Fetal Assessment in Diabetic Pregnancy Using Non-steroid Assessments

Strict diabetic control has been the major step in reducing perinatal mortality in diabetic pregnancies. Oestriol determinations were, for several years, the only test used to detect fetal distress. It appeared however that even strict diabetic control and the use of daily oestriol determinations, did not avoid all stillbirths and iatrogenic respiratory distress syndromes of the newborn. In conjunction with steroid hormonal assays modern antepartum fetal monitoring techniques may assist in detecting fetal distress and are able to determine fetal age, fetal growth and pulmonary maturity in particular (Table 1).