Fetal weight estimates in late pregnancy with emphasis on macrosomia

Abstract

The effectiveness of three methods (Shepard et al,¹ Hadlock et al,³ and Hansmann¹⁰) for estimating fetal weight was evaluated in 150 patients at greater than 36 weeks menstrual age. All infants were > 2,500 at birth. Only the method of Hadlock et al³ did not systematically underestimate birth weight. When separate weight subclasses (2,500 to 4,999 g) were examined, the method of Hadlock et al³ showed better consistency. All models, however, had significant underestimates for the largest subclasses, 4,000 to 4,999 g. The ability to predict the macrosomic infant (24,000 g) was only slightly better using the method of Hadlock et al³ than by the formula of Shephard et al.¹