Clinical estimation of fetal weight: is accuracy acquired with professional experience?
OBJECTIVE
This study was conducted in order to determine whether experience and type of obstetrical profession improves the accuracy in the clinical estimation of fetal weight among obstetricians and midwives in the delivery room.


METHODS
Four groups of professionals in the delivery room clinically estimated the fetal weight in 236 parturients in active labor. Obstetric parameters such as gravidity, parity, gestational age, body mass index, amniotomy, station and cervical dilatation were recorded. Fetal weight estimations were compared with the actual birth weight after delivery.


RESULTS
The mean error rate of fetal weight estimation by attending obstetricians, residents, experienced and junior midwives was 7.9 ± 8.8, 8.0 ± 8.4, 7.8 ± 6.3 and 8.5 ± 6.8%, respectively. Error rates of the 4 groups of examiners were similar, although it was increased in all subgroups when estimating birth weights <2,500 and >4,000 g. Major discrepancies of fetal weight estimation (>10% of the actual fetal birth weight) occurred in 27.2, 28.9, 31.9 and 34.7% by attending obstetricians, residents, experienced and junior midwives, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
We found no additional value for experience and type of obstetrical training in the accuracy of clinical fetal weight estimation.
Gynecology Department, Lis Maternity Hospital, Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. ishai.levin @ gmail.com
Ishai
I
Levin
Ronni
R
Gamzu
Vladimir
V
Buchman
Avital
A
Skornick Rapaport
David
D
Pauzner
Joseph B
JB
Lessing
Benny
B
Almog
D001724:Birth Weight; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D020567:Fetal Weight; D005865:Gestational Age; D020073:Gravidity; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008880:Midwifery; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000193:education; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal