Prediction of Fetal Weight In Term Pregnancy Comparison of Clinical Methods & USG

Abstract

Objective: To make a comparative evaluation of estimation of fetal weight in term pregnancy by using a) Hadlock’s formula using ultrasonography b) Johnson’s formula & c) Dare’s formula -abdominal girth (AG) X Symphysiofundal height (SFH).Methodology: The fetal weight in-utero was calculated by using the above methods in 600 pregnant women at term. The results were correlated with the actual birth weight. Comparative analysis of the accuracy of the various methods was done. Result: Average error and maximum error in fetal weight estimation were least with AG X SFH method. Almost 86% of cases came with 10% error of actual birth weight by both AG X SFH method and Hadlock’s formula using ultrasonography Standard deviation of prediction error was least with Hadlock’s ultrasound method, closely followed by Dare’s (AGX SFH) method. Conclusion: Though ultrasound predicts the fetal weight more accurately, Dare’s method (AG x SFH) should be used in day to day practice, especially in places where ultrasound is not available.