Symphysial-fundal height from 12 weeks' gestation.

There is a strong association between birth-weight and perinatal mortality and morbidity. Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) is an important cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality and 50% of cases occur in low risk patients. Despite an obvious need, the diagnosis of IUGR by clinical means has remained difficult and inaccurate. To aid this diagnosis a graph of symphysial-fundal height, based on a local population in Australia, is presented. When used in conjunction with standard charts showing centiles of birth-weight for gestational age, an estimate of fetal weight may be simply and quickly made. When tested in 49 pregnancies the mean error of predicted birth-weight was 86 +/- 67 gm/Kg.