The intention was to study the changes in the composition of the blood in the newborn infant during the first 48 hours of life by taking capillary blood samples from the heel at frequent intervals and using a development of Sanz's (1957)

Objective: To verify the applicability of standard fetal growth curves proposed for western populations to an Indian population. Method: Thirty patients were included and ultrasound scans were performed on Indian pregnant women to measure fetal growth parameters of biparietal diameter, head circumference, abdominal circumference and femur length for every weekly interval from 14 to 40 weeks. Twenty-five hundred women had ultrasonic measurements of fetal BPD,HC, AC and FL between 12 to 42 weeks of pregnancy were also included in study for confirming the growth parameters and plotting of Growth curves. The data were compared with the commonly recommended standards of Hadlock, Campbell, Jeanty and Chitty. Results: First and second trimester biometry findings are comparable to western charts but none of the standard charts agreed with the data in the present study particularly in third trimester. Conclusion: Since most parameters of the standard growth curves developed in the west are not applicable for assessing the intrauterine growth of Indian babies we have developed growth curves for the Indian population to prevent over-diagnosis of intrauterine growth retardation and correct prediction of fetal age in Indian population.

Ultrasound is now an established tool in the clinical management of pregnancy. Consequent to its major role in clinical decision-making and its remarkable operator dependence, it is necessary to have guidelines for minimum standards of performance of this modality in each area of obstetric ultrasound. The Society of Fetal Medicine guidelines have been developed for use by all the practitioners performing antenatal ultrasound scans. They are intended to provide the entire medical community with standards for the performance of quality ultrasound examinations. Practitioners are encouraged to go beyond these standards in relevant clinical situations. Each guideline in this document has undergone extensive discussion followed by a consensus. In a rapidly evolving technological and research environment, it is imperative to constantly re-evaluate and update these guidelines. Practitioners are advised to be aware of these updates and incorporate these into their daily practice.

What are the novel findings of this work?Neurosonography of the developing midbrain and hindbrain (MBHB) is feasible in the early second trimester. We found that, during the early second trimester, the brainstem gains its linear appearance, the vermian fissures become visible, and the aqueduct and the neck of Blake's pouch reduce in size but remain visible. When the optimal insonation technique is applied, the performance of a standard-frequency transvaginal transducer is similar to that of a high-frequency one for assessing MBHB anatomy. What are the clinical implications of this work?Brain malformations involving the MBHB may be diagnosed during the early second trimester of pregnancy, when a suspicion for posterior fossa abnormality is raised on early screening scans.

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