Fetal respiratory movements: only part of the biophysical profile.

In a period of 1.5 years, approximately 1000 women with high-risk pregnancy received sonographic examinations in the authors' laboratory. Of these patients, five women with postterm pregnancy were found to have oligohydramnios and no other reassuring body or limb movements, despite the finding in each case of regular, sustained fetal respiratory movements. Four of the five neonates had evidence of fetal compromise at birth and the fifth had intrauterine growth retardation but good Apgar scores. The recurrence of the problem emphasizes the need to consider fetal respiration as only one part of the total biophysical profile.