NICHD fetal growth calculators now available

The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) offers two calculators to help providers estimate the growth of a fetus. Both calculators consider racial and ethnic variations for a more accurate estimate than conventional growth charts. They are both results of NICHD’s Fetal Growth Study, which aimed and continues to aim for the establishment of evidence-based standards for normal fetal growth in the United States.

The Fetal Growth Velocity Calculator

The NICHD Fetal Growth Studies velocity calculator is designed to estimate fetal growth velocity between 11 0/7 to 41 6/7 weeks of gestation for one baby. Four estimates of estimated fetal weight (EFW) percentiles can be obtained and depend on the ultrasound measurements entered, including head circumference (HC), biparietal diameter (BPD), abdominal circumference (AC) and femur length (FL).

Fetal Growth Calculator

This calculator uses data from the NICHD Fetal Growth Study to calculate EFW for one fetus between 10 weeks 0 days and 41 weeks 6 days of pregnancy. The calculator can provide 4 estimates of EFW percentiles depending on the ultrasound measurements entered. A PDF of the Percentile Range Spreadsheet, provided by the NICHD, can be found here.

More information on the calculators and the NICHD’s Fetal Growth Study can be found here.