Measuring Large During Pregnancy: An Overview of the Most Common Reasons

If your pregnant then like most pregnant women the last thing that you want to hear from the doctor when you go in for a routine checkup is that you are measuring large. Measuring large in pregnancy can cause a lot of concern when you first hear it from the doctor, especially if you are unsure about what "measuring large" really means to you and the unborn baby.

In most cases the fact that you measure large is not a big deal. It is likely that the large measurement is one of a few not so serious issues that are truly of little concern. Most times the worst thing about measuring large is that when you tell friends or family members about the issue they are usually quick to assume that you just overate since your last doctor's appointment.

One possible explanation for measuring large for pregnancy is that your due date was originally miscalculated. This is not common if you have already had an ultrasound which typically is the best way to confirm dates. However, in some cases the due date is miscalculated and this can cause uterine measurement to be misinterpreted. In most cases, if you measure large your doctor will schedule an ultrasound to confirm the date that your baby is due.

Another explanation for measuring large in pregnancy is that the baby may be sitting high above the pelvis. This is often the case in a breech baby. Although this is not reason for alarm, if you are anticipating a natural birth then it may be necessary to attempt to get the baby to move into a head down position before labor begins. If you are measuring large early in the pregnancy and there is little risk of labor starting anytime soon then it is best just to wait and see if the baby moves into a head down position on his own.

Many women measure large during pregnancy if this is not their first pregnancy. This large measurement is often due to the fact that the abdominal muscles are looser during subsequent pregnancies than they were the first time around. This is not to say that you will measure large for every pregnancy after the first one, only that it is a possibility that is of little concern to you and the unborn baby.