ABSTRACT
Women with a history of fetal macrosomia are at risk of delivering another macrosomic infant. A retrospective study in Dublin between 1998 and 1999 reviewed 14,461 pregnancies. There has long been an interest in accurate methods or models for the prediction of fetal macrosomia. Clinical assessment has been the longest standing method. This involves subjective clinical palpation of the abdomen and measurement of the symphysiofundal height. The ability to predict macrosomia in the general obstetric population is fraught with inaccuracy. However, evidence suggests it is feasible to predict macrosomia in pregnancies complicated by diabetes mellitus and in postdate pregnancies. The root of macrosomia is multifactorial. Therefore, there are many aspects that can be considered when it comes to preventing this obstetric challenge. Macrosomia remains a contentious and controversial topic in obstetric practice. There is little doubt that a pregnancy complicated by macrosomia leads to a greater risk of maternal and neonatal morbidity.
