Stillbirth after nonstress testing.

The authors' experience with stillbirth within one week of a reactive nonstress test was reviewed to determine the reliability of this test in postdates patients and general high-risk patients. The corrected stillbirth rates were the same in both groups. Thirty-three percent of stillbirths in postdates patients occurred as early as 41.5 weeks' gestation. The cause of stillbirth in postdates patients was not clear even after careful autopsy. In the general high-risk group, 60% of stillbirths were due to an acute event with the remainder due to chronic fetal compromise that was not predicted by the nonstress test. Induction at 41.5 weeks' gestation or more comprehensive fetal surveillance than weekly nonstress testing are possible approaches to the management of postdates pregnancy, which need to be further studied.