Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Volume 23, Issue 6 , Pages 809-818 , December 2009

Fetal growth screening by fundal height measurement

  • Kate Morse, Bsc (Hons) DPSM RM RGN (Specialist Midwife)
    • ,
  • Amanda Williams, MSc Dip HE RM RGN (Specialist Midwife)
    • ,
  • Jason Gardosi, MD FRCOG FRCSED (Professor)

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +44 121 6873400; fax: +44 121 6873401.

References 

  1. Rondo PH, Maia Filho NL, Valverde KK. Symphysis–fundal height and size at birth. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2003;81:53–54
  2. Mongelli M, Gardosi J. Estimation of fetal weight by symphysis–fundus height measurement. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2004;85:50–51
  3. Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists . The investigation and management of the small-for-gestational age fetus. RCOG Green Top Guideline. 2002;No.31 http://www.rcog.org.uk/files/rcog-corp/uploaded-files/GT31SmallGestationalAgeFetus.pdf.
  4. Alfirevic Z, Nielson JP. Doppler ultrasonography in high risk pregnancies: systematic review with meta-analysis. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1995;172:1379–1387
  5. Westin B. Gravidogram and fetal growth. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 1977;56:273–282
  6. Grover V. Altered fetal growth: antenatal diagnosis by symphysis–fundal height in India and comparison with western charts. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 1991;35(3):231–234
  7. Cnattingius S, Axelsson O, Lindmark G. Symphysis–fundus measurements and intrauterine growth retardation. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 1984;63(4):335–340
  8. Belizan JM, Villar J, Nardin JC, et al. Diagnosis of intrauterine growth retardation by a simple clinical method: measurement of uterine height. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1978;131:643–646
  9. Lindhard A, Nielsen PV, Mouritsen LA, et al. The implications of introducing the symphyseal- fundal height-measurement: a prospective randomized controlled trial. Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 1990;97:675–680
  10. Persson B, Stangenberg M, Lunell NO, et al. Prediction of size of infants at birth by measurement of symphysis fundus height. Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 1986;93:206–211
  11. Rogers MS, Needham PG. Evaluation of fundal height measurement in antenatal care. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. 1985;25(2):87–90
  12. Rosenberg K, Grant JM, Tweedie I, et al. Measurement of fundal height as a screening test for fetal growth retardation. Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 1982;89(6):447–450
  13. Beazley JM, Underhill RA. Fallacy of the fundal height. BMJ. 1970;404–406
  14. Wallin A, Gyllensward A, Westin B. Symphysis–fundus measurement in prediction of fetal growth disturbances. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 1981;60:317–323
  15. Mathai M. Prediction of small-for-gestational-age infants using a specially calibrated tape measure. Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 1988;95:313–314
  16. Pattinson RC. Antenatal detection of small-for-gestational-age babies: choice of a symphysis–fundal growth curve. S Afr Med J. 1988;74:282–283
  17. Stuart JM, Healy TJG, Sutton M, et al. Symphysis-fundal measurements in screening for small-for-dates infants: a community based study in Gloucestershire. R Coll Gen Pract. 1989;39:45–48
  18. Quaranta P, Currell R. Prediction of small for dates infants by measurement of symphysial fundal height. Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 1981;88:115–119
  19. Calvert JP, Crean EE, Newcombe RG, et al. Antenatal screening by measurement of symphysis–fundus height. BMJ. 1982;285:846–849
  20. Engstrom JL, McFarlin BL, Sittler CP. Fundal height measurement, 2: intra- and inter- examiner reliability of three measurement techniques. J Nurse Midwifery. 1993;38:17–22
  21. Ogunranti JO. Fundal height in normal pregnant Nigerian women: anthropometric gravidogram. lnt J Gynaecol Obstet. 1990;33:299–305
  22. Engstrom JL, Work BA. Prenatal prediction of small and large-for-gestational age neonates. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 1992;21:486–495
  23. Buhmann L, Elder WG, Hendricks B, et al. A comparison of Caucasian and Southeast Asian among uterine fundal height during pregnancy. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 1998;77:521–526
  24. Alexander GA, Himes JH, Kaufman RB, et al. A United States national reference for fetal growth. Obstet Gynecol. 1996;87:163–168
  25. Wilcox M, Gardosi J, Mongelli M, et al. Birth weight from pregnancies dated by ultrasonography in a multicultural British population. BMJ. 1993;307:588–591
  26. McDermott JC. Fundal height measurement. In:  Wildshut HIJ,  Weiner CP,  Peter TJ editor. When to screen in obstetrics and gynecology. Philadelphia: Elsevier; 2006;p. 326–343
  27. Hepburn M, Rosenberg K. An audit of the detection and management of small-for-gestational age babies. Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 1986;93:212–216
  28. Backe B, Nakling J. Effectiveness of antenatal care: a population based study. Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 1993;100:727–732
  29. Kean LH, Liu DT. Antenatal care as a screening tool for the detection of small for gestational age babies in the low risk population. J Obstet Gynaecol. 1996;16:77–82
  30. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence . Antenatal care, routine care for the healthy pregnant woman. Available at: London: NICE; 2008;http://guidance.nice.org.uk/CG62[accessed 04.09.09]
  31. Gardosi J. Ultrasound biometry and fetal growth restriction. Fet Mat Med Rev. 2002;13:249–259
  32. Kleijer ME, Dekker GA, Heard AR. Risk factors for intrauterine growth restriction in a socio-economically disadvantaged region. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2005;18:23–30
  33. Pattinson RC, Theron GB. Inter-observer variation in symphysis–fundus measurements. S Afr Med J. 1989;76:621–622
  34. Mongelli M, Gardosi J. Symphysis-fundus height and pregnancy characteristics in ultrasound-dated pregnancies. Obstet Gynecol. 1999;94:591–594
  35. Gardosi J, Francis A. Customised antenatal growth chart – GROW-chart v. 7.5. Available at: Gestation Network; 2009;www.gestation.net
  36. Gardosi J, Mongelli M, Wilcox M, et al. An adjustable fetal weight standard. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 1995;6:168–174
  37. de Jong CL, Gardosi J, Baldwin C, et al. Fetal weight gain in a serially scanned high-risk population. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 1998;11:39–43
  38. Mongelli M, Gardosi J. Longitudinal study of fetal growth in subgroups of a low risk population. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 1995;6:340–344
  39. Gardosi J, Francis A. Controlled trial of fundal height measurement plotted on customised antenatal growth charts. Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 1999;106:309–317
  40. Mongelli M, Gardosi J. Reduction of false-positive diagnosis of fetal growth restriction by application of customized fetal growth standards. Obstet Gynecol. 1996;88:844–848
  41. Dua A, Schram C. An investigation into the applicability of customised charts for the assessment of fetal growth in antenatal population at Blackburn, Lancashire, UK. J Obstet Gynaecol. 2006;26(5):411–413
  42. Wright J, Morse K, Kady S, et al. Audit of fundal height measurements plotted on customised growth charts. MIDIRS Midwifery Digest. 2006;16(3):341–345

PII: S1521-6934(09)00118-7

doi: 10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2009.09.004

Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Volume 23, Issue 6 , Pages 809-818 , December 2009

Article Tools

* Image Usage & Resolution