Dianne Ross R.

Labis NUR 2B

Estimating Gestational Age

Definition - Gestational age is the common term used during

pregnancy to describe how far along the pregnancy is.
Purposes:

 To calculate your estimated due date and gestational age, enter

the current date and the date your last menstrual period started.
Principles:

 Assess fetal movements.

 Assess the state of fetal wellbeing
Equipment:
 Tape measure

Steps Rationale
To reduce anxiety and gain patient
1. Explain the procedure and screen patient
cooperation
2. Gather equipment and bring to the bedside. To save time and effort
3. Instruct client to empty bladder. To provide privacy
4. Place on supine position with knees
slightly flexed and head and shoulders
slightly elevated.
5. Warm hands by rubbing your hands
together.
6. Using fingerbreadth (FB): with your to discover how the baby is lying in the
fingers measure the anterior abdominal wall uterus.
where the fundus of uterus is palpable and
compare your findings with the following:
a. Uterus is palpable as the level of the
symphysis pubis at 12 weeks gestation
b. 4FB above symphysis or midway between
symphysis and umbilicus is 16 weeks of
gestation
c. At the level of umbilicus – 20-22 weeks
d. 2FB above umbilicus – 24-26 weeks
e. 3-4 FB above umbilicus – 28 weeks
f. Just below xyphoid process – 40 weeks
g. 2 FB below xyphoid process – 40 weeks
7. If McDonald’s Rule is used.
a. With flexible tape measure, measure the
height of fundus from notch of symphysis
pubis over the tip of the fundus without
tipping the corpus back.
b. Then calculate as follows: height of fundus
(cm) x2/7 (or 3.5) = duration of pregnancy in
lunar months.
Height of fundus (cm) x 8/7 = duration of
pregnancy in weeks
8. Make patient comfortable