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The pregnant woman’s dream is to see her huge belly growing every day. The more the belly grows, it is a clear sign that the baby is developing as well. The baby grows and along with it the uterus. So in the office at the time of prenatal care , the doctor, in addition to listening to the baby’s heartbeat, monitors the growth with uterine height. But do you know what uterine height is?
Why Measure Uterine Height?
The uterine height is used to assess the growth of the baby in the womb using a measuring tape, if it is suitable for gestational age. It is measured from the pelvis to where it is reaching at that moment. Usually the weeks of gestation are used to take into account the correct uterine height, proportionally to each other, that is, the uterine height must be in the same number as the weeks of gestation . An example:
- 25 weeks of gestation = 25 cm of AU
- 30 weeks of gestation = 30 cm of AU
When to start the measurement?
The uterine height begins to be measured at around 16 weeks and in some cases at 20 weeks because it is at this gestational age that the uterus begins to detach from the pelvic bone reaching the height of the navel. There are cases where the uterine height differs with the number of weeks of pregnancy.
There is a tolerance of 2 cm for greater and 2 cm for less, however, uterine height beyond this tolerance must undergo an investigation to find out the causes. In both cases, whether the uterine height is smaller or smaller, the doctor will order ultrasound exams to confirm the gestational age.
Images of adequate uterine height
Uterine Height Below Indicated
Most cases in which the uterine height is less than that indicated for gestational age can indicate a baby with growth restriction. PIG babies (small for gestational age) who may be suffering from a weight gain restriction due to aged placenta reasons or even if the mother is experiencing problems such as hypertension in pregnancy .
After confirming the gestational age, usually based on the first ultrasound and the recent ultrasound , the physical and biophysical aspect of the baby’s parents are taken into account. Smaller, thinner parents tend to have smaller babies because of their genetics and can scare the doctor when it comes to measuring uterine height in the office.
Women who go to the gym may also have a lower-than-ideal uterine height, but in these cases the doctor will feel the abdominal muscles more rigid and if everything is fine with the baby and the placenta, he will only accompany the evolution more from birth baby’s growth. For this, this is used to monitor uterine height for comparison.
Parameter table for uterine growth in pregnancy
Click on the images to enlarge
Greater than Ideal Uterine Height
It can happen for some reasons, including a bigger-than-expected baby, uterine fibroids , twin pregnancies and even gestational diabetes . Most cases of greater uterine height are of a pregnancy with tall, fat babies, but most do not cause any major problems.
The baby’s position inside the uterus can also influence a higher uterine height than expected for that gestational age. The placenta can also interfere with the measurement of uterine height, if by chance the placenta is below the baby pouting upwards, it can cause a height greater than ideal, but there are no problems.
As stated earlier, an ultrasound can detect the reason for the greater uterine height. There is the amniotic fluid factor that also interferes, if it is low it can cause a lower uterine height than the ideal or above causing polydramnia, and this is easily seen in a routine ultrasound or if the doctor suspects it.
Decreasing Uterine Height?
Near the birth of the baby, the uterine height may also become smaller, with the baby’s fit in the pelvis automatically the uterus loses height so we say that the lower belly in pregnancy means that the baby is already fitted. Women with more than one pregnancy may also have a higher uterine height than expected but the doctor will know from the history of the beginning of prenatal care.
Do not be alarmed if the uterine height is different from the one indicated, always in any situation the doctor must and will surely guide what to do and know how to handle the situation, always remember, make your obstetrician your best friend!
A tip for women who are suffering a lot from the nausea and nausea of the gestational phase and feel very difficult to swallow the prenatal vitamin, there is a great option, the FamiGesta vitamin . It consists of all the important vitamins for this phase with the difference in the size of the capsule, which is much easier to swallow. You can buy it here in our online store.
To the next!
See also: Fetal Monitor – Listen to Baby’s Beating at Home!
My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.
Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.
