The length of the femur at 32 weeks is normal. Ultrasound rates by week

In obstetrics, there are many indices, thanks to which you can determine the gestational age, the presence or absence of abnormalities in the development of the fetus. The biparietal size of the fetal head is one of such indices; it can tell more precisely about the gestational age than others. The biparietal size of the fetal head can be determined using ultrasound, and its information content is especially high in the period from 12 to 28 weeks. In our article, we will consider how to measure the biparietal head size, what are its indicators at different stages of fetal development and its possible deviations from the norm.

B and the parietal size of the fetal head is normal

BPD of the fetal head is the distance between the outer and inner contours of both, the line connecting the outer contours of the parietal bones must pass over the thalamus. A deviation from the measurement rules leads to a distortion of the results obtained and, as a result, an incorrect determination of the gestational age. Each gestational age corresponds to a certain value of the normal fetal BPD. As the gestation period increases, the biparietal size of the fetal head increases; by the end of pregnancy, its growth rate decreases markedly.

So, the BPD of the fetus at 12 weeks, on average, is 21 mm,

BPD of the fetus at 13 weeks is 24 mm,

at 16 weeks - 34 mm,

at 24 weeks - 61 mm,

BPD at 32 weeks is 82 mm,

at 38 weeks - 84 mm,

and at 40 weeks - 96 mm.

The biparietal size of the fetal head is assessed together with the fronto-occipital size (LZR), measuring them in the same plane (at the level of the cerebral pedicles and optic hillocks). The change in the size of these two indicators is directly proportional to the gestational age.

After 38 weeks, the configuration of the fetal head may change, and the biparietal size of the fetal head will also depend on this. So, with a dolichocephalic configuration of BPD, the fetal head will be less than normal.

Ultrasound during pregnancy with bipolar disorder of the fetal head in health and disease

The biparietal size of the fetal head, along with other indicators, makes it possible to determine such abnormalities in the development of the fetus as intrauterine growth retardation, hydrocephalus and a large fetus. If the BPD indicator of the head is more than normal, then you should not rush to conclusions, you need to measure other parts of the fetal body. A uniform increase in all body sizes (head, chest, abdomen) suggests a large fetus.

If only the biparietal and frontooccipital dimensions are increased (the distance from the most protruding outer edge of the frontal bone to the outer edge of the occipital bone), then this confirms the diagnosis of hydrocephalus. The cause of fetal hydrocephalus is intrauterine infection.

In cases where fetal bipolar disorder is less than normal and all its other dimensions do not correspond to gestational age, then the diagnosis is made - intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). The causes of IUGR are intrauterine infection of the fetus, chronic hypoxia, due to placental insufficiency. If intrauterine growth retardation is diagnosed, then the woman is obliged to undergo treatment aimed at eliminating the cause: improving the uteroplacental blood flow, increasing the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the fetus (Curantil for pregnant women, Actovegin, Pentoxifilin).

A decrease in the BPD of the fetus together with the LHR without a decrease in other body sizes indicates microcephaly.

We examined the values \u200b\u200bof the indicator of the biparietal size of the fetal head, its values \u200b\u200bin normal conditions and in pathological abnormalities.

BPD of the fetus by week - table

After each ultrasound procedure, pregnant women receive a study protocol in their hands, which contains important information on the development of the baby. One of the most important parameters of the fetus is the biparietal head size, or BPD. What is fetal BPD and why is it needed, how are BPD and gestational age related, what are the norms for biparietal head size by week - you will learn about all this from our article.

BPR - decryption

During the ultrasound examination, special attention is paid to the study of the baby's head. This is not surprising: the brain is the most important organ, the growth and development of which directly affects the condition of the fetus. The bipolar disorder will help determine the size of the head, and hence the level of brain development. Biparietal size is a kind of “width” of the head, measured along the minor axis, from temple to temple.

In addition to the BPD, the frontal-occipital size (LZR) is also determined - along the major axis, from the forehead to the occiput. However, the main parameter remains the biparietal size: it is it that is used to determine the duration of pregnancy. This can be established with particular accuracy in the period of 12-28 weeks.

BPD values \u200b\u200bare also important for determining the possibility of physiological childbirth. If the size of the fetal head does not correspond to the size of the birth canal, a decision is made on a planned caesarean section.

Biparietal head size - normal

To assess the fetal BPD by week, special tables have been developed, which indicate the average norm of the biparietal size of the fetal head and its permissible fluctuations. In BPD tables, fetal head size values \u200b\u200bare presented as percentiles. This is a special way of presenting medical statistics, in which, as a rule, the average value (50th percentile) is indicated, as well as the lower (5th percentile) and upper (95th percentile) limits of normal values.

In order to use such a table and determine the rate of fetal BPD by week, it is necessary to find the value of the 50th percentile, the rest of the values \u200b\u200bdetermine the boundaries of normal readings. For example, at 12 weeks, the BPR rate is 21 mm, with a tolerance of 18-24 mm. This means that with a BDP value of 19 mm, the expectant mother should not worry - this is most likely a feature of the baby's development.

BPD of the fetus in the table - deviations from the norm

It happens that the BPD indicators go beyond the permissible limits. What does this mean? Firstly, in order to make sure that there is no pathology, the doctor must evaluate other parameters of the fetus (thigh length, abdominal circumference). If they all exceed the norm by one or several weeks, then this may indicate a large fruit. If other values \u200b\u200bof fetometry are normal, then it is possible that the baby is growing in leaps and bounds, and after a couple of weeks all the parameters will align.

However, significant deviations from normal BPD values \u200b\u200bmay indicate serious problems. So, an increased biparietal size is observed with tumors of the brain or skull bones, as well as with hydrocephalus. In all these cases, with the exception of hydrocephalus, the pregnant woman is offered to terminate the pregnancy, since these pathologies are incompatible with life. When hydrocephalus is detected, antibiotic treatment is carried out and only in rare cases (in the absence of an effect from treatment) they resort to abortion.

A significantly reduced size of the fetal head also does not bode well: as a rule, this means underdevelopment of the brain or the absence of some of its structures (cerebellum or cerebral hemispheres). In this case, the pregnancy is terminated at any time.

In the third trimester, decreased bipolar disorder indicates the presence of intrauterine growth retardation syndrome. Treatment is carried out with drugs that improve the uteroplacental blood flow (courantil, actovegin, etc.).

Throughout the nine months, each mom is worried about the correct development of the baby. It is to ensure full control over the development of the child in the womb and the timely detection of any abnormalities that pregnant women are urged to regularly visit the leading doctor in order to find out the size of the fetus by weeks of pregnancy.

Accurate diagnosis involves the use of ultrasound methods. Based on the results obtained, the specialist can determine how proportionally the baby is developing, and whether the data obtained regarding growth and development correspond to the established norms.

What indicators are taken into account?

The key parameters that make it possible to determine the characteristics of the development of the fetus are indicators of its height and weight, but they begin to measure them only in the second part of the first trimester. Until that time, the size of the embryo was so small that measuring it was extremely difficult.

Week 1 - - - - - - 2 week - - - - - - 3 week 0,2 - - - - - 4 week 0,5 - - - - - 5 week 1,5 18 245 2 187 3 - 6 week 4 22 363 3 993 6 3 7 week 7 22 432 6 912 10 4 8 week 10 30 675 13 490 16 4,5 9 week 15 33 972 16 380 23 5 10 week 31 39 1 210 31 870 31 5,1 11 week 55 47 1 728 55 290 41 5,5 12 week 80 56 2 350 87 808 53 6 13 week 105 65 3 072 131 070 66 6

The length indicators given in the table are measured from the crown to the coccyx and are averaged. According to experts, in connection with the distinctive features of development, slight deviations from the given average indicators are allowed. A significant deviation, as well as a violation of the permissible proportions between the indicators, which is an important factor, is a prerequisite for further research.

By the end of the eighth week, the length of the ovum reaches 11 mm. According to numerous studies, the weight of the fetus at this stage does not exceed 1.5 grams. Over the next week, there is an increase in weight by another 0.5 g, and by the end of the tenth week it can reach 4 g.

At the eleventh, by means of ultrasound examination, it becomes possible to obtain the first data on the length of the thigh and chest, which are, respectively, 7 and 20 mm. By this period, the weight of the fetus reaches 11 g. By the end of 12 weeks, the chest diameter will reach 24 mm, and the thigh diameter - 9 mm.

From 11 to 40 weeks, experts carefully examine not only the general indicators of length, but also the parameters of individual parts of the body, which allows you to get a general and complete picture of the correct development of the fetus.

Starting from the thirteenth, during the examinations, measurements of the baby's skull are taken into account, the weight of which by this time reaches 30 g.

Table 2. Sizes of the ovum by week: from 13th to 40th

Period	Length indicators, mm	Thigh length, mm	Chest diameter, mm	Skull perimeter, mm	Skull area, mm2
11 week	55	7	20	-	-
12 week	80	9	24	-	-
13 week	105	12	25	-	-
14 week	110	16	26	80	510
15 week	115	19	28	90	675
16 week	160	22	34	102	860
17 week	170	24	38	120	1 080
18 week	205	28	41	126	1 320
19 week	215	31	44	138	1 450
20 week	250	34	48	144	1 730
21 week	260	37	50	151	1 875
22 week	270	40	53	162	2 190
23 week	385	43	56	173	2 520
24 week	300	46	59	183	2 710
25 week	310	48	62	194	3 072
26 week	325	51	64	199	3 260
27 week	340	53	69	215	3 675
28 week	350	55	73	218	3 880
Week 29	365	57	76	225	4 170
30 week	375	59	79	234	4 563
31 weeks	385	61	81	240	4 810
32 week	400	63	83	246	5 040
33 week	410	65	85	255	5 290
34 week	420	66	88	264	5 547
35 week	450	67	91	270	5 810
Week 36	455	69	94	272	6 075
37 week	480	71	97	276	6 348
38 week	485	71	97	282	6 620
39 week	490	73	99	285	6 684
40 week	500	75	101	290	6 768

Biparietal fetal size by week

Another important indicator that specialists take into account in their studies is the biparietal size, represented by the distance between the outer surface of the upper contour and the inner region of the lower contour between the parietal bones.

