Based on the decreased rate of early and late pregnancy loss and the absence of significant differences in most documented pregnancy-associated disorders, women with the previous BC can be assured of the possibility of a good outcome on a subsequent pregnancy.

We report on a case of unilateral primary fetal hydrothorax leading to nonimmunological fetal hydrops (NIHF). The NIHF was treated successfully by inserting two consecutive intrauterine catheters at 23 weeks gestation. The first catheter was dislocated through the uterine wall to the maternal peritoneal cavity. At 36 weeks gestation, the mother had a spontaneous onset of labor after premature rupture of membranes and a normal vaginal delivery of a healthy infant with good perinatal outcome. Shunting of PFHT has rarely been described up to now. This case report supports observations of previous authors that early shunting of pleural effusions may prevent progression of NIHF as well as postnatal pulmonary hypoplasia. Unexpected perinatal complications of fetus, mother or both should not be neglected.

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Multiple pregnancies require intensive monitoring of the fetal condition, in particular during the last months of pregnancy. Recording fetal behaviour offers a possibility of investigating the neuromotor development, in twin pregnancies even behavioural patterns of fetuses of the same gestational age and "environment" may be compared. In 25 primarily uncomplicated twin pregnancies we simultaneously recorded antepartum FHR and FM patterns in twins younger than 36 completed gestational weeks over a period of at least one hour via a new device for simultaneous registration of FM and FHR in twin pregnancies. According to our longitudinal observations we have defined a special terminology for comparing the behaviour of twins considering gestational age, differences of FHR or FM patterns and the continuity of these patterns throughout gestation. To our opinion this will open a new field not only for clinical diagnostics in complicated twin pregnancies but also for developmental research of the possible impact on the further neurological development of multiple fetuses. Human behaviour in its early stage may be compared considering even "interfetal communication".

Although fetal lung maturity determination is carried out more and more rarely in the German-speaking area, a reliable information about the degree of lung maturity is still very important in the care of high-risk pregnancies. The side effects and costs of a postpartal surfactant administration can be avoided if lung maturity is proved. Indications for determination of fetal lung maturity are the threatening preterm delivery and the premature rupture of membranes before the 34th week of gestation and uncertain gestational age. Furthermore, in preeclampsia resp. in diabetes mellitus, which is difficult to control, premature delivery may be necessary. To improve lung maturity testing we introduce a new "sequence scheme" containing three lung maturity tests which are easy to carry out (in the following sequence: Amniostat-FLM ultrasensitive, counting of the lamellar bodies in amniotic fluid, surfactant/albumin ratio with TDx-FLM). The principle of this scheme is, that if any of these three tests indicates lung maturity, the sequence is terminated and no further test is performed. Only if all three tests indicated immaturity, the child was at risk for RDS. In 87 amniotic fluid samples with 7 RDS-cases, we achieved high predictive values for lung maturity (specificity 90%, sensitivity 100%, predictive value of positive test 47%, predictive value of negative test 100%). In 62% only one test was needed for lung maturity determination. It is possible to use other combinations in such a scheme (e.g. the L/S ratio). This might lead to equal or perhaps better results. An advantage of this suggested "sequence scheme" is that it can be performed in any clinic.