Predictive value of conditional centile charts for weight and fundal height in pregnancy in detecting light for gestational age births

Objective: To estimate the predictive value of weight and symphysis fundal height (SFH) in pregnancy to detect light for gestational age (LiGA) births. Study design: New conditional centile charts for longitudinal monitoring of maternal weight and fundal height in pregnancy were developed based on the records of 676 women with singleton pregnancies and no complications. The records of these women and of a further sample of 102 women who had LiGA deliveries were used to assess the sensitivity and specificity of the charts in detecting LiGA during pregnancy. Results: Maternal weight is a poor predictor of LiGA births. Fundal height shows moderate predictive ability. The simple cross-sectional chart for fundal height al the 20th percentile cutoff has sensitivity and specificity of 66% in detecting LiGA births. Conclusions: Monitoring via a cross-sectional chart of fundal height offers a potentially useful screening method. The results of this study add support to arguments that routine weighing in pregnancy should be abandoned. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.