The height of the fundus of the uterus (FHU) and its dynamics by weeks of pregnancy

Throughout pregnancy, one of the most important metrics that doctors monitor is the fundus height of the uterus (FHU). Although it’s a straightforward measurement, it offers important information about the baby’s growth and development inside the womb.

Weekly fluctuations in the FHU occur as the pregnancy goes on. Knowing about these changes can reassure expectant mothers that everything is progressing as planned and help them feel more connected to their baby’s development.

This article will describe how FHU is calculated, what to anticipate during various phases of pregnancy, and when additional monitoring may be necessary. Mapping your FHU is a crucial component of prenatal care, regardless of how far along you are in your pregnancy or how close you are to your due date.

What is it?

The female reproductive organ, which becomes a reliable refuge for the growing child during pregnancy, resembles a bag. Its lower part is like the tied part of this bag, it is the narrowest – this is the cervix. The widest part of the uterus, dome-shaped, is called the fundus of the uterus. There is one entrance into the reproductive organ – this is the cervical canal inside the cervix, and it is located below (in the vagina). The height of the fundus of the uterus is a special size reflecting the height to which the bottom part has risen relative to the pubis. Until the end of the first trimester, the parameters of the uterus are small (by the eighth week – no more than a goose egg), and it fits perfectly in the space of the small pelvis.

However, as the reproductive organ grows quickly and more muscle fibers are added, the uterus no longer fits in the small pelvis and extends into the abdominal cavity, where it gradually rises to support the diaphragm by the beginning of the 16–18 week. For these compelling reasons, a woman who is getting ready to become a mother will noticeably have a bigger belly.

The height of the fundus of the uterus shows how much its growth corresponds to the gestational age, and to a certain extent this size indicates whether, everything is in order with the pregnant woman and her child. That is why at each visit to the consultation during all months of pregnancy, starting from 18-20 weeks, the doctor measures the VDM and the circumference (girth) of the expectant mother"s abdomen along the navel line. By the ratio of these two values, according to obstetric formulas, it is even possible to calculate the estimated weight of the fetus. Until a certain time, until ultrasound existed, this was the only way to find out whether a woman would give birth to a large, normal or miniature baby. Today, specialists pay less attention to VDM than before, because the obstetrician has significantly more diagnostic tools at his disposal, and their accuracy is much higher. But this parameter has not been completely removed from the Ministry of Health and obstetric practice protocols for pregnant women.

Either on your own or with the assistance of an obstetrician-gynecologist, you can ascertain the VDM. It is not challenging.

Measurement technique

Doctors also determine the actual gestational age by the condition of the uterus earlier, before the reproductive organ rises from the pelvis. In the first trimester of pregnancy, palpation is used for this purpose – a bimanual method of gynecological examination (one hand is inserted into the genital tract, and the other presses on the lower abdomen to determine the boundaries of the organ). Nothing can be felt from the outside. This method does not provide very accurate information, but an experienced obstetrician can determine pregnancy with a two-handed method with an accuracy of up to a week. You can measure how much the bottom of the uterus has risen using a centimeter tape. It is acceptable to determine the VDM by anatomical landmarks. To measure correctly, the pregnant woman must take a lying position. She is asked to lie on the couch on her back, with her legs slightly bent at the knees. It is important that before the measurement the woman visits the toilet and empties her bladder.

The obstetrician-gynecologist must then ascertain the baby’s exact position, the location of the uterus’s bottom, and the area of the infant’s body that is next to it. Leopold’s first obstetric technique involves the doctor placing both palms on the stomach and pointing the fingertips in the direction of each other. This is the method used to calculate the uterine bottom’s greatest distance from the pubic bone line. The height of the standing of the bottom of the uterus is then expressed numerically by applying a centimeter tape from the pubic symphysis edge to this point.

The finger method can also be used by the physician if he is a staunch supporter of the traditional obstetric school. When he presses his middle and index fingers together, they should be found transversely on the stomach. After measuring in fingers, the height is converted to centimeters (two transverse fingers equals three to four centimeters).

One key indicator for tracking the development of pregnancy is the fundus height of the uterus (FHU). Doctors can evaluate the baby’s growth and development and identify any possible issues early on by routinely measuring FHU. Although FHU measurements generally follow general trends, individual differences are normal because every woman’s pregnancy is different.

These measurements at every prenatal visit offer important information about the health of the mother and the unborn child. When a woman reaches the later stages of her pregnancy, planning for delivery and predicting the outcome of the birth are greatly aided by FHU.

Parents may feel more at ease and better able to comprehend the different changes occurring as the pregnancy goes on if they are aware of the dynamics of the FHU on a weekly basis. Always seek advice from a healthcare professional to make sure everything is proceeding as planned and to address any potential issues.

Doctors use the height of the fundus of the uterus (FHU) as a key measurement to monitor the baby’s growth and the pregnancy’s overall health. It varies with the progression of the pregnancy, with weekly expected ranges in place. Monitoring the foetal heart rate (FHU) provides a clear picture of the baby’s development inside the womb and aids in identifying any potential concerns, such as unusual growth patterns or the possibility of twins.

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