How To Measure Your Stomach When Pregnant

What Factors Determine Your Belly Size

What does it mean if my belly is measuring small during pregancy?

The following factors might determine the size and shape of the pregnant belly:

First pregnancy: If it is your first pregnancy, you may tend to have a more compact bump as the abdominal muscles have not been stretched before. The muscles that hold your baby high feel tighter and more toned. Also, the bump is likely to be smaller than it would be in your second or subsequent pregnancies.

Second or subsequent pregnancy: The first pregnancy could stretch your abdominal muscles and make it quite flexible. Unless you are into fitness or you are an athlete, your muscles might not regain their original shape or tone back. So, you may notice a bigger bump than before. Again, that does not mean your baby would be bigger.

Amniotic fluid volume: Throughout the pregnancy, the amniotic fluid index keeps changing. The average index of the amniotic fluid in a normal pregnancy is more during the second trimester, while it is comparatively less during the third trimester. Based on the production of this fluid, but not your babys size, your belly may appear small or big .

Change in the babys positions: From the second trimester, the baby might become active and begin to move inside the tummy. This may alter the shape and size of your belly. For instance, your baby might sometimes move from one side to the other, changing the shape of the tummy slightly .

Next, we give you a chart of the average belly size during pregnancy.

How To Measure Your Diastatis Recti / Abdominal Separation

Diastasis recti can be a big concern both during and after pregnancy. If you arent sure what diastasis recti is its abdominal separation that occurs during pregnancy and continues both birth. This separation is completely normal and HAS to happen during pregnancy your core needs to separate to make way for your growing baby and also needs time to heal post birth. Also learning how to measure Diastatis Recti post birthan and the best time to do this is important.

Almost every woman gets some degree of abdominal separation postpartum. However when measuring abdominal separation it is not just about the width or gap of the separation that needs to be assessed, but also the depth that runs along the linea alba / center of your core. When I measure my clients for DR my focus is mainly on the connection or fascia/muscle tension of the linea alba rather than just looking at how wide the

What Can Impact Fundal Height

There are a number of things that can affect it. Not all of these factors have to do with your baby. For example, your fundal height measurement may not be accurate if:

You have a history of uterine fibroids.
Your bladder is full.
Youâre not lying on your back when you take the measurement.â

There are other reasons your fundal height may be bigger or smaller than expected. If your fundal height is larger than expected, it may be because:

You have too much amniotic fluid.
Youâre having more than one baby.
Your baby is larger than expected.

If your fundal height is smaller than expected, it may be because:

Your baby is smaller than expected.
You donât have enough amniotic fluid.
Your babyâs growth is being restricted.

Your fundal height measurement may also be off if your pregnancy is further along, or less far along, than you thought. Your due date is an estimate based on the last day of your last period, so it can sometimes be inaccurate.â

Doctors usually use the assumption that you have a standard 28-day period when making their due date predictions. Since periods and ovulation windows can vary, your doctor may have been off by a couple of weeks when first predicting your due date.

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What Should Your Fundal Height Be

Starting at 24 weeks, your fundal height should be about the same number of centimeters as the number of weeks youve been pregnant.

Your fundal height may be off by up to 2 centimeters in either direction and still be considered normal.

So, for example, if youre 30 weeks pregnant, a fundal height of 28 to 32 centimeters is considered to be a normal range.

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What Is The Fundal Height

Pregnant Woman Measuring Her Belly With Tape Measure Stock Image ...

Each visit starting around 20 weeks, you will get an abdomen measurement which will be logged into your medical file. The doctor will place a measuring tape at the top of your pubic bone and run the tape to the top of your growing belly . That measurement is the fundal height. in centimeters, it should measure about the same as your current week of pregnancy. For instance, if you are 24 weeks pregnant, you should measure about 24 centimeters.

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How Accurate Are Measurements Of My Baby’s Size In Utero

Any estimation of your babys size in utero is simply a best guess based on averages. Every mom is a different size and shape, as is every baby inside. Measuring bigger or smaller than the average is usually perfectly normal. In fact, research suggests fundal height measurements are often off by two weeks in non-obese women.

Theres always a margin of error when it comes to estimating the exact weight and size of an unborn baby. Estimates of your babys 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.

Fundal height can be less accurate if youre obese or have a history of uterine fibroids. You may measure off by a week or two because of other factors, including your babys position and the volume of amniotic fluid on that given day. Sometimes a baby may measure large or small because your estimated due date isnt accurate.

