Correlation between placental thickness and estimated fetal weight in third trimester

Introduction: The placenta is the primary factor of fetal birth weight, and abnormalities in placental growth tend to precede problems in fetal growth. Estimating weight of fetus is important in daily obstetric practice. It assists obstetricians in determining the timing & method of delivery. The sufficiency of the placenta is an essential indicator of birth weight.Aim of the study: The goal of the research was to detect the association among sonographically measured thickness of placenta at the site of insertion the umbilical cord & the estimated fetal weight in third trimester.Subjects and Methods: This was cross sectional prospective observational research performed at Fayoum University Hospital, at the department of obstetrics & Gynecology. 100 antenatal pregnant women in third trimester who attended antenatal clinic have been recruited, following fulfilling the exclusion & inclusion criteria. In along with fetal biometry to estimate fetal weight using Hadlock’s formula, thickness of placenta was assessed at the umbilical cord site of insertion, with the transducer positioned to scan perpendicularly to both the chorionic & basal plates of the placenta.Results: The research demonstrates a statistically significant positive association has been observed among mean placental thickness & gestational age (wks). A highly significant positive association has been observed among mean thickness of placenta & estimated fetal weight.Conclusions: Thickness of placenta serves as a dependable indicator of fetal weight & gestational age during the 3rd trimester.Keywords: Fetal weight; fetal biometry; Placental thickness; gestational age.