can measuring your belly actually tell if your baby is ahead or behind?

Question

I’m 26 weeks and my OB measured my belly yesterday and said I’m measuring ahead... but I’m overweight ( 195 lbs before I got pregnant and 210 now). I feel like it would be harder to tell from measuring when the mom is heavier. Does anyone know?
I’m just shocked I’m ahead because I’ve been eating very healthy and not going over calorie limits. My appetite has been non existent the last few weeks and I don’t understand how I could have a big baby when I lost 2 lbs from not eating enough the last few weeks.
Has anyone else measured ahead and then had an ultrasound show something different? I have an ultrasound at 30 weeks to see if I still have a low lying placenta so I’m hoping they will measure the baby then.

Answer

I measured ahead from the beginning up until a few days ago when I measured exactly on point. I’m 29wks tomorrow. Last week they sent us for and ultrasound and baby was in fact longer and weighing more than we thought he would at 28wks.

Answer

I feel that measuring your belly is far more accurate than ultrasound scans. With my second I was constantly measuring 2 weeks behind (and was on the heavier side) when my daughter was born she weighed 5 lbs 9 oz so pretty accurate for measuring 2 weeks behind. My best friend who’s on the smaller side was measuring 2-3 weeks ahead with her second. He was born about 3 weeks and weighed almost 9 lbs. neither one of us ever got an ultrasound telling us “how much” they weighed, but just by measuring our bellies could give us a guess on if they were going to be a bit bigger or smaller. So I think measuring the belly is the best way to tell.

Answer

Eating and gaining/losing weight doesn't correlate to measuring ahead or behind. 
Also measurement scans are EXTREMELY inaccurate! They usually vary for 3+/- pounds. So I wouldn't go off of that either. 
They aren't measuring your belly. They are measuring your uterus.

Answer

Yes and no. I measured ahead in my last pregnancy. And the doc was shocked to find that the baby was too small. Turned out that my amniotic fluid was above average and my daughter was below average in size so it made everything look ok

Answer

Not in my experience. My daughter was supposed to be small based on that. Maybe 6-7 pounds. She was over eight. I was high risk so we had appointments and measurements and ultrasounds up until the day of my induction at 39 weeks.

Answer

I will let you know on Jan 2nd.  I'm measuring 5 weeks ahead and have an ultrasound on the 2nd.  I passed my glucose test 🤷. I feel like my baby is already out of room.  I feel body parts everywhere 😆 not sure what's going on.  I gained 20lbs this pregnancy.  Keep in mind you can measure ahead if you have a lot of fluid too.

Answer

I was talking to my friend the other day about this as even though I think my bump is big, it’s quite small compared to others I’ve seen at the same weeks pregnant as me. My friend really struggled on her last pregnancy and has been told if she was to fall pregnant again she would most probably be in a wheelchair from 12 weeks on as her bumps grow so big and heavy. She was absolutely huge!!! By the time her due date came around she was measuring at a massive 60 weeks!!! Poor thing. And her baby was 9lb born.

Answer

It's just a guideline for them to follow. With my first my bump was measuring 2-3 weeks behind, but I've always been on the smaller side. They booked me in for another scan, and he was measuring exactly right for how many weeks I was. He was born weighing 7lb 11oz, and is now a happy and healthy 3 year old 🙂

Can measuring your belly actually tell if your baby is ahead or behind?

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