Causes Of Belly Sizes During Pregnancy

The size of the belly during pregnancy can also be the result of the amount of food you consume. A poor diet and morning sickness that prevents proper intake of food can affect the babys growth and this may show in the size of your stomach. If you have put on weight during pregnancy it is likely to show around your belly as well. If the mother to be suffers from diabetes, chances are that the baby might be slightly larger than normal and heightened sugar content requires immediate medical attention. If you feel that your belly size is larger than normal, and you have put on a lot of weight you may be suffering from obesity and this can cause complications during delivery. In such cases, it would be advisable to get your doctor to put you on a diet suited to your needs.

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Dangers Of Stomach Fat

If you are not pregnant, look into alternative causes of your fat belly. People who have wide waistlines are at greater risk for certain serious medical problems, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease and even cancer. Measure the circumference of your waist and determine your weight and body-mass index to determine whether you have a weight problem.

What Does Fundal Height Tell You About Your Baby

15 Weeks Pregnancy Belly Measurement!

Doctors use your fundal height measurement to test how well your baby is growing.

Its one of many tests doctors use to measure your babys growth. Your fundal height is compared to your estimated pregnancy date to suggest whether your baby is growing on track.

If your fundal height isnt what you expect it to be, it doesnt automatically mean that theres something wrong with your baby. But if your fundal height is on track, you may be able to rest a little easier knowing your baby is growing the way your doctors are expecting it to.

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How To Deal With It:

Youll probably want to invest in some different kinds of bras, which could be larger, made out of cotton, and underwire-free. Wearing a bra to bed might help ease the pain as well. Though your larger twins might look enticing to your partner, make sure you let them know that they are welcome to look, but touching should be kept to a minimum.

If you’re pregnant, your body is working hard to make another human, so you’re feeling tired for many reasons!

Weeks 25 To 2: Prepping For Labour

Youâre edging closer to the third trimester, the final stretch of your pregnancy! If you donât think you have much of a pregnancy belly yet, that may change quickly. Your baby is developing rapidly at this pointâmost baby development occurs in the final trimesterâwhich can cause some body changes for you, too. You may feel more kicking and even experience Braxton Hicks contractions, which are often referred to as practice contractions or âfalse labour.â This is a good sign that your body is preparing for labour!

By the end of 28 weeks of pregnancy, your baby bump may measure around 28 centimetres, according to fundal height estimates.

Even early in your third trimester, you might start to feel Braxton Hicks contractions. These are one way your body practices for labour, working your muscles to build strength.
Your uterus will expand to the midpoint between your belly button and breasts. Although it may seem as if thereâs no more room to grow, part of the beauty of pregnancy is watching your body do amazing things!
Your baby might start to stretch and wiggle around a bit more, so you may feel some movement.
No need to worry if youâre gaining weight. Not only is it normal, but itâs also important! Weight gain at this point is mostly from your developing baby, growing placenta, and increased fluids in your body.

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Abnormal Causes Of Belly Expansion

In most cases, a belly bump during pregnancy is completely healthy. However, some pregnancy conditions can cause a rapidly swelling belly, requiring careful monitoring. If you experience any of these conditions, make sure to talk to a medical professional.

1. Large fetus

A larger-than-average fetus will likely cause a larger-than-average belly bump.

A large fetus can develop for a few reasons:

Male fetus: Boys are born 150 grams heavier than girls, on average.
Gestational diabetes: Maternal blood glucose levels can rise during pregnancy.
Maternal obesity: Extra weight around the abdomen can lead to a larger bump.

Folks who have a larger baby may need additional examinations and special delivery accommodations, which need to be discussed with a health care provider as early as possible.

2. Molar pregnancy

Molar pregnancies result from problems during fertilization, leading to an abnormal placenta. In a complete molar pregnancy, the sperm has fertilized a non-viable egg, and only placental tissue develops. Because the egg wasnt viable, no fetus develops. In a partial molar pregnancy, two sperm usually fertilize one egg, and some fetal and placental tissue begins to grow. This condition is most often diagnosed in the first trimester based on symptoms like uterine enlargement and abnormal bleeding. Most molar pregnancies result in miscarriage.

3. Polyhydramnios

4. Large ovarian tumor

5. Fast-growing benign fibroid tumors

Measuring Your Own Fundal Height

1Empty your bladder and remove your clothing. It’s not difficult at all to measure your fundal height on your own. To begin, empty your bladder and shed your clothing as you would in preparation for a fundal height measurement at the doctor’s office. If you’d like, you may choose to put on a loose gown or similar garment to simulate a hospital gown.

Because most laypeople aren’t medically trained in the procedure of measuring fundal heights and because, as noted above, an abnormal fundal height can have a wide variety of causes, it’s important to remember not to make any medical decisions based on the results of a self-performed fundal height test. If you obtain an abnormal result, follow up with a trained doctor, nurse, or midwife for confirmation.

