Curious about how big the fetus is now in the womb? Just ask your obstetrician or midwife to check the height of the uterine fundus or TFU of pregnant women to find out the size of the little one in the womb.
Although the results are not 100 percent accurate, TFU can help estimate the baby’s size.
That way, mothers will also know more about whether their little ones are growing optimally according to their age in the womb.
Here is an explanation of TFU for pregnant women, the procedure, and what size of baby is considered normal or not. Listen, Mom.
What is the Fundal Height of the Uterus or TFU of Pregnant Women?
Quoting from the site Cleveland Clinic,The height of the uterine fundus is the measurement (in centimeters) between the top of the uterus and the pubic bone of the pregnant woman.
While launching Mayo Clinic, this fundal height measurement is usually done to determine whether the baby’s growth is on the right track, whether the baby’s size is too small or large for the mother’s gestational age.
This is one of the simplest and least invasive ways to track your baby’s growth.
In addition, in this way the doctor can also determine the gestational age (a term to describe how far along the pregnancy is), indicate the location and position of the baby , and tell how much amniotic fluid is in the uterus.
If there is too little or too much amniotic fluid, it could indicate a problem.
Fundal height measurements may be less accurate, especially if the mother is obese or the pregnant woman has a history of fibroids.
Basically, nothing is 100% accurate in terms of estimating the size of the baby in the womb. But the closest thing to being accurate is by doing an ultrasound (USG) method.
However, it is only recommended to perform it twice during pregnancy (unless medically necessary).
An ultrasound is usually performed if the fundal height is of concern.
When Do Doctors Measure TFU in Pregnant Women
Fundal height is generally measured by doctors during prenatal examinations that begin around 20 weeks of pregnancy.
This is the approximate time when fundal height and gestational age begin to match each other.
The hope is that with this measurement, after 24 weeks of pregnancy, the fundal height of the baby will grow normally and according to the number of weeks of pregnancy, between less or more than 2 centimeters.
For example, if you are 27 weeks pregnant, then your fundal height is estimated to be around 27 centimeters.
How to Measure TFU of Pregnant Women?
How to measure the TFU of pregnant women is with the help of a doctor. Later, the doctor measures the height of the fundus by finding the symphysis pubis and the mother’s fundus, by pressing and feeling so that the fundus can be found.
The pubic symphysis is a cartilage joint located between the pubic bones of a pregnant woman. While the fundus is the upper part of the mother’s uterus.
The process of examining the measurement of TFU in pregnant women:
- Mother will be asked to lie on her back.
- The nurse uses a measuring tape from the top of the symphysis pubis (pubic bone) to the uterus (fundus). The distance between these two points is your fundal height.
The location of the fundus generally moves as your pregnancy progresses.
At 12 weeks of gestation, the fundus is in almost the same place as the pubic bone.
However, after the gestational age reaches 20 weeks, the fundus will rise to the navel area.
Then, at around 36 weeks of pregnancy, the fundus has reached the sternum (the highest point it can reach).
Then, when entering the age of 36 weeks, the height of the fundus may decrease, because the baby has entered the pelvic area to prepare for labor.
What is the Normal TFU According to Gestational Age?
As explained above, fundal height is done from 20 weeks to 36 weeks of pregnancy to find out the size of the baby (in centimeters) in the womb. For example, if you are 32 weeks pregnant, the normal fundal height that can be accepted is between 30-34 centimeters.
It is important to remember that this fundal height is only an estimate.
If your baby’s size is a concern in your pregnancy, your doctor will likely recommend further testing.
What Does It Mean If The Uterine Fundal Height Is Too Small?
Fundal height is not a reason to worry. It is okay if the pregnant woman’s fundal height deviates by at least 2 centimeters.
If your doctor feels there is a problem, he or she will review your medical history and decide whether further testing is necessary.
Inaccuracies may occur because the due date ( estimated birth date ) is wrong or the baby is slightly smaller or larger than average.
Some reasons why a baby in the womb is small for its gestational age are:
- Mothers who are petite or have strong abdominal muscles.
- Mother is sufferingoligohydramnios( oligohydramnios ) or very little amniotic fluid.
- The baby’s position has dropped into your pelvis.
- Your fetus is experiencing growth retardation (several conditions can cause this).
The doctor will perform an ultrasound or additional tests if necessary to take a closer look.
What Does It Mean if the Uterine Fundal Height is Too Large?
A fundal height that is larger than expected or increasing more rapidly may indicate any of the following:
- Incorrect due date.
- Pregnant women have uterine fibroids.
- Overweight (obesity).
- Pregnant with twins or triplets.
- Too much fluid in the amniotic fluid or what is called by medical termspolyhydramnios( polyhydramnios ).
- The baby is in a breech position .
- The baby suffers from fetal macrosomia (fetal macrosomia) caused by diabetes.
Sometimes there is no reason why the height of the fetus in the uterus is larger than other babies of the same gestational age.
It could be that the cause is because your stomach is too stretched from a previous pregnancy or your bladder is full.
Depending on the circumstances, your doctor may also recommend an ultrasound to determine what is causing the unusual measurement results to monitor your pregnancy.
Does Fundal Height Predict HPL?
It is important to understand that the TFU of pregnant women is not used to measure the due date of delivery.
The best way to determine your baby’s due date is to count 40 weeks (280 days) from the first day of the mother’s last menstrual period ( HPHT ).
Generally, doctors also often use first trimester ultrasound to help determine gestational age and the due date of delivery.
Fundal height is only a tool to measure fetal growth, and its results are also not definitive. Further research is needed to determine how effective it is in detecting intrauterine growth restriction.
However, generally, the TFU of pregnant women provides an overview of fetal growth and guarantees stable growth while in the mother’s womb.
If the results of the TFU of a pregnant woman indicate that the baby is growing slower or faster than the gestational age, you should not worry too much.
If the results are not too far apart, your baby is most likely developing perfectly.
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