As in the case with other indicators, slight deviations from the norm are allowed when analyzing the obtained biparietal size. If the established data are exceeded, the specialist must evaluate other parameters, represented by the abdominal circumference, the length of the limbs.

The analysis of this indicator is extremely important, because its deviations from the norm in many cases may indicate serious pathologies, represented by hernias, tumors and other volumetric formations, in which the only way out may be termination of pregnancy. Insufficient development of the baby's head or a decrease in its size is also considered undesirable, which may be due to the underdevelopment or lack of anatomical structures of the brain. In this case, experts also strongly recommend termination of pregnancy.

Often in the third trimester, decreased indicators of bipolar disorder are diagnosed, which, if detected early, can be successfully corrected.

As a rule, in this case, a diagnosis of intrauterine growth retardation is made, and the pregnant woman is prescribed treatment with drugs that help improve uteroplacental blood flow and ensure the transportation of essential nutrients.

In medical practice, the following averaged indicators of biparietal sizes of the fetus are used:

8 week - 6 mm;
9 week - 8.5;
10 week - 11 mm;
11 week - 15 mm;
12 week - 20 mm;
13 week - 24 mm;
14 week - 26 mm;
15 week - 32 mm;
16 week - 35 mm;
17 week - 39 mm;
Week 18 - 42 mm;
19 week - 44 mm;
Week 20 - 47 mm;
21 weeks - 51 mm;
22 week - 54 mm;
23 week - 58 mm;
24 weeks - 61 mm;
Week 25 - 64 mm;
26 week - 67 mm;
Week 27 - 69 mm;
28 week - 72 mm;
Week 29 - 75 mm;
30 week - 78 mm;
31 weeks - 80 mm;
32 weeks - 82 mm;
Week 33 - 84 mm;
34 weeks - 86 mm;
35 week - 88 mm;
36 week - 90 mm;
37 weeks - 91 mm;
Week 38 - 92 mm;
39 week - 94 mm;
40 week - 95 mm.

Of course, it is not possible to establish the exact weight of the fetus by means of an ultrasound examination, therefore specialists are guided by other sizes and established norms. For the first time, the weight of the fetus is indicated at the eighth week, from which it becomes possible to obtain the first necessary data.

Table 3. Fetal weight by week

Period
8 week	1
9 week	2
10 week	4
11 week	7
12 week	14
13 week	23
14 week	43
15 week	70
16 week	100
17 week	140
18 week	190
19 week	240
20 week	300
21 week	360
22 week	430
23 week	501
24 week	600
25 week	660
26 week	760
27 week	875
28 week	1005
Week 29	1153
30 week	1319
31 weeks	1502
32 week	1702
33 week	1918
34 week	2146
35 week	2383
Week 36	2622
37 week	2859
38 week	3083
39 week	3288
40 week	3462

As a rule, from the data obtained after ultrasound examination, it is not easy for many women to understand how large the fetus is at this stage. To facilitate this task, the size of the ovum by week can be compared with well-known objects. As already noted, the first indicators of the length of the fetus can be obtained only in the third week, when its diameter is 0.2 mm. It is extremely difficult to consider the fruit at this time, and it can only be compared with a poppy seed.

By the end of the fourth week, the fruit has almost doubled and now in size it can be safely compared to sesame seeds. By the end of the fifth, the ovum acquires a size comparable to sunflower seeds.

Do you know which bird is considered the smallest on the planet? This is a hummingbird, whose size rarely exceeds 5.7 centimeters, and weighs in the range from 1.6 to 2 g. It is with the egg of this bird that a human fetus in the sixth week of its development can be compared in size. By the end of the seventh, its dimensions are comparable to those of ordinary beans.

On the eighth fruit, in terms of parameters, it can be compared with an unripe olive, and by the end of the ninth - with a large grape.

In the tenth week, the fetus reaches the size of a candy, which is not recommended by doctors for pregnant women. The fruit reaches the size of the apricot by the end of the next period used as the unit of measurement. At the 12th week, the fruit can be compared to a pea pod, and by the end of the thirteenth week, with a ripe fig.

Over the next 7 days, the fruit will grow to the size of an average pear, and after another week - to the size of an avocado. The average weight of newborn kittens is about 100 g. This is how much a human fetus weighs at the 16th week of its development, and its length can be compared with an average carrot.

At 17 weeks, the fruit can be compared with a medium potato, and at the end of the eighteenth week, with a large tomato.

Imagine a large banana in your hands. It is these sizes that the baby reaches by the end of the nineteenth period. In the 20th week, it can be compared to a small hare. Have you seen an exotic fruit like Thai mango? At 21 weeks, the weight of the fetus can be compared with it.

Among the penguins, the largest and heaviest are the representatives of the Imperial species, whose height often reaches 125 cm and weighs 50 kg. Eggs of emperor penguins weigh up to 450 g. This is how much a human fetus weighs at 22 weeks of development.

At 23 weeks, in terms of length, it can be compared with an ear of corn, and by the end of 24 weeks - with the weight of a green coconut. By the end of the next period, the size of the baby in the womb can be compared with newborn polar bear cubs, which, despite the impressive volume of adults, are born quite small.

By the end of the 26th week, the baby can be compared in weight with an average head of broccoli, and by the 27th - with a pomelo fruit.

If we take for comparison the length of the baby from the heels to the crown, then at 28 weeks it is comparable to the growth of a newborn tiger. The largest bird on the planet is the African ostrich, which can grow up to 200 centimeters tall and weigh 120 kg. The eggs of these birds weigh on average 1,200 g. It is this weight that is considered the norm for a baby at 29 weeks of development.

By the end of the next period, the child is comparable to the weight of a half-year-old kitten, and by the end of 31 weeks - with the weight of a newborn lion cub.

In terms of growth, a baby at 32 weeks can be compared with a small blue penguin, and at the end of the next period it reaches the weight of an average pineapple. At 34 weeks, the baby takes on the size of a ripe melon of medium parameters.

After the next seven days, the baby's weight becomes comparable to the weight of a small pumpkin, and after another 14 days - with the size of a watermelon.

By the end of the thirty-ninth week, the baby's length indicators reach 50 cm. It is with such length indicators that dolphins are born. By the end of the 40th week, the baby can be safely compared to the average newborn baby who is ready to meet the world.

Take care of your health and future offspring. Happy childbirth and excellent health.

Ultrasound examination, or ultrasound - This is a survey method that is widely used during pregnancy in any of its stages. This diagnostic test is relatively simple, highly informative and safe for both mother and child. The main tasks of ultrasound during pregnancy are:

The following tables show the fetal biometrics that are measured at each. They are presented in the 10th, 50th and 95th percentiles. Most often they are guided by the 50th percentile, and the rest are considered normal fluctuations.

Fetal head sizes by week of pregnancy

Pregnancy period, weeks	Frontal-occipital size (LZR), mm	Biparietal size (BPR), mm

Circumference of the abdomen and head of the fetus

Pregnancy period, weeks	Abdominal circumference, mm	Head circumference, mm

Length of the bones of the leg and femur of the fetus

Pregnancy period, weeks	Shin bones, mm	Femur, mm

Length of the humerus and forearm bones of the fetus

Pregnancy period, weeks	Forearm bones length, mm	Humerus length, mm

Norms for the first ultrasound at 10-14 weeks

The first screening ultrasound is performed for a period of 10-14 weeks. Its main tasks are:

Studying the thickness of the collar zone (the area between the soft tissues covering the spine and the inner surface of the skin filled with fluid). Assessing the size of the cervical fold is very important because is a fairly accurate way of timely diagnosis of various chromosomal diseases, in particular Down syndrome. In the presence of an enlarged collar space, the doctor should refer the pregnant woman to a geneticist for consultation. The woman is assigned additional examination methods: a blood test for alphahetoprotein and chorionic gonadotropin, invasive diagnostic methods (amniocentesis - the study of amniotic fluid, placentocentesis - the study of placental cells, cordocentesis - the study of blood taken from the umbilical cord of the fetus).

Normal values \u200b\u200bof the collar space (TVP) in the first trimester of pregnancy

Pregnancy period, weeks	Collar space thickness, mm
	percentile	50th percentile	95th percentile
10 weeks 0 days - 10 weeks 6 days
11 weeks 0 days - 11 weeks 6 days
12 weeks 0 days - 12 weeks 6 days
13 weeks 0 days - 13 weeks 6 days

Measurement of the coccygeal-parietal size (CTE). This is an important indicator by which you can determine the size of the fetus and the approximate gestational age.

Values \u200b\u200bof the coccygeal-parietal size by gestational age

Pregnancy period, weeks	KTP values \u200b\u200bpercentile, mm


10 weeks 1 day
10 weeks 2 days
10 weeks 3 days
10 weeks 4 days
10 weeks 5 days
10 weeks 6 days

11 weeks 1 day
11 weeks 2 days
11 weeks 3 days
11 weeks 4 days
11 weeks 5 days
11 weeks 6 days

12 weeks 1 day
12 weeks 2 days
12 weeks 3 days
12 weeks 4 days
12 weeks 5 days
12 weeks 6 days

13 weeks 1 day
13 weeks 2 days
13 weeks 3 days
13 weeks 4 days
13 weeks 5 days
13 weeks 6 days

Heartbeats should normally occur at regular intervals, i.e. be rhythmic. Arrhythmia may indicate the presence of a congenital heart defect or fetal hypoxia. The heartbeat should sound very clear and distinct; in the presence of dull tones, intrauterine oxygen deficiency can be suspected. An important indicator is the heart rate.

