• Explain the procedure to the mother and gain verbal consent
• Wash hands
• Have a non-elastic tape measure to hand
• Ensure the mother is comfortable in a semi-recumbent position, with an empty bladder
• Expose enough of the abdomen to allow a thorough examination

 

• Ensure the abdomen is soft (not contracting)
• Perform abdominal palpation to enable accurate identification of the uterine fundus.

• Use the tape measure with the centimetres on the underside to reduce bias
• Secure the tape measure at the fundus with one hand

• Measure from the top of the fundus to the top of the symphysis pubis
• The tape measure should stay in contact with the skin

• Measure along the longitudinal axis without correcting to the abdominal midline
• Measure only once

Record the metric measurement and plot it on the growth chart.