Antenatal surveillance

Antenatal surveillance aims to prevent perinatal death and handicap. It is best planned when maternal risk factors and characteristics of the fetal condition are taken into account.

Surveillance should be disease specific and requires:

• Recognition of specific maternal risk factors
• Understanding the clinical progression of maternal disease
• Understanding the clinical progression of fetal disease
• Physical evaluation of the fetus
• Accurate performance and interpretation of surveillance tests

At each patient visit the principal decisions are:

• Is delivery indicated ?
• Are steroids indicated ?
• When should the patient be seen again ?