Heart rate rate by gestational age

Tachycardia is an increase in the number of heartbeats more than normal, bradycardia is a decrease in heart rate to 120 beats per minute or less. Most often, such changes in the heartbeat occur during fetal hypoxia as a reaction to a decrease in oxygen in the blood. In such cases, the pregnant woman must be prescribed treatment, which is often carried out in a hospital setting. Therapy is prescribed to improve the uteroplacental blood flow, improve intracellular metabolism.

Assessment of the development and presence of various organs (bladder, kidney, liver, stomach, heart), spine, also the upper and lower limbs of the fetus. If anomalies in the development of organs are detected, the woman is sent to a genetic consultation. After a detailed examination, a geneticist decides on the viability of the child and the possible termination of pregnancy.

Normal indicators of the second ultrasound at 20-24 weeks

The doctor prescribes the second scheduled ultrasound scan at 20-24 weeks. At this time, the following are investigated:

Biometric indicators (biparietal size, frontal-occipital size, length of tubular bones, circumference of the abdomen and head). These indicators are measured to assess the growth of the fetus and its fit with the gestational age.
Identification of various fetal malformations... It is in this period that the diagnostics will be the most informative, because at the first examination, the child is still too small, and at the third planned ultrasound it will already be too large, in addition, for a long time, the placenta may interfere with a thorough examination if it is located on the anterior wall of the uterus.
Placenta structure, thickness, location and degree of maturity... This is the most important organ that supplies the fetus with all the nutrients necessary for its normal development.

The normal thickness of the placenta, depending on the duration of pregnancy

Pregnancy period, weeks	Permissible fluctuations	Normal values, mm

With an increase in the thickness of the placenta, the doctor may assume the presence (inflammation of the placenta). Making such a diagnosis requires additional examination for the presence of infection and subsequent treatment in a hospital.

Ultrasound also evaluates maturity of the placenta... This is an important indicator characterizing the ability of the "child's place" (synonymous with the term "placenta") to provide the fetus with the necessary substances.

Placenta maturity

Late maturation of the placenta is quite rare and is mainly caused by:

Smoking mother
The presence of various chronic diseases in her.

Premature maturation of the placenta occurs more often. The reasons for this condition are:

Endocrine diseases of the mother (in particular, diabetes mellitus),

If it is located below and overlaps the internal os of the uterus, they speak of. This is a serious type of obstetric pathology that threatens the life and health of women and children. Often this anomaly occurs in women who have multiparous, after inflammatory diseases of the uterus, uterine myoma, after abortion. A pregnant woman is carefully monitored in a hospital or at home, where she must observe complete rest and abstain from sexual activity. If bleeding begins, immediate hospitalization is required.

Amniotic fluid quantity and quality

Average Normal Amniotic Fluid Index

Pregnancy period, weeks	Possible fluctuations	Average rate

When the amount of amniotic fluid changes in one direction or another, they talk about polyhydramnios and low water.

It is often found in women with infectious diseases, diabetes mellitus, with some fetal malformations, Rh sensitization (incompatibility of the blood of the mother and the fetus by the Rh factor). The condition requires compulsory treatment: antibiotic therapy, drugs that improve uteroplacental blood flow.

Is a pathological decrease in the amount of amniotic fluid less than 500 ml. The causes of this condition are still unknown. If there is very little water, this may indicate a severe malformation of the fetus: complete absence of kidneys. There is practically no treatment for oligohydramnios, all therapy is aimed at supporting the child.

The ultrasound specialist also evaluates amniotic fluid quality... Normally, they should be transparent. If there is turbidity, mucus, flakes in the amniotic fluid, there is a suspicion of the presence of an infectious process. The woman is tested for hidden infections and is being treated.

Assessment of the umbilical cord... An ultrasound examination can detect an entanglement of the umbilical cord around the fetal neck. But in the second trimester of pregnancy, it does not cause alarm. The baby is in constant motion and the umbilical cord can unwind.
Assessment... Normally, the neck should be at least 3 cm, and only closer to childbirth, it begins to shorten and smooth out. The internal pharynx must be completely closed. Shortening of the neck or opening of the throat is a symptom. The woman should be stitched on the cervix or (a mechanical device in the form of several rings that is inserted into the vagina and protects the cervix from premature disclosure).

Third ultrasound at 32-34 weeks

The third planned ultrasound scan is performed for a period of 32-34 weeks. Its tasks are:

Positioning and... At this time, the child is already large enough and his mobility is limited. The position in which he is during the ultrasound will remain until the end of labor. Determination of these indicators is important for resolving the question of the mode of delivery. Allocate the longitudinal, transverse and oblique position of the fetus. With the longitudinal position of the child, a woman can give birth naturally, the transverse and oblique position is a relative indication for surgery. Natural childbirth is also possible with a normal cephalic presentation of the fetus, the pelvic location is an indication for operative delivery.
Estimating the size and weight of the fetus... These indicators help to understand how the child is developing. If the size of the fetus lags behind the average, you can suspect a delay in the intrauterine development of the child. Determination of fetal malnutrition requires the initiation of treatment for the pregnant woman. If the fetus, on the contrary, is ahead of the indicators, then we can talk about. The birth of a child with a large weight (over 4 kg) is likely. This can significantly complicate childbirth, so a woman is often offered an operative delivery.
Study of the placenta, its size, degree of maturity and place of attachment.Migration of the placenta in this period has already been completed, it will occupy the same position for childbirth. It should be borne in mind that childbirth is possible only by caesarean section. With a low location of the baby seat, it is possible to give birth to a child through the natural birth canal, but this is fraught with a high risk of bleeding during childbirth.
Assessment of the quantity and quality of amniotic fluid(see topic: normal indicators of the second planned ultrasound scan at 20-24 weeks).

The rate of ultrasound before childbirth

Ultrasound examination before childbirth is not mandatory for all pregnant women and is selectively performed according to indications. Its main task is to resolve the issue of the method of delivery. During an ultrasound scan, the following is determined:

The position and presentation of the child;
Estimated weight of the fetus at birth;
Position of the umbilical cord for exclusion.

Each desired pregnancy is, of course, a sincere joy and real happiness for a woman. It is so nice to feel when a new life is maturing inside: the tummy gradually grows, feelings and habits change, more and more often the gaze stops at the store with things for newborns, and at home - at the place where the plan is to put the cradle ... Unfortunately, sometimes this idyll is destroyed in just a split second: the gynecologist diagnoses "pathology of intrauterine development", which means that the baby will be born defective.

What is fetal fetometry?

Fetometry indicators are necessary in order to more accurately determine the duration of pregnancy, as well as to be able to diagnose visible developmental disorders in a child. Remember that sometimes the baby can be just small due to the fact that his parents are of short stature. But, perhaps, the baby lacks nutrients and mom needs to take a course of vitamins - all this should be discussed with your gynecologist.

Fetometry includes:

Coccygeal-parietal size or abbreviated - CTE, or growth rate;

Biparietal head size, abbreviated - BPR;

Thigh length measurement, abbreviated - DB;

Chest diameter, abbreviated - DHA.

To increase the accuracy of fetal fetometry, several parameters need to be examined. Basically, before the 36th week of pregnancy, this is OJ, BPR and DB, but after that it is OJ, DB and DHA.

To more accurately understand the results obtained on ultrasound, you can study the table below.

Average values \u200b\u200bof fetal fetometry

pregnancy	Height, cm	Weight, gr	DB, mm	DHQ, mm	BPR, mm
11	6,8	11	7	20	18
12	8,2	19	9	24	21
13	10,0	31	12	24	24
14	12,3	52	16	26	28
15	14,2	77	19	28	32
16	16,4	118	22	34	35
17	18,0	160	24	38	39
18	20,3	217	28	41	42
19	22,1	270	31	44	44
20	24,1	345	34	48	47
21	25,9	416	37	50	50
22	27,8	506	40	53	53
23	29,7	607	43	56	56
24	31,2	733	46	59	60
25	32,4	844	48	62	63
26	33,9	969	51	64	66
27	35,5	1135	53	69	69
28	37,2	1319	55	73	73
29	38,6	1482	57	76	76
30	39,9	1636	59	79	78
31	41,1	1779	61	81	80
32	42,3	1930	63	83	82
33	43,6	2088	65	85	84
34	44,5	2248	66	88	86
35	45,4	2414	67	91	88
36	46,6	2612	69	94	89,5
37	47,9	2820	71	97	91
38	49,0	2992	73	99	92
39	50,2	3170	75	101	93
40	51,3	3373	77	103	94,5

Remember that these are averaged values \u200b\u200band your gynecologist will definitely make the final diagnosis. There is no need to look for deviations in your baby, because each of them is an individuality and may have its own characteristics.

The biparietal head size (BPD) is one of the indicators that determine the rate of fetal development at the appropriate stages of pregnancy. Thanks to this index, starting from week 12, the doctor on an ultrasound scan is able to set the exact duration of pregnancy and determine if there are any abnormalities in the development of the embryo. What are the normal values \u200b\u200bfor this index for each week of pregnancy?

What does

To put it simply, BPD is an indicator of the width of the fetal head. It is measured by the distance between the parietal bones of the skull (from one temple to the other). The line along which the BPR measurement is carried out should pass through the center of the head perpendicular to the line drawn from the forehead to the back of the head (LZR). For this measurement, the ultrasound probe must be placed directly over the fetal head.

Each week of pregnancy has its own index of biparietal parameters, which increases with increasing gestational age.

Measurements can be taken along the inner and outer edges of the parietal bones, or only along the outer ones. It is important to take this condition into account when comparing the data obtained with tables of normal indicators (nomograms).

BPD helps the doctor determine:

gestational age with an error of up to 1 week. This analysis will be most correct from 12 to 28 weeks, in the future, due to the individual rate of development of embryos, determining the term by this method becomes doubtful.
the approximate weight of the newborn, and therefore, the method of delivery: natural or cesarean section. But for this, together with BPD, it is important to know the circumference of the abdomen and the length of the femur of the woman in labor.
normal brain growth.
possible pathologies of embryo development.

