A prenatal growth chart can help track a baby’s development during pregnancy and detect any abnormalities. It can also help plan for the baby’s arrival and help parents bond with their unborn child. Doctors may use it to determine due dates and detect problems with fetal development. NICUs use the Babson and Benda Fetal-Newborn Growth Chart for preterm babies.
Obstetricians and expectant parents can use a prenatal growth chart to track your baby’s development during pregnancy. Although babies grow at different rates, a doctor may refer to a fetal growth chart to determine if anything alarmingly abnormal is going on with the baby. Some of these charts include pictures of what the fetus should look like at each stage of development. Expectant parents can download prenatal growth chart software to know what to expect in the development of the fetus and pregnancy.
Many pregnancy and parenting websites have charts showing the average fetal length and weight for each week of gestation. Term newborns can vary greatly in length and weight. The later in the pregnancy, the more likely it is that deviations in the growth of the fetus are seen. A prenatal growth chart usually includes an average length and weight for the baby, or a range that normal babies should fall into.
Initial growth charts up to 20 weeks of gestation measure from the top of the head to the bottom of the rump of the fetus. After 10 weeks, a prenatal growth chart should transition to head-to-toe measurements. The prenatal growth chart may also include a list of identifiable organs and body structures that should be present as the gestation progresses.
The prenatal growth chart can also be helpful in planning for the baby’s arrival. In some cases, mothers may have difficulty pinpointing the date of conception, which makes it difficult for her obstetrician to ascertain a due date. Your doctor can use a prenatal growth chart to help determine an expected time frame for delivery.
Most expectant parents are anxious to know how well their babies are developing. They can receive a prenatal growth chart that includes fetal milestones including the development of body structures and senses. This helps parents bond with their unborn children. Most parents only see a small number of ultrasound images of the fetus, so growth charts help parents visualize their new baby as it grows and develops in the womb.
A prenatal growth chart can also help expectant mothers understand how their bodies change during pregnancy. This tool can help them plan for some of their pregnancy symptoms and figure out if what they’re experiencing is normal. These graphs can include expected weight gain and abdominal measurements during your pregnancy.
A doctor may also use a prenatal growth chart to help determine if there is a problem with fetal development. A developing baby who is excessively larger than normal may be at risk for gestational diabetes or another problem. Although many fetal growth charts are available, most neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) use the Babson and Benda Fetal-Newborn Growth Chart to determine the development of preterm babies. Babies who are much younger than their developing peers may suffer from genetic abnormalities and may need extra care during development and birth.
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