A comparison of methods for estimating the weight of preterm infants

Four methods of predicting a preterm infant's weight (upper mid-arm circumference, gestational age, tape measure nomogram, and guessing) were investigated to see which was the most accurate. The weights of 37 preterm neonates were initially guessed by an experienced clinician, then estimated by the other three approaches applied in a random order, and then confirmed through actual weighing. The correlations between the four estimated weights and the actual weights were .96, .84, .97, and .98, respectively. The tape measure nomogram method was the best overall approach for clinical use.