Many pregnant women can read the fetal weight data in their medical record, but few are wondering how to calculate it. Meanwhile, there are quite a number of ways to do this, although 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, there is a possibility that a pregnant woman is gaining weight not because the child is growing, but because of edema, overeating and other factors. But if weight gain is strictly according to an individual schedule, you can simply use special tables of the main indicators for weeks of pregnancy and not be tormented by the question: "How to calculate the body weight of a child?" 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 questionable.
The second method of how to calculate the weight of a child is also quite simple and suitable for independent use, however, it requires some skills. The approximate weight of the fetus is calculated bya simple formula: multiply the value of the height of the bottom of the uterus and the volume of the abdomen. Usually, these data can be obtained from the gynecologist during the next visit, but you can also determine it yourself. The volume of the abdomen is measured in centimeters at the level of the navel, but with
fundal height is not so easy. In theory, until the last weeks of pregnancy, this indicator coincides with the period in weeks, but this is not always the case. In fact, groping for the fundus of the uterus is not so difficult, especially after 12 weeks. It’s easier to ask a specialist to teach you how to determine the uterine fundus. So, the distance from the pubic joint to the bottom of the uterus will be the desired
value. The above formula, when measured accurately, gives very average values, which may also be incorrect due to the characteristics of the physique and the course of pregnancy. There are other formulas that are more accurate, so asking your obstetrician about how to calculate the baby's weight will be useful at your next visit. Who knows, maybe a specialist will suggest 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 taken: head size, arm length from shoulder to elbow, hip length, and the volume of the child's abdomen. Based on these indicators, the doctor calculates the weight of the fetus. Many modern
deviceseven do it automatically after taking measurements, and also display information about the expected gestational age in accordance with the indicators. This method of how to calculate the baby's weight is also not always accurate. It 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 calculations can be up to half a kilogram! Even an ultrasound a few hours before the birth can calculate a different weight than it will be at birth.
Actually, no method gives exactly the right result. But the accuracy of ultrasound or counting by measuring the height of the fundus of the uterus and the volume of the abdomen is quite acceptable for assessing the development of the child. Otherwise, expectant mothers just need to listen to themselves.
