title: Fetal assessment during pregnancy.
abstract: Fetal monitoring during pregnancy is used to prevent fetal death. This article addresses the goals of fetal monitoring during pregnancy. Methods of fetal surveillance are reviewed, as well as the meaning of abnormal fetal testing and how these results relate to fetal and neonatal outcome. Overall, pediatricians who understand the goals, methods, and interpretation of fetal testing can communicate more effectively with the delivering obstetric team in anticipation of optimizing obstetric and pediatric outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA.
authors.forename: Darren
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Farley
authors.forename: Donald J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Dudley
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology*; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005323:Fetal Monitoring / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D054582:National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (U.S.); D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011247:Pregnancy; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014469:Umbilical Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014481:United States; D014590:Uterine Contraction