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    Abdominal Examination

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    Anuradha Maurya
    The document describes the abdominal examination procedure performed on pregnant women. The purpose is to determine fetal growth, position, and relationship to the pelvis. Key steps include measuring fundal height and abdominal girth, performing Leopold's maneuvers to assess fetal position, listening for fetal heart tone, and recording examination findings. The examination provides information on normal fetal development.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Abdominal Examination

    Uploaded by

    Anuradha Maurya
    805 views5 pages
    The document describes the abdominal examination procedure performed on pregnant women. The purpose is to determine fetal growth, position, and relationship to the pelvis. Key steps include measuring fundal height and abdominal girth, performing Leopold's maneuvers to assess fetal position, listening for fetal heart tone, and recording examination findings. The examination provides information on normal fetal development.

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    ABDOMINAL EXAMINATION

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    The document describes the abdominal examination procedure performed on pregnant women. The purpose is to determine fetal growth, position, and relationship to the pelvis. Key steps include measuring fundal height and abdominal girth, performing Leopold's maneuvers to assess fetal position, listening for fetal heart tone, and recording examination findings. The examination provides information on normal fetal development.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    805 views5 pages

    Abdominal Examination

    Uploaded by

    Anuradha Maurya
    The document describes the abdominal examination procedure performed on pregnant women. The purpose is to determine fetal growth, position, and relationship to the pelvis. Key steps include measuring fundal height and abdominal girth, performing Leopold's maneuvers to assess fetal position, listening for fetal heart tone, and recording examination findings. The examination provides information on normal fetal development.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 5

    ABDOMINAL EXAMINATION

    DEFINITION

    Examination of a pregnant women to determine the normalcy of fetal growth in relation to


    the gestational age, position of the fetus in uterus and its relationship to maternal pelvis.

    PURPOSE

    1. To measure the abdominal girth and fundal height.


    2. To assess the abdominal muscle tone.
    3. To find out fetal lie, presentation, position, variety (anterior or posterior) and
    engagement.
    4. To check the possible location of the fetal heart tones.
    5. To note the signs of pregnancy.
    6. To detect any deviation from normal.

    ARTICLES

    S. No. Articles Purpose


    1. Fetoscope To hear fetal heart sound.
    2. Measuring tape To measure abdominal girth
    and fundal height.
    3. Draping sheet To provide privacy.

