Gender- and parity-specific reference charts for fetal size in low risk singleton pregnancies at the onset of the third trimester
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Paul De Reu
Abstract
Objectives: To determine fetal growth in low risk pregnancies at the beginning of the third trimester and to assess the relative importance of fetal gender and maternal parity.
Setting: Dutch primary care midwifery practice.
Study design: Retrospective cohort study on 3641 singleton pregnancies seen at a primary care midwifery center in the Netherlands. Parameters used for analysis were fetal abdominal circumference (AC), fetal head circumference (HC), gestational age, fetal gender and maternal parity. Regression analysis was applied to describe variation in AC and HC with gestational age. Means and standard deviations in the present population were compared with commonly used reference charts. Multiple regression analysis was applied to examine whether gender and parity should be taken into account.
Results: The fetal AC and HC increased significantly between the 27th and the 33rd week of pregnancy (AC r2=0.3652, P<0.0001; HC r2=0.3301, P<0.0001). Compared to some curves, our means and standard deviations were significantly smaller (at 30+0 weeks AC mean=258±13 mm; HC mean=281±14 mm), but corresponded well with other curves. Fetal gender was a significant determinant for both AC (P<0.0001) and HC (P<0.0001). Parity contributed significantly to AC only but the difference was small (β=0.00464).
Conclusion: At the begining of the third trimester, fetal size is associated with fetal gender and, to a lesser extent, with parity. Some fetal growth charts (e.g., Chitty et al.) are more suitable for the low-risk population in the Netherlands than others.
References
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©2007 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin New York
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- Congress Calendar
- Roster of Perinatal Societies
Articles in the same Issue
- Cervical surgery and preterm birth
- How useful is 3D and 4D ultrasound in perinatal medicine?
- The combined effect of maternal smoking and obesity on the risk of preeclampsia
- Slow change in body mass index during early triplet pregnancy is associated with decreased birth weight
- Examining the relationship between positive mid-gestational fetal fibronectin assays and histological evidence of acute placental inflammation
- Paternal smoking is associated with a decreased prevalence of type 1 diabetes mellitus among offspring in two national British birth cohort studies (NCDS and BCS70)
- Three-dimensional ultrasound power Doppler assessment of the cervix: comparison between nulliparas and multiparas
- Gender- and parity-specific reference charts for fetal size in low risk singleton pregnancies at the onset of the third trimester
- Near term twin pregnancy: clinical relevance of weight discordance at birth
- Intracerebellar hemorrhage in premature infants: sonographic detection and outcome
- Determining the least time required for measuring energy expenditure in premature neonates
- Neither maternal nor fetal mutation (E474Q) in the α-subunit of the trifunctional protein is frequent in pregnancies complicated by HELLP syndrome
- Long-term subcutaneous morphine administration after surgery in newborns
- Superior sagittal sinus thrombosis: a rare but serious complication of hypernatremic dehydration in newborns
- Congress Calendar
- Roster of Perinatal Societies
