Pregnancy. BDP fetus for weeks - what is it?

During the ultrasound procedure, the doctor conducts a special protocol. In it, he brings all the information about the growth and development of the baby. One of the most important indicators of the protocol is the biparietal size of the head. In this article, we'll talk about what a BDP fetus is for a week and why you need to know about it during pregnancy.

Indicator value

The brain is the most important organ of man. The correct development of the fetus depends on the state of the baby's brain. During ultrasound, the doctor pays special attention to the study of the baby's head, calculates the BDP of the fetus for weeks. This determines how correctly the fetus develops. Biparietal size is the distance from the temple to the child's temple, measured along the minor axis. That is a kind of "width" of the head. Another important indicator of ultrasound investigation is the distance from the forehead to the nape along the major axis (LZR). But biparietal size is crucial during pregnancy. It is quite accurate to set it at a period of 12 to 28 weeks. In addition to the fact that the BDP of the fetal head speaks about the correct intrauterine development of the baby, it indicates the possibility of physiological birth. In the case of serious abnormalities, the issue of delivery by caesarean section may arise.

Biparietal size - norms of indications

To the doctor was easier to navigate in terms of rates and pathology, developed a special table. They show the average rates of biparietal size using percentiles. This is the medical statistics, which indicate the upper (95 pr.) And the lower limit (5 pr.), As well as the average indicators (50 pr.). How to determine the norm of BDP fetus for weeks? The table represents percentile indices. The doctor finds the 50th value and looks at the boundaries of the extreme readings. For example, at 12 weeks the norm of BDP is 21 mm. The permissible deviations are 18-24 mm. Therefore, Mom should not worry if she sees in the protocol, for example, the value of BPR 21 or 22. The main thing is that they are less than the upper limit.

Danger of deviations

Sometimes the doctor sees that the BDP of the fetus for weeks does not fall within the permissible limits. What can it talk about? To begin with, the specialist evaluates other parameters of the fetus (abdominal circumference, thigh length, etc.). If all the indicators go beyond the limits of the norm, it can talk about a large fruit or about a spasmodic growth. In the second case, with repeated ultrasound in a couple of weeks, the numbers are likely to equalize. If the BDP of the fetal head strongly exceeds the norm, it can speak of serious problems with the health of the baby. The increased size occurs with tumors of the brain or other malignant formations, cerebral hernia, hydrocephalus. In the latter case, a woman's pregnancy is taken under special control. As a rule, the treatment is prescribed. In especially difficult situations, the question of termination of pregnancy is raised. Such a solution can offer with cerebral hernia and brain tumors, as these pathologies are incompatible with life. Equally severe consequences are the reduced size of the fetal head . This indicates the pathology of the brain, for example, the absence of its vital structures: the hemispheres or the cerebellum. According to such indications, pregnancy is interrupted at any time. If a decreased BDP is detected in the third trimester, this may indicate a syndrome of intrauterine growth retardation. In this case, urgently prescribed drugs to improve utero-placental blood flow (for example, medication "Actovegin", etc.).