Fundal height - wikipedia Fundal height This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( December 2009 ) Fundal height, or McDonald 's rule, is a measure of the size of the uterus used to assess fetal growth and development during pregnancy. It is measured from the top of the mother 's uterus to the top of the mother 's pubic symphysis. Fundal height, when expressed in centimeters, roughly corresponds to gestational age in weeks between 16 and 36 weeks for a vertex fetus. When a tape measure is unavailable, finger widths are used to estimate centimeter ( week ) distances from a corresponding anatomical landmark. However, landmark distances from the pubic symphysis are highly variable depending on body type. In clinical practice, recording the actual fundal height measurement from the palpable top of the uterus to the superior edge of the pubic symphysis is standard practice beginning around 20 weeks gestation. Illustration of fundal height at various points during pregnancy Gestational age Fundal height landmark 12 weeks Pubic Symphysis 24 weeks Umbilicus 36 weeks Xiphoid Process of Sternum 37 -- 40 weeks Regression of fundal height between 36 -- 32 cm Most caregivers will record their patient 's fundal height on every prenatal visit. Measuring the fundal height can be an indicator of proper fetal growth and amniotic fluid development. Knowledge of gestational age may impact how the height is measured. Shorter measure A shorter measure can happen for one of the following reasons : Fetus descent into the pelvis, seen normally two to four weeks before delivery Error in estimated date of pregnancy based on first day of last menstrual period Fetus is healthy but physically small Oligohydramnios Non longitudinal lie Small for gestational age or Intrauterine Growth Restriction Longer measure On the other side, a longer measure can be caused by : Twins, or other types of multiple birth Error in estimated date of conception Fetus is healthy but physically large Gestational diabetes causing a larger baby Polyhydramnios Large for gestational age Hydatidiform Mole Breech birth As a pregnancy approaches its end, the fundal height will become less accurate. References Jump up ^ Morse K, Williams A, Gardosi J ( December 2009 ). `` Fetal growth screening by fundal height measurement ''. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 23 ( 6 ) : 809 -- 18. PMID 19914874. doi : 10.1016 / j. bpobgyn. 2009.09. 004. Jump up ^ Jelks A, Cifuentes R, Ross MG ( October 2007 ). `` Clinician bias in fundal height measurement ''. Obstet Gynecol. 110 ( 4 ) : 892 -- 9. PMID 17906025. doi : 10.1097 / 01. AOG. 0000282758.28533. d9. Pregnancy and childbirth Planning Birth control Natural family planning Pre-conception counseling Conception Assisted reproductive technology Artificial insemination Fertility medication In vitro fertilisation Fertility awareness Unintended pregnancy Testing 3D ultrasound Obstetric ultrasonography Pregnancy test Home testing Prenatal diagnosis Prenatal Anatomy Amniotic fluid Amniotic sac Endometrium Placenta Development Fundal height Gestational age Human embryogenesis Maternal physiological changes Postpartum physiological changes Care Nutrition Environmental toxicants In pregnancy Prenatal Concomitant conditions Drinking Diabetes mellitus Smoking Vaping SLE Sexual activity during pregnancy Procedures Amniocentesis Cardiotocography Chorionic villus sampling Nonstress test Abortion Childbirth Preparation Adaptation to extrauterine life Bradley method Hypnobirthing Lamaze Nesting instinct Roles Doula Men 's roles Midwife Obstetrician Perinatal nurse Delivery Bloody show Childbirth positions Home birth Multiple birth Natural childbirth Pelvimetry / Bishop score Cervical dilation Cervical effacement Position Presentation Breech Cephalic Shoulder Rupture of membranes Unassisted childbirth Uterine contraction Water birth Postpartum Child care Congenital disorders Sex after pregnancy Obstetric history Gravidity Parity TPAL Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fundal_height&oldid=791757244 '' Categories : Obstetrics Midwifery Hidden categories : Articles needing additional references from December 2009 All articles needing additional references Talk About Wikipedia فارسی Français Edit links This page was last edited on 22 July 2017, at 08 : 46. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution - ShareAlike License ; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia ® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization. About Wikipedia

Question: when might fundal height in a pregnant woman most accurately predict gestational age
Answer: when expressed in centimeters