Fetal Metatarsal Length: An Accurate Predictor of Gestational Age and Weight in the Ovine Fetus

Abstract

Accurate assessment of gestational age and fetal weight in the pregnant ewe is important in both acute and longitudinal perinatal studies. We describe two morphometric methods based on the length of the fetal metatarsal bone. These measurements can be made intraoperatively or at postmortem. Metatarsal bone lengths can be used to better predict gestational age and fetal weight than previously described methods.