ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND There are many motives underlying antepartum fetal assessment. Preventing stillbirth by prompt intervention for proven fetal compromise is balanced by avoiding impacts of unnecessary intervention, for both fetus (iatrogenic pre-
maturity) and mother (surgical complications). Extending the pregnancy to reduce prematurity impact may increase the risk of unexpected stillbirth (because no test is perfect), but has measurable benefits in reduced long-term neurologic outcomes. Optimizing testing regimens means choosing methods, frequency, disease-specific components, while accounting for gestational-age influences, drug interactions, test variability, and even the interaction of test components.
