A new symphysis‐fundus height growth chart based on a well defined female population with ultrasound‐dated singleton pregnancies

BACKGROUND: The aim was to construct a new symphysis-fundus (SF) height growth chart, based on ultrasound-dated singleton pregnancies. METHODS: We made a population-based study of all women, from the catchment areas of three district antenatal clinics, who registered for antenatal care during 1986. The growth of the SF height was measured on 403 women with singleton pregnancies. RESULTS: During pregnancy each woman made on average 14.0 (s.d. 2.8) visits to the antenatal clinic, where the SF height was measured on average 10.4 (s.d. 2.6) times. All but two women had an ultrasound examination. Using proper longitudinal methods a new SF height growth chart was constructed. CONCLUSION: The mean values of the present curve, based on longitudinal data, were almost identical with the mean values of a recently presented curve based on stratified cross-sectional data. Both these Swedish studies were population-based and the pregnancies were ultrasound-dated.