Family Nurse Practitioner Exam

At 12 weeks of gestation, what is the expected location of the fundus of the uterus?

1. The fundus of the uterus should be at the level of the symphysis pubis

2. The cervix should be dilated about 0.5 in. at this time of gestation

3. "Quickening" starts during this period

4. Hegar's sign is present during this period of pregnancy

The correct answer is: The fundus of the uterus should be at the level of the symphysis pubis

At 12 weeks of gestation, the expected location of the fundus of the uterus is just above the level of the symphysis pubis. By this point in pregnancy, the uterus has grown from a pelvic organ to a more abdominal organ, rising out of the pelvis. As the pregnancy progresses, the uterus expands and the fundus continues to ascend further up into the abdominal cavity. While other aspects of pregnancy can be relevant at this stage, they do not accurately reflect the expected physical changes correlated with fundal height. For instance, dilation of the cervix occurs later in pregnancy and is generally not significant at 12 weeks; "quickening," or the first perception of fetal movement by the mother, typically begins around 16 to 25 weeks; and Hegar's sign, which indicates uterine softening, is recognized earlier but isn’t directly related to the measurement or location of the fundus at this specific gestational age. Thus, the most accurate detail that pertains to the fundal height as of 12 weeks in pregnancy is its position relative to the symphysis pubis.