Question

I am now 34 weeks pregnant. The color Doppler data shows that the biparietal diameter is 91MM, the head-to-tail length is 328MM, the abdominal circumference is 329MM, the femur length is 65MM, and the humerus length is 59MM. The doctor advised me to go to a higher-level hospital for a follow-up examination! Is a larger-than-normal fetal head size a sign of hydrocephalus? Why can’t the ultrasound detect hydrocephalus?

Answer

Based on your ultrasound results, the biparietal diameter and femur length of the fetus are consistent, but slightly larger than expected for your actual pregnancy duration. This may be due to adequate nutrition, leading to excessive fetal growth, which is relatively common at this stage. Therefore, there’s no need to worry as long as there are no abnormalities within the fetal head. Additionally, it’s best to calculate the due date based on your menstrual cycle rather than the ultrasound results, as ultrasound readings may not always be accurate.