527850
ABDOMINAL EXAMINATION
/ PALPATION
- Aims
- ■Observe the signs of pregnancy and
parity ■Assess the fetal size and growth
■Detect deviations from the normal ■ Locate
the fetal parts to indicate position and
presentation ■Auscultate the fetal heart
- ■Observe the signs of pregnancy and
parity ■Assess the fetal size and growth
■Detect deviations from the normal ■ Locate
the fetal parts to indicate position and
presentation ■Auscultate the fetal heart
- Equipment
- ■Doptone ■Aqueous gel
■Non-stretching tape measure
■Wedge as required
- ■Doptone ■Aqueous gel
■Non-stretching tape measure
■Wedge as required
- Preparation
- 1.1 Perform hand hygiene before and after patient contact.
- 1.2 Explain the procedure and gain permission to proceed.
- 1.3 Encourage the woman to empty her bladder prior to the procedure.
- 1.4 Position the woman in the semi recumbent dorsal position on the bed.
Consider placing a wedge under the right buttock if the gravid uterus is of a
size likely to compromise maternal and/or fetal circulation.
- 1.5 Ensure the woman is appropriately covered.
- The woman’s modesty and privacy is respected.
- The woman’s modesty and privacy is respected.
- The woman should be encouraged to lie with her arms by her sides to aid relaxation of the abdominal
muscles. Pelvic tilt prevents occurrence of supine hypotension resulting from the weight of the gravid
uterus obstructing the inferior vena cava – reducing venous return and hence cardiac output.
- 1.5 Ensure the woman is appropriately covered.
- A full bladder will make the examination uncomfortable and
can reduce the accuracy of the fundal height measurement.
- 1.4 Position the woman in the semi recumbent dorsal position on the bed.
Consider placing a wedge under the right buttock if the gravid uterus is of a
size likely to compromise maternal and/or fetal circulation.
- 1.3 Encourage the woman to empty her bladder prior to the procedure.
- Ensuring the practitioner has warm hands may reduce maternal discomfort
and risk for causing contraction of the uterine or abdominal muscles.
- 1.2 Explain the procedure and gain permission to proceed.
- 1.1 Perform hand hygiene before and after patient contact.
- Visual Inspection
- 2.1 Note the abdominal size.
- 2.2 Observe the abdominal shape.
- 2.3 Inspect the abdomen for scars.
- 2.4 Examine the skin.
- 2.5 Observe for fetal movements.
- Hormonal influences in pregnancy can cause striae gravidarum, hyper-pigmentation, changes in nails, hair, and the
vascular system. Striae gravidarum caused by physical and hormonal influences is more common in younger women,
those with higher body mass indices, and in women carrying larger babies. Daily massage may prevent stretch
marks, however there is no evidence to indicate the use of which creams, emollients and oils prevent occurrence.
- 2.5 Observe for fetal movements.
- Presence of scars may indicate previous abdominal or obstetric surgery.
- 2.4 Examine the skin.
- An abdominal shape that is longer than it is wide indicates a longitudinal lie. However, a shape that is low and broad
may point to a transverse lie. The primigravid uterus is ovoid in shape compared to the multigravid uterus, which is a
rounded shape. Dips and curves in the uterus may indicate fetal position.
- 2.3 Inspect the abdomen for scars.
- A full bladder, distended colon, or maternal obesity may effect estimation of fetal size.
- 2.2 Observe the abdominal shape.
- 2.1 Note the abdominal size.
- Estimating gestation age
- 3.1 Palpate of the abdomen by using the physical landmarks
of the xiphisternum, the umbilicus and the symphysis pubis.
- 3.2 Measure the fundal height with the tape
measure. See Clinical Guideline, Section B 1.6.3
Measuring the Fundal Height with a Tape Measure.
- Between 20 to 34 weeks gestation the height of the uterus correlates
closely with measurements in centimetres, however obesity has been
shown to distort the accuracy of these measurements
- Between 20 to 34 weeks gestation the height of the uterus correlates
closely with measurements in centimetres, however obesity has been
shown to distort the accuracy of these measurements
- Macrosomia, multiple pregnancy and small for gestation age may be detected by palpation
and measurement of fundal height. Current evidence does not indicate that either the
palpation method, or measurement of fundal height method, is superior to each other for
detection of abnormal fetal growth. If a small for gestational age fetus is suspected, then
confirmation of the estimated gestational age should be revisited.
- 3.2 Measure the fundal height with the tape
measure. See Clinical Guideline, Section B 1.6.3
Measuring the Fundal Height with a Tape Measure.
- 3.1 Palpate of the abdomen by using the physical landmarks
of the xiphisternum, the umbilicus and the symphysis pubis.
- 4 Palpation Summary
- 4.1 Fundal Palpation
- Both hands are gently placed around the
fundus to determine contours of the fetus.
- This aids determination of presentation, whether
cephalic or breech. This will aid diagnosis of the
lie and presentation of the fetus.
- This aids determination of presentation, whether
cephalic or breech. This will aid diagnosis of the
lie and presentation of the fetus.
- Both hands are gently placed around the
fundus to determine contours of the fetus.
- 4.2 Lateral Palpation
- Hands are placed at umbilicus level on either side of the
uterus. Gentle pressure is used with each hand to
determine which side offers the greatest resistance.
‘Walking’ the fingers over the abdomen can also locate the
position of the back and distinguish fetal body parts.
- Location of the fetal back can help determine the fetal position.
- Location of the fetal back can help determine the fetal position.
- Hands are placed at umbilicus level on either side of the
uterus. Gentle pressure is used with each hand to
determine which side offers the greatest resistance.
‘Walking’ the fingers over the abdomen can also locate the
position of the back and distinguish fetal body parts.
- 4.3 Pelvic Palpation
- Ask the woman to bend her knees slightly and encourage
gentle breathing exercises. So that A woman in a relaxed
position is less likely to tense abdominal muscles.
- To confirm presentation and engagement the
midwife: ■ faces towards the woman’s feet ■ places
both hands on either side of the presenting ■
uterine pole and palpates gently starting at least
10cm ■ above the symphysis pubis moving
downwards towards it. ■ identifies the level and side
of the occiput and sinciput ■ when the presentation
is vertex. In a normal vertex ■ presentation the head
is flexed and the sinciput will be ■ palpated at a
higher level than the occiput. Assess engagement of
the presenting part of the fetus (defined as no more
than 2/5ths palpable above the pelvic brim).
- To confirm presentation and engagement the
midwife: ■ faces towards the woman’s feet ■ places
both hands on either side of the presenting ■
uterine pole and palpates gently starting at least
10cm ■ above the symphysis pubis moving
downwards towards it. ■ identifies the level and side
of the occiput and sinciput ■ when the presentation
is vertex. In a normal vertex ■ presentation the head
is flexed and the sinciput will be ■ palpated at a
higher level than the occiput. Assess engagement of
the presenting part of the fetus (defined as no more
than 2/5ths palpable above the pelvic brim).
- Ask the woman to bend her knees slightly and encourage
gentle breathing exercises. So that A woman in a relaxed
position is less likely to tense abdominal muscles.
- 4.1 Fundal Palpation
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