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Expert Q&A

	By Linda Given-Welch, CNM Linda Given Welch Certified Nurse Midwife Women's Health Specialists, Chicago

I measured 31cm at 23 weeks and my doctor scheduled an ultrasound. But I have to wait two weeks and the suspense is killing me. My ultrasound at 19 weeks found one fetus that measured consistent with 20 weeks of pregnancy. Could it be possible that I'm having twins? What else would cause me to be so big?

It is very uncommon for an ultrasound exam at 19 weeks of pregnancy to miss a multiple gestation. The uterus may measure larger than the gestational age due to a large baby, extra amniotic fluid, a baby that is actually further along in pregnancy, a baby that is in an unusual position, or simply because the baby decided to have a growth spurt that month.

Your next ultrasound will again check for all of the above. Many times growth "evens out" over a couple of weeks and you are back to measuring in centimeters (plus or minus 2 centimeters) the gestational age of pregnancy you are in.

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