A longitudinal study of amniotic fluid index in normal pregnancy in Nigerian women.
OBJECTIVE
To establish normal reference values of amniotic fluid index by week of gestation for normal pregnancies in our population.


METHODS
A longitudinal prospective assessment of amniotic fluid index in healthy pregnant women carrying singleton pregnancies. The subjects were recruited at 20 or 22 weeks of gestation and concluded at 40 or 42 weeks of gestation. The numeral data were analyzed on an IBM Personal System 2 computer with statistical and graphical packages.


RESULTS
from a mean of 17.18 cm at 20 weeks gestation, the amniotic fluid index rose progressively to a peak of 20.39 cm at 26 weeks gestation. It then gradually declined to a mean of 8.37 cm at 42 weeks gestation.


CONCLUSIONS
Gestational age specific values of amniotic fluid index should be used and the 5th and 95th percentiles taken as lower and upper limits of normal, respectively.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, P.M.B. 1414, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria.
C M
CM
Chama
D N
DN
Bobzom
M A
MA
Mai
D000653:Amniotic Fluid; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009549:Nigeria; D011247:Pregnancy; D012016:Reference Values