Balancing cost and benefit in antepartum fetal surveillance

Antenatal fetal surveillance has stood the test of time with regard to the goal of preventing stillbirth in the fetus at risk based on indications for testing. As such, the additional cost for testing in the appropriate setting appears to have benefit. However, clinicians should be reminded that the least costly antenatal surveillance modality is maternal fetal movement assessment as a test for well-being in low-and highrisk women, even if its effectiveness in preventing stillbirth is uncertain. Fetal kick counting in current antenatal clinical care appears to be underutilized and clinicians should be reminded to educate women about this modality in antenatal care.

Duke Scholars

Author Haywood Laverne Brown Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal Fetal Medicine