2Grab a measuring tape. Soft, flexible sewing-style measuring tools work best, as they can conform to the curve of your stomach for a more accurate measurement. However, in a pinch, a ruler or even your fingers can work as a measuring tool. Typically, fundal heights are measured in centimeters, but if all you have are tools that measure in inches, use the conversion factor 1 inch = 2.54 cm.

3Lay on your back. Hard surfaces work best – soft surfaces can allow your posture to “sink” into the surface somewhat. If desired, feel free to place a pillow under your head.

Generally, before the 20th week of pregnancy, the fundus will be below the belly button, while after the 20th week, it will be above it.

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Pregnancy Belly Size Chart

This chart shows the changes you may notice in your belly as the baby grows. It is an approximate chart, and the measurements and changes could vary from one woman to another .

Month/week
No change in belly size The fetus is just about the size of ¼ inch
Second month	A firm belly, not a lot of difference in the belly size The fetus size is about one inch
Third month	A tiny bump starts to appear at the bottom The fetus is about four inches
Fourth month	The belly grows and is noticeable The fetus is about six inches
Fifth month	The belly is pronounced it is visible, and the shape may vary. Some are high, some low, and some bulge at the middle The baby may grow to about ten inches
Sixth month	The belly grows double the size and looks similar to a basketball The baby grows to about 12 inches
Seventh month	The babys growth gets slower, and the belly size may be constant or increase The baby is now about 14 inches
Eighth month	The belly size is the same, but it looks bigger The baby would grow up to 18 inches
Ninth month	The belly looks curvy and bigger The baby would be about 18-20 inches

In case you do not notice the above changes, do not panic or assume something is wrong. Check with the midwife or doctor if youre worried about the shape or size of the belly.

What If Fundal Height Is Low

There are several reasons for a low fundal height. It indicates that the fetus is small, considering its gestational age. This may be no cause for concern.

However, in other cases, it may suggest that there is intrauterine growth restriction. Without effective treatment, this can cause mortality for the fetus and the pregnant person.

Another possible cause of a low fundal height is oligohydramnios. This refers to having too little amniotic fluid around the fetus. Without treatment, this can cause complications.

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Does Fundal Height Predict The Due Date

Healthcare providers don’t use fundal height to measure your due date. Fundal height is used to track how big or small your baby is compared to their gestational age. The best way to determine your baby’s due date is to count 40 weeks from the first day of your last menstrual period. Healthcare providers often use the first-trimester ultrasound to help determine gestational age and due date.

A Lack Of Internal Space

How to measure your own fundus during pregnancy

As your uterus will expand with your baby, certain other organs of your body like the placenta and the intestines will compromise with their individual positions. As your uterus will grow, your uterus may be pushed behind it. This may make your belly appear bigger or similar to the size of the baby. And, in case the intestines may find a place near the uterus edges, the belly may look bulged out from the sides as well.

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Gas And Pregnancy Bloating

Changes in your gastrointestinal tract are a normal part of pregnancy. Excessive gas and bloating affect lots of people, especially in the first trimester. Pregnant people may also experience constipation, especially by the second trimester. This is because of hormones that relax the intestinal muscles and the pressure of the expanding uterus on the intestines. As a result, food and waste move more slowly through your system. Increased protein intake and pregnancy vitamins with iron may also contribute to constipation.

How Accurate Is Fundal Height Measurement

Fundal height is one of the simplest and least invasive tools for tracking your baby’s growth. It can be the first indication of growth problems or problems with your baby’s position.

Your healthcare provider will order an ultrasound if your fundal height is concerning. Ultrasounds are more accurate at predicting your baby’s size, but are only recommended two times during pregnancy .

Nothing is 100% accurate when it comes to estimating your baby’s size in utero. It’s common for your baby’s size to be off by a centimeter or two. Your healthcare provider will do further testing if there is a reason to be concerned.

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From Conception To 12 Weeks

From conception to 12 weeks of pregnancy the uterus is contained within the bones of the pelvis and cannot be felt through the belly. After about 12 weeks, the uterus is large enough to be felt above the pelvis by your caregiver , usually just being able to touch the very top of the uterus or fundus.

Some women having second+ babies find their uterus is a little more bulky from previous pregnancies, making it being able to be felt earlier, possibly after about 10 or 11 weeks. This is also the case if you are having twins or more. If you feel you are 12 weeks pregnant or more and your uterus cannot be felt by your caregiver, it may be that you are not as far pregnant as you first calculated, or perhaps it is a physical sign of a missed miscarriage.