Assessing fetal health

Abstract 

Most pregnancies, irrespective of risk factors, lead to the delivery of a healthy baby. Some fetuses are at risk of developing complications that may result in future disease, handicap or death. Fetal surveillance should be instituted, attempting to identify fetuses at risk, to reduce the chances of complications. Traditionally, obstetricians have classified pregnancies into ‘low-risk’ or ‘high-risk’, and applied surveillance tools to the latter group. Most stillbirths occur in low-risk women. We evaluate the tools available to assess fetal health in both groups during the antenatal period, evaluate their ability to detect a fetus at risk, and ascertain if they result in improved outcome.

Keywords: amniotic fluid volume, biophysical profile, cardiotocography, customized growth chart, fetal movements, middle cerebral artery Doppler, symphysis-fundal height, umbilical artery Doppler, uterine artery Doppler, ultrasound biometry, venous Doppler