Sonographic fetal growth curves from an indigent population in Atlanta, Georgia: I. Singleton pregnancies.

Abstract

The sonographic estimation of gestational age relies on standards of normal fetal growth established in highly selective patient populations. The majority have used middle-class, Caucasian gravidas with excellent menstrual dating criteria. These reference populations differ considerably from the indigent patient population in most southern medical centers: menstrual dating is often imprecise and there is a high rate of low birthweight infants delivered. Therefore, we established models of fetal growth in a southern, indigent, predominantly black patient population. We also compare our study to other sonographic studies.