Abdominal circumference (AC) is measured just above the level of the umbilicus. It is no longer recommended to measure Abdominal circumference below the level of the umbilicus because a full bladder may interfere with accurate measurement.
AC is not routinely measured unless there is a suspicion of abdominal distention due to obstruction in the gastrointestinal tract. The neonate’s abdomen usually enlarges after a feeding due to lax abdominal muscle.
Abdominal circumference of newborn boys and girls:
|
Birth weight
|
Gender
|
n
|
Mean abdominal circumference (cm)
|
SD
|
95% CI
|
P value
|
|
<1000g
|
boys
|
6
|
18.70
|
0.84
|
-1.17 -1.30
|
0.17 (>0,05)
|
|
|
girls
|
27
|
18.67
|
1.40
|
|
|
|
1001- 1500g
|
boys
|
23
|
22.20
|
1.42
|
-0.65 - 1.17
|
0.58 (>0,05)
|
|
|
girls
|
16
|
21.94
|
21.94
|
|
|
|
1501- 2500g
|
boys
|
99
|
24.47
|
2.36
|
-1.09 - 0.21
|
0.54 (>0,05)
|
|
|
girls
|
88
|
24.92
|
2.23
|
|
|
|
2501- 4590g
|
boys
|
130
|
30.56
|
1.62
|
-3.06 - 2.23
|
0.04 (<0,05)
|
|
|
girls
|
110
|
33.23
|
1.62
|
|
|
Measurement difference between two investigators
|
Birth weight
|
n
|
Mean abdominal circumference (cm) Nr.1
|
Mean abdominal circumference (cm) Nr.2
|
Mean diff
|
SD
|
St. error diff
|
P value
|
|
<1000g
|
33
|
18.70
|
18.67
|
0.03
|
0.17
|
0.03
|
0.32 (>0,05)
|
|
1001- 1500g
|
39
|
22.09
|
22.04
|
0.05
|
0.19
|
0.03
|
0.10 (>0,05)
|
|
1501- 2500g
|
148
|
25.36
|
25.40
|
0.03
|
0.16
|
0.01
|
0.02 (<0,05)
|
|
2501- 4590g
|
240
|
31.78
|
31.80
|
0.02
|
0.18
|
0.01
|
0.11 (>0,05)
|
|
Together
|
460
|
27.96
|
27.97
|
0.01
|
0.17
|
0.01
|
0.11 (>0,05)
|