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Tape measurement of symphysis‐fundal height in twin pregnancies
Author(s) -
NEILSON J. P.,
VERKUYL D. A. A.,
BANNERMAN C.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1988.tb06513.x
Subject(s) - medicine , obstetrics , singleton , symphysis , twin pregnancy , gestational age , birth weight , small for gestational age , pregnancy , fetal weight , gestation , surgery , genetics , biology
Summary. We hypothesized that tape measurement of symphysis‐fundal height could be useful in detecting multiple pregnancies, and in such cases in predicting preterm labour and identifying small‐for‐gestationalage (SGA) fetuses. Although mean fundal height is substantially greater in twin than in singleton pregnancies, the value of the technique to detect multiple pregnancies may be limited because combined birthweight is less and the frequency of SGA fetuses is greater in undiagnosed than in diagnosed twin pregnancies. We found no evidence that the measured fundal height is greater in pregnancies going on to preterm delivery, and we suggest that the commonly accepted theory that the high rate of preterm labour in twin pregnancies results simply from uterine overdistension be reappraised. Nevertheless, fundal height measurement was of value in identifying pregnancies in which both babies were SGA and is therefore recommended as a simple, inexpensive and non‐invasive technique.