Estimating gestational age using placental thickness and fetal weight

TL;DR

This study explores how placental thickness and fetal weight can be used to estimate gestational age, finding strong correlations in later stages of pregnancy.

Contribution

The study reports strong positive correlations between placental thickness, fetal weight, and gestational age in a sample of 187 pregnant women.

Findings

Mean placental thickness increased with gestational age (2.083 cm at 11-20 weeks, 2.623 cm at 20-30 weeks, and 3.29 cm at 30-40 weeks).

Fetal weight increased significantly with gestational age (172.05g, 746.67g, and 2584.49g at respective stages).

A strong positive correlation was found between gestational age and placental thickness and fetal weight, except in early pregnancy.

Abstract

The correlation between placental thickness, gestational age and fetal weight across different stages of pregnancy is of interest.
Hence, 187 women (11-40 weeks gestation) at Maa Vindhyavasini Autonomous State Medical College and SMMH Medical College in India
participated in this study. Results showed that mean placental thickness increased with gestational age (2.083 cm at 11-20 weeks, 2.623
cm at 20-30 weeks and 3.29 cm at 30-40 weeks), while fetal weight also increased (172.05g, 746.67g and 2584.49g, respectively). A strong
positive correlation was found between gestational age and both fetal weight and placental thickness, except during early pregnancy
(11-21 weeks), with statistical significance at the 5% level. Thus, the correlation between placental thickness, fetal weight and
gestational age in 187 pregnant women, showing strong positive correlations, especially in later stages of pregnancy is reported.