    PROCEDURE

    S. No. STEPS RATIONALE


    1. Explain to the woman what will be done and Reduce anxiety and promotes
    how she may cooperate. relaxation during the
    procedure.
    2. Instruct the woman to empty her bladder. Avoids discomfort during
    palpation.
    3. Draws curtain around the bed. Provides privacy.
    INSPECTION
    4. Position the woman for examination. Relaxation of abdominal
    a. Under her head and upper shoulders. muscles
    b. Keep the arms in the side.
    c. Expose the abdomen only.
    5. Inspect the abdomen for scars, linea nigra, To assess physiological
    striae gravidarum, contour of the abdomen, changes in pregnancy.
    state of the umbilicus, skin condition.
    6. Check the fundal height using ulnar side of the Provide estimate whether fetal
    palm and calculate it in weeks, where 3 fingers growth corresponds to
    is equal to 4 weeks. gestational period.
    12 weeks- level of symphysis pubis
    16 weeks- midway between symphysis pubis
    and umbilicus
    20 weeks- 1-2 finger breadths below umbilicus
    24 weeks – level of umbilicus.
    28 weeks- 3 finger breadths above the
    umbilicus (1/3rd of the way between umbilicus
    and xiphoid process)
    32 weeks- halfway between umbilicus and
    xiphoid process
    36 weeks- at level of xiphoid process
    40 weeks- 2 to 3 finger breadths below the
    xiphoid process if lightening process.
    7. Measure fundal height with the help of inch To determine fundal height as
    tape. to assess growth of the fetus.
    Keep the zero line of the tape measure on the
    superior border of the symphysis pubis.
    Stretch the tape across the contour of the
    abdomen to the top of the fundus along the
    midline.
    8. Measure the abdominal girth by encircling the To determine abdominal girth.
    woman’s abdomen with a tape at the level of
    umbilicus.
    ABDOMINAL PALPATION OR
    LEOPOLD’S MANEUVERS
    9. Ask the woman to relax her abdomen muscle Helps in reducing stress and
    by folding her knew to some extent and doing tension.
    relaxation breathing.
    10. Before starting the palpation, Warm your hands To prevent contraction of
    abdomen and discomfort to the
    mother.
    11. For the technique of palpation, Helps in getting greater
    Use the flat palmar surface of fingers not amount of information with
    fingertips. Place the fingers together and apply minimum discomfort.
    smooth and deep pressure firmly.
    12. LEOPOLD’s FIRST MANEUVER
    (FUNDAL PALPATION Round, hard, readily movable
    a) Face towards women head. part, ballotable between
    b) Place your hands on the side of fundus fingers of both the hand is
    and curve the fingers around the top of indicative of head.
    uterus. Irregular, bulkier, less firm
    c) Palpate for size, shape, consistency and and not well defined suggests
    mobility of the fetal part in the fundus. buttocks.
    13. LEOPOLD’S SECOND MANEUVER
    (LATERAL PALPATION)
    a. Continue to face towards woman’s A firm, convex continuously
    head. smooth and resistance mass
    b. Keep your hands on both side of the suggests fetal back.
    uterus
    c. Apply pressure with one hand against Small, irregular mass which
    side of the uterus pushing the fetus to move on press suggests fetal
    the other side and providing support. extremity.
    d. Palpate the other side of the abdomen
    with fingers from the midline to the
    lateral side using smooth and rotatory
    movements.
    e. Repeat the steps to the other side also.
    14. LEOPOLD’S THIRD MANEUVERS
    (PAWLIK GRIP)
    a. Continue to face the woman’s head To avoid discomfort.
    (make sure that her knees are bent)
    b. Grasp the portion of the lower abdomen
    above the symphysis pubis between the
    thumb and middle finger of one hand.
    15. LEOPOLD’S FOURTH MANEUVERS
    (PELVIC GRIP)
    a. Face towards the woman’s feet. Avoids discomfort.
    b. Place your hands on the side of the
    uterus, with the palm just below the
    level of umbilicus and fingers towards This maneuver helps to
    the symphysis pubis. determine level of
    c. Press deeply your fingertips into the engagement.
    lower abdomen and move them towards
    the pelvic inlet.
    d. The hand will converge, when head is
    not engaged.
    e. The hands will diverge away from the
    presenting part if the head is engaged.

    AUSCULTATION
    16. Place fetoscope or stethoscope over the convex To check fetal heart sound.
    portion of the fetus.
    17. Inform the mother about the findings. Make her To relieve the anxiety of the
    comfortable. mother
    18. Replace all the articles and wash your hands. For easy availability for next
    procedure.
    19. Record in the patient’s chart time, findings and To communicate the findings.
    remarks, if any.
    LOCATION OF THE MAXIMUM INTENSITY OF THE FETAL HEART TONES

    1. Cephalic: Midway between umbilicus and level of anterior superior iliac spine.
    2. Breech: At the level with or above umbilicus.
    3. Anterior: Near to the abdominal midline.
    4. Transverse: In lateral abdominal area.
    5. Posterior: In flank area

    AFTER CARE OF THE PATIENT AND ARTICLES

    a) Make the mother comfortable


    b) Inform her about findings of examination
    c) Ask for any discomfort and record it
    d) Replace all the articles properly.

    REPORTING AND RECORDING

     Record all the findings in the history taking and assessment file.
     Inform any abnormalities to the superior and take prompt action.
     Record any other information that mother has given.

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