WHAT IS FUNDAL HEIGHT?
Fundal height is a measure of the size of the uterus and can be used to assess fetal growth and development during pregnancy.
Your Fundal Height is the distance from the top of your pubic bone to the top of your uterus. The length of this is approximately the size of your uterus and correlates to the duration of your pregnancy.
WHAT DOES FUNDAL HEIGHT MEAN?
Your doctor will record your fundal height on every prenatal visit.
As your baby grows so should your belly. Measuring the fundal height can be an indicator of proper fetal growth
Where the belly or Fundal Height does not grow at the expected rate it can indicate fetal growth restriction or poor amniotic fluid development.
DOES FUNDAL HEIGHT PREDICT YOUR DUE DATE?
Not really. Pregnancy timing can be imprecise. Unless are using IVF, often your doctor does not have an exact time of conception. Because of this, pregnancy is normally calculated from the first day of your last menstrual period (or LMP).
From that day, 40-weeks of pregnancy is officially counted, and your due date defined. Sometimes, however, the due date may be revised as factors like imaging techniques, timing and irregular periods can cause a due date revision.
DOES FUNDAL HEIGHT PREDICT BIRTH WEIGHT?
While fundal height measurements correlated well with birth weight, the sensitivity is too low and the number of false positives too high, for fundal height measurement alone to be clinically useful.
YOUR NEXT STEP
Do you require Pregnancy Advice? We suggest that you see your general practitioner and possibly obtain a referral to see Dr Alexander
Dr Alexander can offer advice help in your Fertility and Pregnancy Planning. Arrange an appointment now for peace of mind and body www.alexalexander.com.au