My daughter is now 38 weeks pregnant. Last Friday she went in because she was having contractions and her fundal height measured 37 cm. Her contractions slowed so she went home. Yesterday, June 3, she went in for her regularly scheduled prenatal visit and saw the NP since her doc was in a delivery. Her fundal height measured at 42cm. The NP said she needed an ultrasound but because they were booked she was unable to get in and the NP told her we will just do it next week. I really feel like the NP should have sent her to the hospital L&D to get the ultrasound to check for polyhydramnios. I'm needing advice or reassurance from an OB nurse or OB/GYN regarding this. I'm really concerned.

I am a OB RN. I hope I can reassure you.

I don't see a cause for concern here. Fundal height is not exact. It can change from time to time. As a matter of fact, on my unit we never do fundal height. A lot matters on how it was done. The height can very easily be misinterpreted if done incorrectly or due to position change from last visit, etc. That's most likely what happened here. There are several factors that go into measuring the fundus including if the person measuring does not find the apex of the fundus correctly.

At 38 weeks your daughter is full term. If she came to my unit tonight I would not stop her labor, but rather augment it.

I am curious though why you are worried about polyhydramnios. Has there been a family history? Poly only happens in about 2 out of every 100 pregnancies and most are very mild.

Is she symptomatic? Does she have a hard time breathing or have non-pregnancy related discomfort in her belly? Is she diabetic or a gestational diabetic?

I think you can rest assured. If the NP was worried he/she would have worked that ultrasound in stat.