Accurate birth weight prediction from fetal biometry using the Gompertz model.

Objectives: Monitoring of fetal growth and estimation of birth weight is of clinical importance. During pregnancy, ultrasound fetal biometry values including femur length, head circumference, abdominal circumference, biparietal diameter are measured and used to place fetuses on "growth charts". There is no simple growth-model-based, predictive formula in use for fetal biometry. Estimation of fetal weight at birth currently depends on ultrasound data taken a short time before birth. Study design: Our cohort ("Seethapathy cohort") consists of ultrasound biometry measurements and other data for 774 pregnant women in Chennai, India, 2015-2017. We use the Gompertz model, a standard model for constrained growth, with just three intuitive parameters, to model the growth of fetal biometry, and a machine learning (ML) model trained on these parameters to predict birth weight (BW). Results: The Gompertz model convincingly fits the growth of fetal biometry values. Two Gompertz parameters- Conclusions: The Gompertz model fits fetal biometry growth and enables birth weight estimation without need of late-term ultrasounds. Aside from its clinical predictive value, we suggest its use for future growth standards, with almost all variation described by a single scale parameter