Baby Bump Growing Too Slow Or Too Fast? Here’s What You Need To Know

Is there any cause for concern if your baby bump is growing unusually slow or fast?

Many people around the globe believe that it is possible to predict the gender of the baby by examining the mother’s baby bump. If your baby bump is round, it means that you are most likely carrying a baby girl. On the other hand, if your baby bump is pointy, then it means that you are most likely carrying a baby boy. However, any sort of scientific reasoning backs none of these claims. In other words, the shape of your baby bump cannot be used to determine the gender of your child.

But, there is one thing that the shape of your baby bump can tell you about your pregnancy.

Doctors begin measuring your baby bump once it starts to grow. The distance between your uterus and pubic bone is referred to as the fundal height, also known as the McDonald’s rule [1]. Doctors make use of this measurement to assess the growth of your child.

Once you have completed at least 20 weeks of your pregnancy, the fundal height accurately matches the number of weeks of your pregnancy that you have completed. That is, if your fundal height measures 30 centimeters, it means that you are 30 weeks into your pregnancy. This is another way for your doctor to provide you with a good estimate of when you should expect your water to break.

Your fundal height can also be used to detect if you are having any issues with your pregnancy [2]. As mentioned previously, doctors make use of your fundal height to match it to the number of weeks that you are pregnant. For example, if you are 28 weeks pregnant, your fundal height should be anywhere between 26-30 centimeters. If your fundal height is not in this range, then it is a sign that you may have complications with your pregnancy.

Although using the measure of your fundal height is not considered an exact science, doctors use it as a preliminary gauge. If your doctor feels that there are signs of complications with your pregnancy, they will recommend you to have an ultrasound and carry out various procedures.

The reason you cannot use your fundal height measurement as an accurate way of determining issues with your pregnancy is that there are times where your fundal height measurement may not reflect your actual fundal height. This is because a full bladder may make your fundal height appear larger than usual. Here are some of the other reasons why your fundal height may be larger or smaller than usual:

If it is smaller than usual, it means that you may have strong abdominal muscles that are helping your belly retain its original shape, you may have a petite build, or maybe the position in which your child is sitting in your womb is making your belly appear smaller than usual.

If it is larger than usual, it means that your abdominal muscles are weak; you may be suffering from obesity, you may have a narrow pelvis causing the baby to push outwards, or you may have had multiple pregnancies that affect the shape and size of your baby bump.

If you find that your fundal height is greater or smaller than the predicted value, you should not worry as in both cases, you and your child are still completely fine.

Fundal height measurements can be misleading. Even if it is a sign that you may have complications with your pregnancy, you can easily detect the cause of the problem by taking an ultrasound. An ultrasound is lot more accurate and is the tool doctor’s use to monitor the health and growth of your baby.

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