Re-evaluation of clinical estimation of fetal weight. A comparison with ultrasound

Abstract

SummaryThe recognised limitations of clinical estimation of fetal weight have resulted in the widespread use of ultrasound for this purpose. Despite this there is no evidence that clinical methods are less accurate than ultrasound. We have compared the results of fetal weight estimation in 79 cases who delivered within 24 hours of a clinical assessment with that of 158 matched cases in which fetal weight was predicted using ultrasound within 72 hours of delivery. There was no difference overall between the results with the two methods, although in small and average sized babies ultrasound tended to be more accurate. In macrosomic babies clinical methods appeared to be more useful.