Norm

It is important to know that BPD is a variable value, and the table of results is a list of indicators (percentiles) in accordance with a certain period of pregnancy that occur during normal fetal development.

As a rule, BDP nomograms are drawn up individually for each country or region, in connection with the characteristic unique characteristics of each people and race.

Percentile indicators represent:

90 - this indicator is typical for 90% of the examined fetuses;
50 - for 50% or less;
10 - for 10% or less.

It is important to understand that fluctuations in BPD values \u200b\u200bwithin percentiles do not indicate pathology. You should not worry if there is a single deviation from the normal values, but it is within 2-3 lines of the table.

Pregnancy week	Percentiles
	90	50	10
	Biparietal size of the fetal head, mm
12	24	21	18
13	28	24	21
14	31	27	24
15	34	31	29
16	37	34	30
17	42	38	35
18	47	42	38
19	49	45	40
20	53	48	44
21	56	51	47
22	60	54	49
23	64	58	53
24	67	61	56
25	70	64	59
26	73	67	62
27	76	70	65
28	79	73	68
29	82	76	71
30	85	78	72
31	87	80	74
32	89	82	76
33	91	84	78
34	93	86	80
35	95	88	82
36	97	90	84
37	98	92	86
38	100	94	87
39	102	95	89
40	103	96	90

If fetometry on ultrasound, repeated with an interval of 7-14 days, several times fixes a deviation in the bipolar disorder, then we can talk about a possible pathology.

More than normal

When the BPD of the fetal head is more than normal, then this may indicate the following phenomena:

heredity. If someone in the family also has a large head volume, then in this case, treatment is not required;
large fruit;
brachycephaly (short-headedness) - the skull is smaller than usual;
macrocephaly;
hydrocephalus;
disorders in the development of bone and cartilage tissue;
swelling of the bones of the skull;
brain tumor or cerebral hernia;
diabetes mellitus in a pregnant woman.

Less than normal

The main reasons for which insufficient indicators of the BPD of the fetal head can be recorded are:

heredity. In this case, if at least one of the parents has a small head volume, then there is no reason for concern and no treatment is required;
small embryo size;
intrauterine growth retardation;
genetic diseases;
dolichocephaly (long-headedness);
violation of the development of the spine, bone and cartilage tissues
pathology of brain development or the complete absence of some of its parts;
intrauterine infection.

In the process of carrying a baby, expectant mothers have to undergo a large number of examinations, including fetometry using an ultrasound scan. This is one of the few non-traumatic procedures that can provide reliable information about the condition and development of the child throughout pregnancy.

Fetometry of the fetus, as a method, is the determination of the size of the baby through an ultrasound scan and comparison of the data obtained with the existing standards. This information allows the attending physician to judge the occurrence of developmental abnormalities or the normal process of gestation.

If there are difficulties with establishing the term of conception according to the last menstruation, fetometry of the fetus allows you to determine it with an accuracy of 4 days. Therefore, we can say that this method is in demand in the early diagnosis of intrauterine growth disorders and the specification of the timing of pregnancy. All standards of fetal fetometry indices are brought to international medical standards and are indicated in tables with average statistical data.

Periods of passing fetometric research

Ultrasound examinations for the purpose of diagnosing the development of a baby are standardly timed to the 12th, 20th and 32nd weeks of pregnancy. There is one diagnostic procedure for each trimester.

The decision about the time of the ultrasound and fetometry is made by the doctor. This is influenced by:

general condition of the expectant mother;
the emergence of suspicions of a violation of the intrauterine development of the child;
the established timing of fetal fetometry.

Thanks to ultrasound, it became possible not only to assess the main characteristics of the fetus (calculate the weight of the fetus by ultrasound, its height, chest and head circumference) and correlate them with the average statistical indicators for weeks of pregnancy, but also to identify the functional state of the child's internal organs, to determine its gender.

Thanks to modern ultrasound diagnostics, the doctor can not only compare fetometric data with the norm, but also assess the development of internal organs and determine the sex of the child

Key characteristics of fetometric research

The leading criteria for fetal fetometry are:

CTE (coccygeal-parietal size);
BPR (biparietal head size);
OG (chest circumference);
Coolant (abdominal circumference);
DB (length of the femur bone).

Table with average fetal fetometry values \u200b\u200bby week of pregnancy:

A week	BPR, mm	LZR, mm	Coolant, mm	DBK, mm	Weight, gr	Height, cm
13	24	-	69	9	31	10
14	27	-	78	13	52	12,3
15	31	39	90	17	77	14,2
16	34	45	102	21	118	16,4
17	38	50	112	25	160	18
18	43	53	124	30	217	20,3
19	47	57	134	33	270	22,1
20	50	62	144	35	345	24,1
21	53	65	157	37	416	25,9
22	57	69	169	40	506	27,8
23	60	72	181	42	607	29,7
24	63	76	193	45	733	31,2
25	66	79	206	48	844	32,4
26	69	83	217	49	969	33,9
27	73	87	229	52	1135	35,5
28	76	89	241	55	1319	37,2
29	78	92	253	58	1482	38,6
30	81	95	264	60	1636	39,9
31	83	97	274	62	1779	41,1
32	85	100	286	63	1930	42,3
33	86	102	296	65	2088	43,6
34	88	104	306	67	2248	44,5
35	89	106	315	69	2414	45,4
36	91	108	323	71	2612	46,6
37	93	109	330	73	2820	47,9
38	94	110	336	74	2992	49
39	95	112	342	75	3170	50,2
40	96	116	347	76	3373	51,3

Additionally, the following ultrasound indicators can also be determined:

fetal head circumference;
frontal-occipital size;
shin bone length;
the length of the tibia;
foot length;
the length of the bones of the shoulder and forearm;
interhemispheric cerebellar size (MRM);
diameter of the heart.

Metrics of nasal dorsum development are very important for assessing the development of a child in the detection of chromosomal diseases and birth defects.

CTE as a characteristic of the physical development of the fetus

Term, week + day	10 weeks	+ 1 day	+ 2 days	+ 3 days	+ 4 days	+ 5 days	+ 6 days
CTE, mm	31	33	34	35	37	39	41

Term, week + day	11 weeks	+ 1 day	+ 2 days	+ 3 days	+ 4 days	+ 5 days	+ 6 days
CTE, mm	42	43	44	45	47	48	49

Term, week + day	12 weeks	+ 1 day	+ 2 days	+ 3 days	+ 4 days	+ 5 days	+ 6 days
CTE, mm	51	53	55	57	59	61	62

Term, week + day	13 weeks	+ 1 day	+ 2 days	+ 3 days	+ 4 days	+ 5 days	+ 6 days
CTE, mm	63	65	66	68	70	72	74

The options for the norm include an increase in CTE by one to two weeks. If Rh-conflict, neoplasms and mother's diabetes are excluded, then such an increase in the size of the baby may indicate that the child will be born large, with a weight of 4 kg or more.

In this case, you need to be careful when using medications that affect metabolism, including complex vitamins. Such drugs can lead to the birth of a very large child from 5 kg.

The reasons that can lead to a decrease in CTE can be both normal variants and a sign of severe pathology.

To the variants of the norm the possibility of a later fertilization in connection with the timing of ovulation belongs. As you can see, the time of conception will be slightly later than that calculated in accordance with the last day of menstruation. In this situation, you just need to repeat the ultrasound in a week.

Pathological reasons:

Frozen pregnancy and embryo death. This situation requires immediate intervention and medical attention, because can cause bleeding, impaired fertility of the female body, toxic shock and death of the mother. It is possible to exclude this pathology if the heartbeat of the unborn child is determined.
Lack of hormones (more often progesterone) - requires confirmation using additional research methods and hormonal therapy (only a doctor can prescribe it!). Treatment is required, because hormonal deficiency can cause self-abortion.
Infections, including STIs, can be a factor that negatively affects baby's growth. In this situation, additional examinations are needed to identify an infectious agent. Then therapy should be carried out within the permitted time frame.
Genetic abnormalities (syndromes: Down, Patau, Edwards). If such violations are suspected, a geneticist's consultation and additional examinations are required. Serious genetic abnormalities usually lead to self-abortion.
Somatic diseases of the mother, including chronic heart and thyroid diseases. As a rule, they exert their influence at a later date. And yet, their influence cannot be ruled out from the first week of development of the embryo.
Pathology of the mucous membrane lining the uterus. Erosion, abortion, fibroids, disrupting the integrity of the mucous layer, prevent the ovum from fixing properly in the uterine wall and growing fully, which can cause self-abortion.

Insufficient CTE indices, according to the table of standards, may indicate violations of the intrauterine development of the child, therefore, such a pregnancy needs additional examination

CTE is an important indicator of the development of the crumbs, but do not rush to interpret its value yourself, wait for the comments of the attending physician.

BPD as an indicator of fetal nervous system development

The biparietal indicator, measured during fetometry, indirectly describes the development of the baby's nervous system and indicates the gestational age with a high degree of accuracy. In fact, BPD on ultrasound is the distance between the outer visible boundaries of the opposite parietal bones of the skull (right and left), which is determined along the line of the eyebrows. Often this parameter is measured together with the LZR indicator (frontal-occipital size) - the distance between the outer visible boundaries of the bones: occipital and frontal.

The characteristics of bipolar disorder are used to determine the degree of safety for the mother and the child to pass it through the birth canal during delivery. In the case when the value of bipolar disorder significantly exceeds the norm, surgical delivery by the method of cesarean section is indicated.

The BPD indicator in combination with the LHR indicator allows weekly assessment of the characteristics of the brain and the development of the baby's nervous system. A feature of biparietal characteristics is a slowdown in their growth with increasing gestational age.

At twelve weeks, the growth rate of BPD is about 4 mm per week, by the end of the gestation period it barely reaches 1.3 mm. A competent interpretation of this indicator makes it possible with a high level of reliability to assess the growth and development of the baby throughout the entire period of gestation.

