Spalding's sign

Spalding's sign is a sign used in obstetrics.^[1] It is named for Alfred Baker Spalding.^[2][3]

It is an indicator of fetal death.^[4] When fetal death has occurred loss of alignment and overriding of the bones of cranial vault occur due to shrinkage of cerebrum,^[5] abdominal sonar examination may reveal an overriding of the fetal cranial bones.^[6] Most estimates place the precise time of fetal death at about 4–7 days before overlapping and separation of the fetal skull bones appear.^[7]