A prospective comparison of clinical and ultrasonic methods of predicting normal and abnormal fetal growth

Abstract

Charts of symphysial-fundal height (SFH) and ultrasound growth of fetal biparietal diameter (BPD) and abdominal circumference (FAC) were used simultaneously for the antenatal diagnosis of altered fetal growth in 100 patients. After delivery, infants were classified as small-for-gestational age (SGA), appropriate for gestational age (AGA) and large for gestational age (LGA) by birthweight and the postnatal diagnoses compared to antenatal diagnoses. The results indicate that although SFH is as good as ultrasound in predicting normal fetal growth, it is less sensitive than ultrasound for the diagnosis of SGA infants and even less so for macrosomia. It is concluded that SFH should be retained or instituted as a routine screening test for abnormal fetal growth.