Many pregnant women can read fetal weight data on their medical records, but few are wondering how to calculate it. Meanwhile, there are a fairly large number of ways to do this, however, the result will not always be very accurate.
The first and easiest way to calculate the weight of the fetus is to monitor its own weight. True, it is likely that a pregnant woman is gaining weight not because the child is growing, but because of edema, overeating and other factors. But if the mass gain is strictly according to an individual schedule, you can simply use the special tables of the main indicators for the weeks of pregnancy and not be tormented by the question: "How to calculate the body weight of the baby?" But when calculating "by eye", it should also be taken into account that a large amount of circulating blood gives the "extra" mass to the body. So the accuracy of this method is very, very doubtful.
The second way to calculate the weight of the child is also quite simple and suitable for independent use, however, it requires some skills. The approximate mass of the fetus is calculated by a simple formula: multiply the value of the height of the bottom of the uterus and the volume of the abdomen. Typically, these data can be obtained from the gynecologist during the next visit, but can be determined independently. The volume of the abdomen is measured in centimeters at the level of the navel, but with
the height of the bottom of the uterus is not so simple. In theory, until the last weeks of pregnancy, this indicator coincides with the period in weeks, but this does not always happen. In fact, finding the bottom of the uterus is not so difficult, especially after 12 weeks. It’s easier to ask a specialist to teach how to determine the fallopian bottom. So, the distance from the pubic joint to the bottom of the uterus will be the desired
size. The above formula for accurate measurement gives very average values, which may also be incorrect due to the characteristics of the physique and course of pregnancy. There are other formulas that are more accurate, so asking your obstetrician about how to calculate the weight of the baby will not be out of place at the next visit. Who knows, maybe a specialist will tell you a non-standard way.
Finally, in order not to be tormented by questions about how to calculate the weight of the child accurately, you can turn to ultrasound, they will help calculate the weight of the fetus with acceptable accuracy. In order to determine this indicator, several measurements are made: head size, arm length from shoulder to elbow, thigh length, abdominal volume of the child. Based on these indicators, the doctor calculates the weight of the fetus. Many modern
the devices even do this automatically after taking measurements, and also display information about the estimated gestational age in accordance with the indicators. This method of calculating the baby’s weight is also not always accurate. This depends on many factors: on the accuracy and accuracy of measurements, on the
position of the fetus in the uterus, etc. In the later stages, errors in the calculations can be up to half a kilogram! Even an ultrasound a few hours before birth can calculate the wrong weight at birth.
In fact, not a single method gives the absolutely correct result. But the accuracy of ultrasound or counting by measuring the height of the bottom of the uterus and the volume of the abdomen is quite acceptable for assessing the development of the child. As for the rest, expectant mothers just need to listen to themselves.