Ultrasound Measurements
What are fetal ultrasound measurements?
Fetal ultrasound measurements can show how the baby is growing and detect abnormalities. During pregnancy many different ultrasounds measurements can be done. Fetal ultrasound measurements can include the crown-rump length (CRL), biparietal diameter (BPD), femur length (FL), head circumference (HC), occipitofrontal diameter (OFD), abdominal circumference (AC), and humerus length (HL), as well as calculation of the estimated fetal weight (EFW). Most patients in the U.S. get at least a basic sonogram around 18-20 weeks, though it may surprise you to find out that presently most medical associations do not recommend a routine ultrasound during pregnancy. A level II ultrasound takes longer and is more extensive than a level I ultrasound, but what exactly is being done may change from one institution to the other.
Many doctors still debate whether it’s worthwhile for all pregnant patients to routinely have an ultrasound done. The question is not only during which time of the pregnancy it should be done, but there is also controversy what that ultrasound should be checking for and how successful routine ultrasounds are in the detection of fetal anomalies. An ultrasound in pregnancy can be either done as a “routine” ultrasound, an anatomy sonogram, usually between 18-20 weeks or it is done for specific reasons which usually depend at the time of pregnancy. Ultrasound measurements are helpful throughout pregnancy to determine the due date and to find out if the fetus grows normally.