Minor fluctuations in the biparietal and frontal-occipital indicators can be options for the normal growth of the baby. For example, if the fruit is large (over 4 kg), then all parameters can be increased for a period from one to several weeks. Also, sometimes the head grows slightly more / less than other organs, because the baby grows unevenly. In this situation, it is necessary to repeat the ultrasound scan after a few weeks, perhaps the indicators will even out.

If the doctor diagnosed the patient with a large-fruited pregnancy, then the indicators of BPD and LHR can naturally be increased in accordance with the size and weight of the baby.

A significant increase in these indicators can be an alarming symptom, indicating the development of neoplasms of bone or brain structures, the appearance of cerebral hernias and the accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles of the brain (hydrocephalus / dropsy of the brain):

With the development of neoplasms and cerebral hernias, it is recommended to terminate the pregnancy. A fetus with such a pathology is usually not viable.
Hydrocephalus, in most cases, occurs due to intrauterine infection. The infection must be treated with antibiotics without fail. If this treatment fails, it is recommended to terminate the pregnancy. If there is no development of hydrocephalus, the fetus, as a rule, is allowed to be saved, but monitoring of its condition through ultrasound should be carried out constantly.

A decrease in the size of the fetal head may indicate insufficient development of certain brain structures, or the absence of such. The absence of any brain structures is a strict indication for termination of pregnancy, regardless of how long this pathology was discovered.

Another reason for the decrease in BPD and LHR is the violation of the timing of fetal development. This phenomenon requires immediate medical intervention and correction, because can cause intrauterine death of the child.

Table showing femur length by week , helps to understand the dynamics of its growth in the process of fetal development. It is necessary to identify all kinds of deviations in the early stages thanks to the indicators of the norm presented in the table.

Why is it important to track the length of the fetal femur?

This bone is the thickest and longest in the human body. It takes over the function of maintaining the balance of the body and a large share of the load on it.

Interesting! In connection with such a responsible role, a significant number of pathologies of this zone are due to damage to the hip bone.

When measuring the longest bone of the fetus, the degree of its growth in length is revealed. With the help of such a diagnosis, the specialist confirms the compliance (or inconsistency) of the indicators with gestational age.

This information allows one to judge the presence of possible pathologies or the likelihood of their development. This is especially important in cases where one of the parents has some form of anomaly of the femur: the risk of certain diseases in this area increases with a genetic predisposition. For example, osteogenesis imperfecta, characterized by increased fragility of bones (otherwise - the disease of the "crystal man"), can lead not only to intrauterine fractures, but also death if timely diagnosis was absent.

In addition, in some cases, it is the data obtained with the help of diagnostics that raise the question of the appropriateness of treatment or medical intervention even before childbirth. Upon confirmation of the presence of pathologies, parents also have the opportunity to prepare for special care for the unborn child.

How does the hip bone grow?

As a person grows, his bones also grow - both in length and in width. In order to understand at the expense of which part the femur grows in length, it is necessary to imagine that in this case growth is observed mainly in non-ossified zones. These include the tissues located between the diaphysis and the pineal gland. However, in part, the length of the femur also increases due to the formation of new tissue particles between the already formed ones. This growth is provided by the cartilage located in the area between the bone body and the ends of the bone.

Growth in thickness is possible due to cell division of the periosteum. In this case, new layers are deposited on the joint surface. It is the periosteum that has the ability to restore destroyed bone particles, therefore, accretion with fractures in most cases is explained by its activity.

For reference! Throughout life, human bone substance undergoes destruction and new formation. Replacement of bone substance, according to a study, occurs in humans every six months.

How to find out the dynamics of the growth of the femur?

Pregnant women undergo many different examinations during all three trimesters, including such an important procedure as fetometry. This is a method that makes it possible to determine the size of the fetus using ultrasound for subsequent comparison of the final indicators with the standards.

The main criteria that are considered during this survey include the following points:

biparietal size;
size from coccyx to crown;
abdominal circumference;
chest circumference;
the length of the femur bone.

These data are indicated in millimeters, and the weight and overall height of the fetus are in grams and centimeters, respectively.

In some cases, the lengths of the following sections may also be required:

shin bone;
tibia;
bones of the forearm and shoulder;
feet;
nose.

If specific pathologies are suspected, the following data are sometimes required:

head circumference;
the size of the cerebellum;
frontal-occipital size;
fetal heart diameter.

It is on the basis of the information obtained during fetometry that the attending physician draws conclusions about the norm or developmental anomaly.

Thigh Bone Length Chart

The average length of the femur corresponding to different weeks of pregnancy can be found in the table.

It is important to understand that these are average indicators, minor deviations from which to a greater or lesser extent should not become a cause for concern. However, in cases of lagging behind the standards by two weeks or more, we can talk about fetal malnutrition.

If the normal size is exceeded, additional research methods will be needed. As a rule, this does not apply to the total weight of the fetus, since its excess is most often provoked by the excess weight of the pregnant woman, as well as by a genetic predisposition.

Important! Ancillary studies are usually carried out in cases where the norm is exceeded by a specific part of the body.

Congenital abnormalities of the hip bone

The main anomalies of this zone include three congenital diseases that need to be treated precisely in childhood. Otherwise, they can lead to disability and other serious complications.

Underdevelopment of the femur

In almost half of the cases, this pathology is complemented by the absence of the patella or other similar pathology. The main symptom of the disease is lameness, the severity of which depends on the severity of the pathology. At the same time, the joint can maintain its function, while the muscles of the thigh and buttocks gradually atrophy. If violations are observed in the distal regions, the lowering of the pelvis to the affected side is noted.

Usually, with such a diagnosis, surgical intervention is required, the main task of which is to restore the length of the lower limb.

Dysplasia of the hip joint

With this disease, shortening of the leg and severe lameness are observed. When it affects both sides, the so-called duck gait appears.

Pathological changes in cases of such an anomaly include a decrease in the size of the femoral head and its displacement relative to the acetabulum.

At an early age, the pathology can be eliminated with conservative treatment methods, which include the use of orthopedic splints and pillows. After three years of age, dysplasia requires surgery and subsequent long-term rehabilitation.

Usually, pathology is triggered by ossification of the femoral neck or damage to the cartilage in the fetus. Almost a third of cases of this disease are bilateral deformities.

This disease is characterized by a significant limitation of movement of the lower limb and severe lameness. As a rule, with such a pathology, surgical intervention is necessary.

Hallux valgus also occurs, but it is rarely diagnosed. This is due to the fact that this pathology is asymptomatic.

In most cases, such pathologies are detected already during X-ray examination and do not require additional diagnostic methods. The methods of therapy in each specific case must be determined by a specialist.

When studying the development of the fetus in the II and III trimesters of pregnancy, the main attention is paid to measuring the biparietal size of the head, the average diameter of the chest and abdomen, as well as the length of the thigh.

It was found that with the development of the fetus, all four of these main indicators progressively increase. However, by the end of pregnancy, their growth rate gradually decreases. Thus, the rate of increase in the biparietal head size decreases from 4 mm / week at 14-15 weeks of gestation to 1.3 mm / week by the end of pregnancy, the length of the thigh - from 4.8 mm / week to 1.7 mm / week.

Table 2 shows changes in fetometry data in the II and III trimesters of pregnancy, taking into account individual fluctuations.

Table 2. The main indicators of fetometry at different stages of pregnancy

Pregnancy period, weeks	BPR, cm	Chest diameter, cm	Belly diameter, cm	Thigh length, cm	Pregnancy period, weeks	BPR, cm	Chest diameter, cm	Belly diameter, cm	Thigh length, cm
14	2,4 2,1-2,8	2,4 2,0-2,9	2,4 1,9-2,9	1,2 1,0-1,5	28	7,1 6,5-7,5	7,2 6,7-7,8	7,4 6,8-7,9	5,3 4,9-5,7
15	2,8 2,5-3,2	2,8 2,3-3,2	2,8 2,3-3,2	1,6 1,1-1,8	29	7,3 6,9-7,7	7,4 6,9-8,2	7,6 7,1-8,3	5,5 5,1-5,9
16	3,2 2,8-3,6	3,2 2,7-3,7	3,2 2,6-3,6	2,0 1,6-2,4	30	7,5 7,1-8,0	7,7 7,2-8,4	7,9 7,3-8,7	5,7 5,3-6,1
17	3,6 3,2-3,9	3,6 3,1-4,0	3,6 3,2-3,9	2,4 2,0-2,8	31	7,8 7,3-8,3	8,0 7,4-8,7	8,2 7,5-9,0	5,9 5,9-6,3
18	3,9 3,6-4,3	3,9 3,5-4,4	3,9 3,5-4,3	2,7 2,3-3,0	32	8,0 7,5-8,5	8,2 7,2-9,0	8,5 7,8-9,3	6,1 5,7-6,5
19	4,3 3,9-4,7	4,3 3,8-4,8	4,3 3,8-4,7	3,0 2,7-3,4	33	8,2 7,7-8,8	8,5 7,8-9,3	8,7 8,0-9,7	6,3 5,9-6,6
20	4,7 4,3-5,0	4,6 4,2-5,2	4,7 4,3-5,1	3,3 2,9-3,6	34	8,4 7,9-9,0	8,7 8,0-9,6	9,0 8,2-10	6,5 6,1-6,8
21	5,0 4,6-5,3	5,0 4,6-5,5	5,0 4,7-5,5	3,6 3,2-4,0	35	8,6 8,1-9,2	8,9 8,2-9,8	9,2 8,4-10,5	6,7 6,2-7,1
22	5,3 4,9-5,7	5,3 4,8-5,8	5,4 5,0-5,9	3,9 3,5-4,2	36	8,8 8,3-9,4	9,2 8,4-10,2	9,5 8,6-10,8	6,9 6,4-7,3
23	5,6 5,2-6,0	5,6 5,2-6,1	5,7 5,4-6,2	4,1 3,7-4,6	37	8,9 8,5-9,6	9,4 8,6-10,5	9,7 8,7-11,2	7,1 6,5-7,4
24	5,9 5,5-6,3	6,0 5,5-6,5	6,1 5,7-6,5	4,4 4,0-4,8	38	9,1 8,6-9,8	9,5 8,8-10,8	9,9 8,8-11,5	7,3 6,6-7,6
25	6,2 5,8-6,6	6,3 5,8-6,8	6,4 6,0-6,8	4,6 4,2-5,1	39	9,3 8,8-10,0	9,8 8,9-11,1	10,1 9,9-11,9	7,4 6,7-7,8
26	6,5 6,1-6,9	6,6 6,1-7,2	6,7 6,3-7,2	4,9 4,5-5,3	40	9,4 8,9-10,4	9,9 9,0-11,5	10,3 9,1-12,2	7,6 6,8-8,0
27	6,8 6,3-7,2	6,9 6,4-7,4	7,0 6,6-7,6	5,1 4,7-5,3
The biparietal head size (BPD), the average diameters of the chest and abdomen are given according to L.S. Persianinov and V.N. Demidov (1982), thigh length - according to A. N. Strizhakov and M. V. Medvedev (1984).

