How do you palpate a pregnant woman?

Lie

1. Facing the patient’s head, place hands on either side of the top of the uterus and gently apply pressure.
2. Move the hands and palpate down the abdomen.
3. One side will feel fuller and firmer – this is the back. Fetal limbs may be palpable on the opposing side.

What is Fundal palpation?

Fundal palpitation means palpating the dome-shaped upper part of the uterus, called the fundus. During antenatal care, you should have been measuring the length of the uterus from the mother’s pubic bone to the fundus, and comparing this with the baby’s gestational age to see if it was growing normally.

What is palpation in pregnancy?

These diagrams show the position of the baby and demonstrate the technique of ‘abdominal palpation’, which means to examine by touching and feeling. The midwife or doctor uses this technique during your antenatal visit to examine your baby’s development. Baby in vertex – or ‘head’ down position. 1.

What are the 4 types of palpation?

Outline

• Inspection.
• Palpation.
• Types of palpation.
• Light palpation.
• Deep palpation.
• Percussion.
• Types of percussion.
• Direct percussion.

How do you do Fundal palpation?

Feel for the fundus of the uterus. This is done by starting to gently palpate from the lower end of the sternum. Continue to palpate down the abdomen until the fundus is reached. When the highest part of the fundus has been identified, mark the skin at this point with a pen.

What is fundal height during pregnancy?

A fundal height measurement is typically done to determine if a baby is small for its gestational age. The measurement is generally defined as the distance in centimeters from the pubic bone to the top of the uterus.

What are the four types of palpation?

The front of your fingers are used to perform light palpation, deep palpation, light ballottement and deep ballottement.

What can palpation reveal?

Palpation is the process of using one’s hand or fingers to identify a disease or injury of the body or the location of pain. It is used by medical practitioners to determine the size, shape, firmness, or location of an abnormality suggestive of disease.

What kind of palpation does a pregnant woman need?

Deep but gentle palpation is required till the presenting part is felt. In the majority of cases we can palpate a round and hard object – the fetal head. If a descensus into the pelvis has still not occured yet the feeling of palpation can be described as pivoting as the fetal head is still motile (Fig.4).

When do you Have abdominal palpation in pregnancy?

1.1 Abdominal examination and palpation is a screening procedure that should be performed at each antenatal appointment from 24 weeks to estimate fetal size and from 36 weeks gestation to assess fetal presentation. Click to see full answer. Also to know is, what does palpate mean in pregnancy? Presentation.

Can a pregnant woman palpate a hard object?

In the majority of cases we can palpate a round and hard object – the fetal head. If a descensus into the pelvis has still not occured yet the feeling of palpation can be described as pivoting as the fetal head is still motile (Fig.4). Fig. 4. Third maneuver – Pawlick’s Grip Fourth maneuver – Pelvic Grip

When does your midwife palpate your uterus?

During the third trimester of your pregnancy i.e. from ‘week 27’ until the end of the pregnancy – your midwife may palpate (feel) your uterus. This is particularly important at around 36 weeks’ gestation because it enables them to determine the position of your baby inside the womb.