FETAL WEIGHT ESTIMATION BY ULTRASONIC MEASUREMENT OF ABDOMINAL CIRCUMFERENCE

Abstract

Ultrasonic measurements of human fetal abdominal circumference were compared to ultrasonic measurements of fetal biparietal diameter, as a means of estimating fetal body weight. Of 58 fetuses who had abdominal circumferences measured, 48 (82%) of the predicted weights were within 15% of the actual birth weights. Of the same 58 fetuses, 44 had satisfactory biparietal diameter measurements, but only 21 (48%) of the predicted weights were within 15% of the actual birthweights. Ultrasonic measurement of abdominal circumference appears a more reliable index of fetal body weight than other currently available techniques.