It is also important to calculate the estimated length of the fetus by measuring the length of the thigh to determine the degree of maturity of the fetus. It was found that at the end of the prenatal period of development during ultrasound examination it is possible to visualize the secondary ossification point in the lower epiphysis of the thigh (Beklar's nucleus). With sufficient maturity of the fetus, the total length of its thigh is 7 cm or more, the size of the Beklar nucleus ranges from 5-7 mm. The relationship between fetal length and thigh length is expressed by the following equation:

D \u003d 0.508B 2 - 0.56B + 28.68

where D is the length of the fruit, cm; B - fetal thigh length, see

Using this equation makes it possible to predict the length of the newborn with an accuracy of ± 1 cm in 71.4% and ± 2 cm in 88.6% of observations.

Ultrasound examination is one of the most objective methods for diagnosing fetal growth retardation syndrome. Ultrasound diagnosis of developmental delay is based on a comparison of the photometric data obtained during the study with the standard indicators of a given gestational age.

Distinguish between symmetrical and asymmetric forms of fetal growth retardation, which are characterized by different ratios of the main indicators of fetometry, the timing of occurrence and etiological factors.

With a symmetrical shape, all fetometric parameters (biparietal head size, average chest and abdominal diameters, thigh length) are below the normal values \u200b\u200bof individual fluctuations for the corresponding gestational age.

The asymmetric shape is characterized by a predominant decrease in the size of the abdomen and chest. Biparietal head size and fetal femur length remain within the normal range.

Therefore, it is these two indicators that can serve as criteria for distinguishing the forms of fetal growth retardation syndrome.

Lagging parameters of fetometry

I degree - there is a lag of fetometry parameters by 2 weeks,
II degree - for 3-4 weeks
III degree - there is a decrease in size by more than 4 weeks of pregnancy.

An important indicator for assessing the effectiveness of the therapy is the growth rate of fetometric indicators. The cessation of the growth of indicators, as well as the presence of a symmetric form of the syndrome of delayed fetal development of the III degree, indicates a significant violation of its vital activity and serves as an indication for early delivery.

The interpretation of the ultrasound readings is carried out by two specialists - the doctor who performs the ultrasound examination and the leading gynecologist. The ultrasound doctor issues a conclusion with the established pregnancy period and information about the existing pathologies of fetal development or their absence. The gynecologist assesses the degree of pathologies and decides what to do next for the pregnant woman.

What is an ultrasound scan for during pregnancy

An ultrasound analysis is caused by the need to examine the child in the womb for his pathologies or their absence.

Early ultrasound is carried out to establish the presence of pregnancy and its duration, the number of fetal eggs. This way of research is useful in that it can reveal an ectopic pregnancy - a dangerous condition that requires the immediate intervention of doctors, up to surgical methods. If, with the help of ultrasound, this pathology is detected at the initial stages, the pregnant woman has the opportunity to avoid surgical intervention.

At the stage first screening (11-13 weeks) the walls of the uterus, the uterus itself and its appendages are studied, and the following indicators of the growth of the embryo are considered:

chorion - it contributes to the development of the placenta;
the yolk sac is an important component for the development of the embryo.

At subsequent stages of ultrasound helps to identify existing pathologies, such as the threat of miscarriage,. It is the timely diagnosis of deviations that helps to eliminate them and avoid subsequent complications.

At the second screening a number of indicators are being investigated, which will then need to be deciphered:

the uterus, fallopian tubes and the state of the ovaries are examined;
fetometry is performed, with the help of which the sizes of individual parts of the fetus are established and their compliance with the terms of pregnancy is assessed;
the state of the organs connecting the child with the mother (placenta, umbilical cord) is studied, the structure of the amniotic fluid is assessed;
the state of the child's internal organs is analyzed.

On this ultrasound, some pathologies can be traced, such as oligohydramnios or too low attachment of the placenta. Thanks to ultrasound, you can establish both curable and incurable fetal defects.

Third screening is carried out for the following purposes:

identification of serious fetal malformations that cannot be detected in the early stages;
determination of fetal presentation (gluteal or cephalic);
determination of the child's body weight;
assessment of the risk of malformation of the brain;
examination for the subject;
fetal heart rate assessment - rapid or rare;
assessment of fetal growth;
assessment of the risk of developing heart defects in the fetus.

On ultrasound in the third trimester, you can already see the baby's lungs and their readiness to work in a normal environment in the event of premature birth. At the last screening, a lot of attention is paid to the skull, abnormalities such as cleft palate, cleft lip, etc. are monitored.

On the eve of the birth itself, ultrasound allows you to find out some of the nuances that may be important for the very process of childbirth. In particular, only thanks to ultrasound it is possible to see the entwined umbilical cord with 100% accuracy, and this is a very important aspect in the birth process, because it can become a threat to both the baby's health and his life.

Some pregnant women are prescribed Ultrasound is more often than expected. These pregnant women include those who have: diabetes mellitus, diseases of the blood and lymph, negative Rh factor.

Decoding ultrasound of the fetus

Already starting from the 11th week of pregnancy, the detection of fetal pathologies is allowed. In Russia, there are two main standard protocols for decrypting data.

These studies are conducted at 11-13 weeks of gestation and at 19-22 weeks. In order to more accurately decipher the data, you need to know the norms of fetal development at different stages of gestation.

At this time, a detailed examination of the collar zone of the fetus is carried out - the area between the tissues and skin in the neck area. The thickness of the collar zone is designated by the abbreviation TVP. Normally, the TVP should not exceed 2.7 mm.

The nasal bone is another parameter that is being investigated at this time. Normally, the bone should be visualized.

Another indicator that is measured at this stage is CTE (coccygeal-parietal size of the fetus).

For a baby at 11-13 weeks, the CTE is considered the norm in the range of 45-80 mm.

In addition to the CTE, the doctor evaluates the biparietal and frontal-occipital dimensions of the fetus. The first is the distance from one temple of the head to another and is normally up to 28 mm. The second - the distance from the frontal to the occipital bone - normally does not exceed 31 mm.

* Percentile is a descriptive statistic term. The average value is indicated in the column "50th percentile", in the columns "5th percentile" and "95th percentile" - the minimum and maximum allowable values, respectively.

Separately, the doctor assesses the diameter of the ovum ...

... and calculates your heart rate (HR).

If the indicators do not correspond to the norm, the pregnant woman is recommended to undergo a consultation with a geneticist and additional examination.

Second fetal screening

The rates of fetal development in the second trimester are shown in the table:

If there are any changes in these indicators, abnormalities in the development of the child in the womb can be assumed. By the way, at the second screening the fetus is seen much better than at the first one, so the doctor can judge not only about genetic abnormalities, but also about other defects (they are recorded separately in the examination protocol).

As part of the third screening, such parameters of the baby as height, weight, biparietal head size, hip and chest length are assessed. The norms of the listed parameters are described in the table above. Below are the normal indicators of BPR and LHR.

During the 3rd screening, the doctor evaluates the state of the placenta, its degree of maturity and thickness... The placenta is the link between the mother and her baby. It remains throughout the pregnancy. It exists in order to nourish the child with the necessary nutrients.

IAI (amniotic fluid index) rates

Fetal size by week of pregnancy

In each trimester, its own research is carried out and its measurements are made. The interpretation of ultrasound indicators helps to establish the size of the child at the time of his development.

Below is a table of sizes and weights of the fetus by week. It is worth saying that the readings are average and may differ from reality. This is especially true in the last months of pregnancy.

A newborn can be born with a weight of 2300 grams, or it can be born with a weight of 4500 grams. And in fact, and in another case, he can be absolutely healthy.

Term in weeks	Height in cm

Placental ultrasound

Ultrasound of the placenta determines its size, echo structure, development.

When the placenta can be hyper-thickened:

with detachment;

with Rh-conflict;

with dropsy of the embryo;

slight thickening can occur in women with diabetes mellitus;

if during gestation the pregnant woman has suffered an infectious disease.

The placenta has the same functions as the human body - it tends to arise, ripen and wither. All these moments are absolutely natural. But if it happens, it is a pathology.

Exist 3 degrees of maturity of the placenta:

I degree of maturity. Until the 30th week of pregnancy, the placenta is at zero maturity. At this time, it increases in size, feeding the baby with all the useful elements. The structure is normally homogeneous and smooth. After 30 weeks, specks and waves may appear on the placenta, which indicate the beginning of maturation of the placenta. If the appearance of these signs is detected earlier, then such a process is called "premature aging of the placenta." In some cases, women are prescribed medication. The first degree should last up to 34 weeks.

