Maternal estimation of fetal weight as a complementary method of fetal weight assessment: A prospective clinical trial

Avi Harlev, Asnat Walfisch, Jury Bar-David, Reli Heishkovitz, Mordechai Friger, Mordechai Hallak

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    18 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    OBJECTIVE: To assess the accuracy of fetal weight estimations performed by parturients vs. clinical and sonographic estimates. STUDY DESIGN: Term parous women were included in this prospective trial. Each woman estimated the weight of her fetus. Fetal weight was also estimated sonographically and clinically. The clinical evaluations were performed by an attending gynecologist and a resident. Estimate accuracy for extreme fetal weights was evaluated separately. RESULTS: We enrolled 128 women. Maternal and resident estimations' accuracy was identical. The attending physician estimates were superior to the residents' and parturients', with a mean absolute error of 318 g and 67% of the evaluations within the 10% boundaries of the actual birth weight. Sonographic evaluation was the most accurate method, with a mean absolute error of 244 g and 76% of evaluations within 10% of the actual birth weight. When partitioned to extreme fetal weight groups (upper and lower 10th percentiles), the maternal evaluation was at least as accurate as the clinical evaluations of both the attending and resident. CONCLUSION: Maternal evaluation of the fetus's weight is as accurate as physicians' clinical estimations, and is advised as a complementary method of assessment. This estimation may have greater relevance when intrauterine growth restriction or macrosomia is suspected.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)515-520
    Number of pages6
    JournalJournal of Reproductive Medicine
    Volume51
    Issue number7
    StatePublished - 1 Jul 2006

    Keywords

    • Clinical fetal weight estimation
    • Fetal weight
    • Maternal fetal weight estimation
    • Sonographic fetal weight estimation

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Reproductive Medicine
    • Obstetrics and Gynecology

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