Comparison of Estimation of Fetal Weight by Clinical Method, Ultrasonography and its Correlation with Actual Birth Weight in Term Pregnancy

Abstract

Objective: To make a comparative evaluation of estimated fetal weight with actual birth weight by using: 1. Aymphysiofundal height x abdominal girth (dares formulae) 2. Ultrasonography (hadlock formulae). Materials and Methods: A prospective comparative study was carried out at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department and USG section of Department of Radiodiagnosis of Dr. Vasantrao Pawar Medical College and research centre from August 2014 to December 2016, to compare the accuracy of clinical and ultrasonographic estimation of foetal weight with actual birth weight at term. One hundred pregnant women who fulfilled the inclusion criteria had their foetal weight estimated independently using clinical and ultrasonographic methods. Results: About three fourth of the study subjects were in normal weight range of 2.5-4 Kg while 16% were LBW and 8% were VLBW babies. Both Dare's and Hadlock's formulae shows good co-relation with actual birth weight across all weight ranges (r- 0.77 and 0.72; p<0.05 for both) with best correlation observed at weight range of 2.5 to 3.5 Kg. Correlation was slightly lower at extremes of weight at both end. In present study, on comparing prospectively clinical and sonographic methods of predicting birth weight prior to induction of labor at term, we found that clinical estimates appear to be as accurate as ultrasonographic ones. Conclusion: In developing country where ultrasound is not available in many health care delivery system, clinical estimation of foetal weight is an easy, cost effective and simple method.