II degree of maturity. This degree comes from 34 to 37 weeks. It looks already more embossed, wavy, ultrasound shows an echo structure with specks. If the second degree is indicated at an early date than 34 weeks, then more detailed diagnostics and CTG of the fetus will need to be passed. All analyzes as a whole will show if there are any fetal pathologies. If the child suffers from hypoxia, then outpatient treatment may be prescribed.

III degree of maturity. This degree is established already at full-term pregnancy. The placenta prepares for childbirth and its functions decrease, and its natural aging begins. There are large waves and salt deposits all over the surface.

If the placenta does not meet its due date, then there is a risk of premature birth.

Fetal umbilical cord ultrasound

The umbilical cord passes between the placenta and the fetus, which connects them together. Ultrasound examination determines the number of vessels in the umbilical cord, their condition, structure.

The umbilical cord has two arteries and one vein that feed the fetus. The vein saturates the fetus with oxygen, and the arteries serve as an outlet for processed foods.

The length of the umbilical cord should normally be at least 40 cm.

An ultrasound scan allows you to see the entanglement of the umbilical cord, if any. The establishment of the entanglement is not yet a reason for a cesarean section.

Ultrasound examination of amniotic fluid

During the ultrasound process, the amniotic index is calculated, which indicates the amount of water. The index is measured according to a certain scheme:

the uterus is divided by two perpendicular stripes, one along the navel, the other longitudinally;

in each sector, measurements are made of the free distance between the fetus and the wall of the uterus;

indicators are summed up.

Normal values \u200b\u200bat 28 weeks will be an AI reading of 12-20 cm. An increase in the value may indicate polyhydramnios, a decrease in indicators, respectively, of low water.

* Percentile is a descriptive statistic term. The average value is indicated in the column "50th percentile", in the remaining columns - the minimum and maximum allowable values, respectively.

In any case, this or that deviation indicates a disturbance in the blood supply to the placenta.

Ultrasound of the uterus during pregnancy. The size of the uterus by weeks of pregnancy

When conducting an ultrasound of the uterus, its size is measured, its appearance is examined for the presence of myomatous nodes, muscle tone, the thickness of the walls of the uterus is measured.

Before pregnancy, the thickness of the walls of the uterus is 4-5 cm, by the end of pregnancy, the uterus is stretched, its walls become thinner and are approximately 0.5-2 cm.

The norm for the length of the cervix is \u200b\u200b3.5-4.5 cm.

Marianna Artemova, obstetrician-gynecologist, specially for website

Average values \u200b\u200bof the size of the fetus and uterus by ultrasound

Ultrasound diagnostics of pregnancy.

Average size of the ovum in the first trimester of pregnancy

The relationship of the coccygeal-parietal size (CTE) with the gestational age (by the last menstruation)

Relationship between the biparietal size (BPD) of the fetal head and gestational age (by the last menstrual period)

BRGP (BPR) - biparietal head size. DB - thigh length. DGrK is the diameter of the chest. Weight - in grams, height - in centimeters, other indicators in millimeters.

The size of the fetus at 32 weeks may differ from the average, which is not worth worrying about if the other indicators are normal.

At 32 weeks of gestation, the average fetal weight is 1800 g and the height is 42 cm.However, this period is already quite late, the indicators in each case can differ greatly from the average values. This can be caused by many factors, the main among which are: heredity, the state of health of the mother and her nutrition, the course of pregnancy.

Why you need to determine the size of the fetus

Knowledge of fetal height and weight plays an important role in choosing the best type of delivery in the case of a large fetus, and is also important in diagnosing developmental anomalies or malnutrition. In addition to developmental pathologies, the size of the fetus is needed to approximate the size of the fetus directly during childbirth.

Normal fetal size at 32 weeks gestation

At 32 weeks, the size of the fetus can be very different from the average, which does not pose any threat to the life of the fetus, if the other indicators of the mother and child are normal. Starting from 32 weeks, the child gains weight much faster, while his growth in length slows down. In the case of multiple pregnancies, it is normal to lag in the size of the fetus by 1-2 weeks from the average.

The size of the fetus at 32 weeks of gestation can be found very approximately by formulas based on measuring the circumference of the pregnant woman's abdomen. Most accurately these indicators can be found out as a result of ultrasound. An ultrasound will also show whether the biparietal head size is normal, which at 32 weeks of gestation should be 82 mm, the length of the thigh is 63 mm and the diameter of the chest is 83 mm.

If the size of the fetus at 32 weeks differs greatly from the average in a smaller direction, this indicates fetal malnutrition. With fetal malnutrition in late pregnancy, normal growth can be maintained with insufficient body weight due to insufficient development of internal organs. Treatment of hypotrophy, depending on the severity of the degree of underdevelopment of the internal organs of the fetus.

Continued on the next. page

We decipher the results of ultrasound at 32 weeks of pregnancy

An ultrasound scan, or ultrasound, helps doctors examine the fetus throughout the pregnancy. Thanks to him, doctors can see not only the sex of the unborn child, but also how the fetus itself develops, the correspondence of the embryo to the gestational age.

It must be said that all these indicators are approximate, or generally accepted, the development of the fetus can occur in a completely different way, depending on physiological factors. Therefore, you should not immediately worry and go into a panic.

This is very important when a woman is pregnant, because in the early stages you can see some pathologies that can be eliminated before pregnancy. In addition, an ultrasound scan allows a mother to see her unborn child, listen to how his little heart is already beating, consider tiny arms and legs, fingers. Ultrasound is the first acquaintance of a mother and a baby, therefore it is always very important and anxious.

Such examinations should be carried out 3 times during the entire pregnancy. The gynecologist conducts routine examinations at 10-12, 20-22 and 30-34 weeks. But, if the mother expresses a desire, then an additional examination can be carried out at 28 weeks, although if the pregnancy is going well, then this does not need to be done. Examinations in the last trimester are among the most important, namely at week 32.

The last ultrasound scan at 32 weeks of gestation, as already noted, is one of the most important and indicative. It is during this period that the doctor can see deviations and pathologies that may occur in the baby.

Sucking movements of the fetus 32 weeks.avi

The research process itself during this period does not differ in any way from the previous two. On such an ultrasound, the doctor looks at the number of the fetus, its position, measures the indicators of the head, abdomen, the length of the legs and arms. At the end of the examination, the doctor determines the exact duration of pregnancy and the correspondence of the size of the embryo to the set date. Also, at this time, an estimated date of birth is assigned, so that by this time the mother is completely ready.

At this stage, the doctor determines all indicators of the placenta, its thickness, location and degree of maturation. The amount of amniotic fluid is determined, which is also very important during this period.

It is very important at this stage to find out the state of the placenta, which will be shown by ultrasound of 32 weeks of pregnancy. The normal distance of the placenta from the wall of the uterus is 6 centimeters. If this distance is less, then it may indicate a low placentation. Also, 32 weeks is the 2nd degree of maturation of the placenta, if this is so, then the mother is doing well and she does not need to worry at all. Also, its thickness should not exceed 30-34 mm at this stage. After conducting all the data, the doctor can see the state of the placenta and notice whether it is peeling off, which can affect the level of oxygen supplied to the baby.

The specialist, after examining the fetus, compares the results with the development table. If the development of the baby deviates by 1 or 2 weeks, then this is not scary, this can happen.

Decryption is very important when the ultrasound scan passes 32 weeks of pregnancy. Moreover, the doctor himself knows how to do it, it is important that the mother also knows this. Usually, abbreviations are used to denote indicators.

Decoding and normal fetal indicators at 32 weeks:

LZR or LZ (frontal-occipital part) - 95-113 mm

BPR (biparietal sizes) - 75-89 mm

OG (head circumference) - 283-325 mm

Coolant (abdominal circumference) - 258-314 mm

Forearm and key bone - 45-53 mm and 52-62 mm, respectively

If such indicators are significantly less, then the doctor indicates that there is an intrauterine growth retardation of the fetus. If this happens, then an additional course of examinations is prescribed, which determine the blood flow in the uterus, umbilical cord and embryo, as well as its heartbeat. In any case, you should not decipher all the data yourself, this should be done by a specialized doctor and only he can give the most accurate and correct conclusion about the development of the fetus, and indicate whether there are deviations and pathologies. At the stage of ultrasound of 32 weeks of pregnancy, the indicators are very important and the doctor compares them not only with tabular data, but also finds the progression with which the fetus grows, so he will be able to give accurate results of its development.

It is important not only the development of the fetus, the state of the placenta, but also the amount of amniotic fluid in this period. Often, diagnoses such as oligohydramnios or polyhydramnios can be made. But, often, such diagnoses are incorrect and only in very extreme cases can there be serious deviations from the norm. When a woman has a lack of water, it can lead to early childbirth, which can affect the life of the baby. Polyhydramnios are caused by some infections, which also affect the child not in the best way, and even more so if 32 weeks of pregnancy have passed. The parameters of ultrasound of amniotic fluid are considered normal when they show at least 2 centimeters of a free area of \u200b\u200bwater. This indicator is determined in the uterus.

A very happy and wonderful moment in the study at this time is that the mother clearly sees her baby, can see every detail, even see small nails. Also, ultrasound at 32 weeks allows you to take a clear photo of the baby, his first photo, where the face, arms, legs, fingers will already be visible.

Thanks to rapid technological progress and new opportunities, parents have the chance to take a three-dimensional photograph of their unborn child. This is a very important stage for most mothers, because getting a photo of the fruit of your love even before it is born is great.

In any case, if there are any deviations, then you should not worry if the whole pregnancy went well, the previous ultrasounds did not bode well either, which means the baby is developing in its own way, and nothing threatens him, especially since such indicators are not clear ...

When the amount of amniotic fluid changes in one direction or another, they talk about polyhydramnios and low water.

Polyhydramnios is often found in women with infectious diseases, diabetes mellitus, multiple pregnancies, certain fetal malformations, Rh sensitization (incompatibility of the blood of the mother and the fetus by the Rh factor). The condition requires compulsory treatment: antibiotic therapy, drugs that improve uteroplacental blood flow.

