When I became pregnant I found my Doc had performed numerous checkups. The baby’s week measurement is one of them. It is done to see whether the baby measures ahead or not.
A common case is 2 weeks ahead.
But what does baby measuring 2 weeks ahead mean?
It means your baby’s fundal height is showing more than 2 inches, the number of its age in weeks. The baby’s fundal height is the distance between a pregnant mother’s uterus and pubic bone. It shows how much the baby’s body has developed.
However, sometimes this distance shows a different number than the baby’s age in weeks. Excess fluid in the mother’s womb or an overweight baby is the reason for this.
If the fundal height of the baby and its age differ by two, you can completely neglect this situation. When it differs more, the baby may face birth problems.
There are several possible conditions that could lead to a baby being measured two weeks ahead.
- One possibility is that the baby is simply larger than average.
- Another possibility is that the baby is experiencing accelerated growth due to a medical condition such as gigantism.
- Finally, it is also possible that the baby was incorrectly dated on the ultrasound and is actually further along in development than originally thought.
Go through the full page as we will explain more!
What causes the baby to measure 2 weeks ahead?
There are several possible conditions that could lead to a baby being measured two weeks ahead. One possibility is that the baby is simply larger than average.
Another possibility is that the baby is experiencing accelerated growth due to a medical condition such as gigantism.
Finally, it is also possible that the baby was incorrectly dated on the ultrasound and is actually further along in development than originally thought. The rest are described below.
When the mother has diabetes
If the mother has diabetes or if she acquires it during gestation, the baby can be measured 2 weeks ahead.
So, what would be the sugar level of a pregnant mother during pregnancy?
By Mayo Clinic Staff
A woman with a 10.6 mmol/L blood sugar level has gestational diabetes. In that case, the baby’s weight becomes larger, and it can cause him to have LGA.
Now, let’s move ahead to the next possible causes when a baby measuring 14 days or 2 weeks ahead
If she has a previous history of LGA
A mother can also give birth to a large baby (More than average) if her previous child was large. Chances are high that the new one will almost exceed it.
Because of maternal obesity
Maternal obesity can increase a mother’s weight and cause diseases like gestational diabetes, hypertension, and preeclampsia. It can also affect the fetal growth of her child. In the worst-case scenario, it could alter the baby genetically.
When you get pregnant often
If you get pregnant a lot, the risk of LGA increases proportionally. Your second child will weigh four ounces more than your first. The weight will increase until you have your 5th baby. Also, a newborn male child has more weight than a newborn female child. So if you are giving birth to male children continuously, the baby’s weight will also increase.
For over-aged mothers
A more than 35-year-old mother usually gives birth to a child with LGA. The rate of getting pregnant starts to decrease at this age for the lack of strength in women’s bodies. At that time, she needs to eat more, increasing her weight. So it causes LGA.
If the baby is measured 2 weeks ahead, will it come early?
No, if your baby is measured weeks ahead, it doesn’t mean it will come early. Babies come right after without maturing the gestational age. Usually, this age is between 38 and 42 weeks. A baby born before or after this age is called a premature or post-mature baby.
In a deeper sense: Gestational age is the age of an embryo or fetus.
The age develops over the weeks after weeks. from the first day of the woman’s last menstrual period (LMP).
The gestational sac is the first structure seen in an ultrasound of pregnancy at approximately 4 weeks gestation. It is a clear structure with a bright rim and is filled with fluid. The embryo develops within the gestational sac and is visible at 6 weeks gestation.
But this age doesn’t relate to the baby’s week measurement. The baby’s week measurement depends on its fundal height. The distance between a pregnant mother’s pubic bone and the top of her uterus is her baby’s fundal height. This distance equals the baby’s age if he passes 20 weeks.
However, this distance can be changed by 1 or 2 centimeters because of the mother’s height, the baby’s size, or the extent of liquid in the mother’s womb. A 30-week-old baby’s fundal height should be 28 to 32 inches. So if it is measured 2 weeks ahead, it won’t come early.
Does your baby measure 2 weeks ahead dangerous for your baby?
Usually, there is no problem if your baby is measured 2 weeks ahead. It is completely normal according to its fundal height. However, if your baby is measured for more than 2 weeks, there can be some problems.
One of the major issues is LGA(large for gestational age). It is also called fetal macrosomia.
Fetal macrosomia is a condition where a baby is born weighing more than 8 pounds 13 ounces.
It occurs when the weight of a 40-week-old baby is not between 8 pounds 13 ounces and 9 pounds 11 ounces.
As a result, the delivery process becomes harder and more time-consuming. The baby can also get injured during delivery, which can cause birth defects. LGA can occur when the mother has too much weight or diabetes.
Most of the time, the doctor and the mother can understand the symptoms of this problem before the baby is born. The baby’s fundal height becomes larger, and the mom’s womb gets filled with polyhydramnios.
How to prevent complications with a baby measuring 2 weeks ahead?
- Make sure to update your health condition with a registered dietitian regularly.
- If you have any kind of mental problem, contact an obesity specialist.
- Try to keep your weight gain between 11 and 16 kilograms.
- If you have diabetes while pregnant, try to decrease it as much as possible.
- Try to lower your blood sugar level.
- Take healthy food during pregnancy or during the prescribed period.
Related post you may like to read: how long can you stay 3cm dilated
Conclusion
So if the doctor says your baby is measuring 2 weeks ahead, it means it is healthy and developing according to age. However, you must contact your physician for checkups if the fundal height and age difference.
Try to maintain your body regularly and eat a healthy diet. If you have any mental or physical issues, consult a specialist immediately. Do not take risks with babies.
