Pregnancy brings with it a host of new concerns and considerations. One of the most important is understanding the changes to the body that come with gestation. Fundal height, or the measurement of the top of the uterus, is one of the primary metrics used to monitor the progress of a pregnancy. It is an essential part of the prenatal care protocol and can alert medical personnel to any potential issues. In this blog post, we will explain what fundal height is and how it is used to monitor the progress of a pregnancy. We will also provide tips for accurately measuring fundal height at home. With this knowledge, expectant parents can have a better understanding of their baby’s health and well-being.
From Mayo Clinic to your inbox
Register for free to stay informed about recent medical developments, health advice, and hot topics like COVID-19. You’ll also gain knowledge about managing your health. Email.
We may combine your email and website usage data with other information we have about you in order to give you the information that is most pertinent and useful to you and to determine which information is helpful. This might contain protected health information if you are a patient of Mayo Clinic. In the event that this information is combined with your protected health information, we will treat the combined information as protected health information and only use or disclose it in the ways described in our notice of privacy practices. By clicking the unsubscribe link in the email, you can decide at any time not to receive any more communications from us.
Soon, you’ll begin receiving the most recent Mayo Clinic health information in your inbox.
What’s the significance of a fundal height measurement?Answer From Yvonne Butler Tobah, M.D.
To determine whether a baby is too small for its gestational age, a fundal height measurement is typically taken. Generally speaking, the measurement is the distance, in centimeters, between the pubic bone and the top of the uterus. After week 24 of pregnancy, the fundal height of a normally developing baby is anticipated to be equal to the number of weeks of pregnancy, plus or minus 2 centimeters. For instance, your doctor would anticipate that your fundal height would be approximately 27 centimeters if you were 27 weeks pregnant.
However, if you have a history of fibroids or a body mass index of 30 or higher (which indicates obesity), your fundal height measurement may not be as accurate.
If the fundal height is smaller or larger than anticipated or increases more slowly or quickly than anticipated, this may mean:
Your doctor may advise an ultrasound to find out what’s causing the unusual measurements or suggest closer monitoring of your pregnancy depending on the situation.
Fundal height is not a precise science; it is only a tool for measuring fetal growth. Additionally, more investigation is required to determine its efficiency in identifying intrauterine growth restriction Fundal height measurements typically provide assurance of a baby’s consistent growth. Ask your doctor for more information if you’re worried about your fundal height measurements.
There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form.
What does fundal height tell you about your baby?
Your baby’s fundal height provides important information to your healthcare provider about your baby’s size, growth, and position in your uterus. It assists in confirming that your child is developing normally. Additionally, it can reveal how much amniotic fluid is present in your uterus. Amniotic fluid that is either too little or too much can be problematic.
FAQ
What is a normal fundal height?
Does fundal height indicate baby size?
What does it mean if your fundal height is high?
Does large fundal height mean big baby?