Low water is a pathological decrease in the amount of amniotic fluid less than 500 ml. The causes of this condition are still unknown. If there is very little water, this may indicate a severe malformation of the fetus: complete absence of kidneys. There is practically no treatment for oligohydramnios, all therapy is aimed at supporting the child.

The ultrasound specialist also evaluates. Normally, they should be transparent. If there is turbidity, mucus, flakes in the amniotic fluid, there is a suspicion of the presence of an infectious process. The woman is tested for hidden infections and is being treated.

... An ultrasound examination can detect an entanglement of the umbilical cord around the fetal neck. But in the second trimester of pregnancy, it does not cause alarm. The baby is in constant motion and the umbilical cord can unwind.
... Normally, the neck should be at least 3 cm, and only closer to childbirth, it begins to shorten and smooth out. The internal pharynx must be completely closed. Shortening of the neck or opening of the throat is a sign of isthmic-cervical insufficiency. The woman should have stitches in her cervix or an obstetric pessary (a mechanical device in the form of several rings that is inserted into the vagina and protects the cervix from premature disclosure).

Third ultrasound at 32-34 weeks

The third planned ultrasound scan is performed for a period of 32-34 weeks. Its tasks are:

Determination of the position and presentation of the fetus... At this time, the child is already large enough and his mobility is limited. The position in which he is during the ultrasound will remain until the end of labor. Determination of these indicators is important for resolving the question of the mode of delivery. Allocate the longitudinal, transverse and oblique position of the fetus. With a longitudinal position of the child, a woman can give birth naturally, the transverse and oblique position is a relative indication for a cesarean section. Natural childbirth is also possible with a normal cephalic presentation of the fetus, the pelvic location is an indication for operative delivery.
... These indicators help to understand how the child is developing. If the size of the fetus lags behind the average, you can suspect a delay in the intrauterine development of the child. Determination of fetal malnutrition requires the initiation of treatment for the pregnant woman. If the fetus, on the contrary, is ahead of the indicators, then we can talk about a large fruit. The birth of a child with a large weight (over 4 kg) is likely. This can significantly complicate childbirth, so a woman is often offered an operative delivery.
Study of the placenta, its size, degree of maturity and place of attachment. Migration of the placenta in this period has already been completed, it will occupy the same position for childbirth. It should be borne in mind that with full presentation, childbirth is possible only by cesarean section. With a low location of the child's seat, it is possible to give birth to a child through the natural birth canal, but this is fraught with a high risk of bleeding during childbirth.
Assessment of the quantity and quality of amniotic fluid (see topic: normal indicators of the second planned ultrasound scan at 20-24 weeks).

The rate of ultrasound before childbirth

The position and presentation of the child;
Estimated weight of the fetus at birth;
The position of the umbilical cord to avoid entanglement.

Fetometry data at various times

The cost of an ultrasound scan during pregnancy in the 3rd trimester (from 27 to 40 weeks) is 400 hryvnia. The price of ultrasound during pregnancy in the 3rd trimester includes: fetal biometrics (all measurements according to protocols), ultrasound of the fetal heart, Doppler of the umbilical cord and uterine arteries, ultrasound of all internal organs and structures of the brain. The higher price compared to ultrasound during pregnancy in the first and in the second trimester is due to the fact that a doppler of the fetal vessels, a more detailed echography of the fetal heart and brain structures are added to the ultrasound examination protocol in the third trimester. Also, in the third trimester, it is more difficult to conduct high-quality 3D / 4D imaging due to the relative decrease in the amount of amniotic fluid. These features require more time to conduct ultrasound research and more qualifications of the doctor. Therefore, the price of ultrasound in the third trimester is 100 hryvnia higher.

Your baby has a fetal ultrasound at 32 weeks of gestation.

The final touches remain to be completed, and the masterpiece is ready! The little miracle in your belly already has real eyelashes, eyebrows and hair on your head. The lanugo-fluffy coating on the body of the fetus is gradually disappearing, which is one of the signs of the child's gradual maturation and preparation for an out-of-uterine existence. Lanugo may remain on the shoulders and back by the time of birth, this is normal.

With an ultrasound of the fetus at 32 weeks of pregnancy, the hair is not visible, but very soon you will be able to contemplate with your own eyes whether you have a blonde, brown-haired or redhead.

With an ultrasound of the fetus at 32 weeks of gestation, the weight is about 1800 g, the height is 29 cm from the coccyx to the crown of the head. The child is gaining weight very quickly now. \\ a month ago, it was half as much, and by the time of delivery, the baby will almost double!

From this time on, the child gains weight much more intensively than it grows in length. Right now, it is very important to eat right, not to eat a lot of high-calorie foods (sweets, starchy foods, etc.), since an additional 300-500 g can be added to the genetically determined weight of a child at birth with excess caloric nutrition of the mother (provided that the placenta is working normally) ... These 300-500g plus are more difficult to give birth!

If you carry twins or more, weight gain is somewhat slower than with singleton pregnancies, since several babies have less space to grow and need to share their nutrients equally. With an ultrasound scan of a fetus at 32 weeks of gestation, if you have twins, a mandatory moment of diagnosis is a detailed measurement of all sizes of two fetuses to exclude the twin steal syndrome, when one of the children receives more nutrients and oxygen than the other. If a discrepancy in the size of one of the fetuses is detected with an ultrasound scan at 32 weeks of gestation, detailed monitoring of the intrauterine state is carried out using Doppler. Arteries of the umbilical cord, uterine arteries - left and right, middle cerebral artery, fetal aorta are examined without fail during fetal ultrasound at 32 weeks of pregnancy. With satisfactory values \u200b\u200bof the indicators, a similar ultrasound of the fetus with a Doppler is performed every 2-3 weeks to exclude intrauterine suffering of one of the babies.

When carrying out an ultrasound of the fetus at 32 weeks of gestation with singleton pregnancy, a mandatory screening study is to assess the blood flow using a Doppler in the umbilical cord arteries. When deviations from the normal Doppler values \u200b\u200bof the umbilical arteries are detected, there is a suspicion of intrauterine suffering (hypoxia) of the fetus. In this case, the Doppler of all other vessels (uterine arteries, middle cerebral artery, fetal aorta) is also performed.

Fetometry (fetal size) with ultrasound of the fetus at 32 weeks of gestation is normal:

BPR (biparietal size). With ultrasound of the fetus at 32 weeks of gestation, the biparietal size is 75-89 mm.
LZ (frontal-occipital size). With ultrasound of the fetus at 32 weeks of gestation, 95-113 mm.
OG (circumference of the fetal head). With ultrasound of the fetus at 32 weeks of gestation, the head circumference corresponds to 283-325 mm.
Coolant (abdominal circumference of the fetus) - with ultrasound of the fetus at 32 weeks of gestation is 258 -314 mm.

Normal sizes of long bones with ultrasound of the fetus at 32 weeks of gestation:

Femur 56-66mm,
Forearm bones 45-53mm,
Shin bones 52-60mm.

With an ultrasound of the fetus at 32 weeks of gestation, especially with the use of 3D-4D ultrasound during pregnancy, the baby's eyes can be seen. They are almost always closed, since in the aquatic environment it is not very pleasant for the fetus to keep its eyes open. But this does not mean that your baby is constantly sleeping! The color of the eyes in all children from a given gestational age to the time of delivery is dark gray. Does the true color appear after a while? from 3 weeks to 12 months, it is individual.

With an ultrasound scan of the fetus at 32 weeks of gestation, you can see how the baby continues to exercise in order to be ready for life outside the womb very soon! He swallows amniotic fluid, performs breathing exercises for the lungs (breathing movements), sucks a finger, pushes with his legs and arms.

Subcutaneous fat continues to be deposited, the child's skin ceases to be transparent.

With ultrasound of the fetus at 32 weeks of gestation, the position of the fetus in the uterus, its position is assessed. In most cases, the fetus, at a more or less long period of pregnancy, more often from 32 weeks of gestation, turns its head down, booty up. Is this due to the fact that the uterus is pear-shaped? pear turned upside down. Therefore, the head is more comfortable at the bottom than the pope. In addition, the head is heavier, so it rushes down. Cephalic delivery is safer for both the baby and the mother. If at the time of childbirth the child lies across or down the booty, this may be due to abnormalities in the structure of the uterus, abnormalities in the location of the placenta.

The placenta with ultrasound of the fetus at 32 weeks of gestation most often has zero or first degree of maturity. The second degree of maturity is also the norm, provided the Doppler performance is satisfactory.

Changes in the mother's body at 32 weeks of pregnancy

After 32 weeks of pregnancy, you see your doctor twice a month. Be sure to inform if you notice swelling of the hands and face, a sharp weight gain (more than 1 kg per week), headache, any visual impairment. It can be preeclampsia or late toxicosis, a very dangerous condition for the mother and her baby. The doctor will take blood pressure measurements, order a urine test to detect protein.

If your baby is in a booty-down position, you can do exercises to help the fetus roll over. Check with your doctor about these exercises. They are contraindicated, like any physical activity with the threat of premature birth.

Lie on your back on a flat, fairly hard surface, preferably on the floor with a cushion. Bend your legs at the knee joints, rest your feet on the floor and lift your buttocks up. Stand in this position for 10-15 minutes several times a day.
Place a small radio or telephone at the level of your pubic bone with pleasant soft music. Your position does not matter. Try to do 3-5 of these concerts a day for 15-20 minutes in different positions of your body: standing, lying, walking, sitting.
Ask dad or someone close to ask the baby to roll over directly approaching your stomach, so that the lips practically touch your tummy.
Lie on your side to match your baby's back. The baby's back is on the opposite side of active fetal movements. That is, if you feel more movement on the right? you need to lie on your left side. The legs are bent at the knee joints and brought as close to the stomach as possible. Use your fingertips to lightly tap the lower abdomen for 5-7 minutes 3-5 times a day.