Maternity Examination Model

Quick Answer: The maternity examination model is an antenatal training model of a pregnant woman’s abdomen, used to practise the routine checks of pregnancy. Midwifery and nursing students use a maternity examination model to learn abdominal inspection, measuring fundal height, palpation of the baby and listening for the fetal heart.

The Routine Antenatal Examination

Each antenatal visit in later pregnancy follows a familiar sequence, and the model lets students practise it in order. Inspection comes first, noting the size and shape of the abdomen, scars and stretch marks. Fundal height is then measured with a tape from the top of the pubic bone to the top of the uterus; from about 24 weeks the number of centimetres roughly matches the number of weeks of pregnancy, so a result well outside that range is plotted and investigated.

Palpation follows, to find the baby’s lie, presentation and engagement, and then auscultation. The fetal heart is heard with a Pinard stethoscope or a handheld Doppler, usually over the baby’s back, and the rate is counted for a full minute. Some maternity examination models also include a birth canal so that vaginal examination for cervical dilation and the station of the presenting part can be practised; the title does not say whether this model does.

A model is particularly useful for learning to measure fundal height consistently, because results vary between examiners and students need practice with a fixed technique. The detailed palpation sequence is covered on the Leopold maneuvers simulator, and the pelvimeter is listed for pelvic measurement teaching.

Specifications

Care & Handling

• Keep the abdominal surface of the maternity examination model clean with mild soap and water, and keep ink and markers off the skin.
• Use ultrasound gel sparingly for Doppler practice and wipe it off after each session so it does not dry onto the surface.
• Store the model lying flat or in its case with nothing stacked on the abdomen.

Applications

• Antenatal examination practicals in midwifery and nursing programmes
• Teaching symphysis-fundal height measurement and growth charts
• Practising fetal heart auscultation with Pinard and Doppler devices
• Community health worker training in antenatal care

Why Choose LabEquip

Midwifery schools and antenatal care programmes buy examination models so students can repeat the full antenatal check without tiring a volunteer. It is in LabEquip’s biology lab products; send questions through the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is fundal height measured?

With a tape measure from the top of the pubic bone to the top of the uterus, with the tape held face down to avoid bias and then turned over to read. From about 24 weeks the result in centimetres roughly equals the weeks of pregnancy.

Why is fundal height plotted on a chart?

A single measurement says little, but a series plotted on a growth chart shows whether the baby is growing at the expected rate. A measurement that falls away or jumps can point to a small or large baby or extra fluid, and prompts an ultrasound scan.

Where is the fetal heart heard most clearly?

Usually over the baby’s back or shoulder. With a head-down baby this is often below the mother’s umbilicus on the side where the back lies, which is why palpation is done before listening.

What is the difference between a Pinard and a Doppler?

A Pinard stethoscope is a trumpet-shaped tube that carries the fetal heart sounds straight to the listener’s ear. A handheld Doppler uses ultrasound to detect the heartbeat and lets the parents hear it too. Midwives are trained to use both.

What is the normal fetal heart rate?

Guidelines commonly give a normal baseline of 110 to 160 beats per minute at term. It is counted for a full minute, and the mother’s pulse is checked at the same time so the two are not confused.

Can the model be used in community health training?

Yes. The examination sequence does not need hospital equipment, so health workers in clinics and outreach programmes can learn it on the model with just a tape measure and a Pinard or Doppler.

Last Updated: September 2026