[Assessment of gestational age (author's transl)]

Both the birth weight and the relation of birth weight to gestational age are relevant factors in assessing the immediate and future risks in given newborn infant. When gestational age is known the assessment is done by using an intrauterine growth chart. In cases of unknown gestational ages, in cases of discrepancies between birth weight and gestational age the gestational age of the infant has to be clinically assessed. This assessment can be done by evaluating the neurologic or the external criterias both giving an accuracy of +/- 2 to 3 weeks.