Abstract

Introduction: Sonographic measurement of fetal weight is a precise method of assessing fetal size and growth. Abnormal fetal weights are associated with increased risk of complications during pregnancy and delivery, hence the importance of sonographic fetal weight estimation in aiding the planning of delivery. This study aims to determine its reliability and accuracy.

Materials and Methods: Two hundred women with singleton term pregnancies between 37-42weeks were evaluated using a B-mode ultrasound machine with a 3.5 MHz curvilinear array transducer. The sonographic fetal weight estimates were correlated with actual birth weights.

Data was analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 21.0. Confidence level of 95% was used and the level of statistical significance was set at p≤ 0.05.

Results: There was strong positive correlation between the actual birth weight and Sonographically estimated fetal weight (r=0.906) and the mean difference was not statistically significant (p=0.229). Seventy-four percent (74%) of sonographic fetal weight estimates fell within 10% of the actual birth weights.

Conclusion: Sonographically estimated fetal weight at term had a strong positive correlation with the actual birth weight, thus making ultrasound a reliable tool for predicting birth weight.