During pregnancy, many physiological changes occur in the woman's body. This is due to the formation of a new functional system of the mother-fetus. The greatest changes during pregnancy undergoes the reproductive system, especially the uterus. The size of the uterus changes : the size, shape, consistency, position and reactivity of the uterus. The uterus grows during the entire pregnancy as the fetus grows. The length of the uterus at the end of pregnancy is an average of 37 cm. The uterus is increased to 1000-1500 gr.
The height of standing of the bottom of the uterus is determined from 8-9 weeks of pregnancy. This is an important indicator that helps to establish the exact duration of pregnancy, to follow the development of both the baby and pregnancy in general.
Determination of the standing height of the uterine fundus
The height of the standing of the uterus bottom is determined above the upper edge of the pubic symphysis, from the bottom of the uterus to the navel, the xiphoid process with an empty bladder. The height of the standing of the uterine fundus over the pubic symphysis is determined by a centimeter tape or tasometer.
Norms of standing height of the bottom of the uterus
There is no absolute norm of the height of standing of the uterine fundus during pregnancy at different times. The height of the standing of the bottom of the uterus depends on the constitutional type of the body of the woman, on her weight and height, on the weight of the fetus and on what kind of pregnancy. But still, we should adhere to the average values of the height of the standing of the uterus bottom at different times as a variant of the norm. In the last 2-3 weeks of pregnancy, the height of the standing of the uterine fundus is 36-37 cm, which is the maximum height of the bottom of the uterus for the entire pregnancy. At the beginning of labor the bottom of the uterus descends, the height of its standing during this period is 34-34 cm.
If the height of the standing of the uterus bottom is ahead of or behind the gestation period, this is an occasion to think about a possible pathology
The height of the standing of the bottom of the uterus when doubled will not correspond to the gestation period, ahead of it in this indicator, since the uterus will be much more stretched than with a single pregnancy. In addition to multiple pregnancy, other reasons for increasing the height of the standing of the uterine fundus in relation to the current term of pregnancy will be:
- polyhydramnios
- the presence of a large fetus;
- the error of determining the current period is possible.
The small height of the bottom of the uterus, which does not correspond to the gestation period by 3 cm or more, indicates a possible pathology of pregnancy, such as:
- hypochlorism in pregnancy ;
- delay in fetal development;
- also an error in the definition of the current period is possible.