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Fetal distress can be identified by abnormal fetal heart rate patterns. During labor, periodic fetal heart rate assessments are as effective as continuous electronic fetal heart rate monitoring in assessing fetal distress. A test performed at hospital admission would be helpful in identifying the current condition of the fetus and the likelihood of distress. Patients could then be classified with either low or high risk status. Methods for determining the possibility of fetal distress include nonstress testing, initial fetal heart monitoring strips, and assessments of fluid surrounding the fetus (amniotic fluid) and blood flow inside the umbilical artery. The flow of blood through the umbilical artery was determined by Doppler ultrasonography, the use of high frequency sound to determine the behavior of moving structures. The value of these methods in predicting subsequent fetal distress was studied. In the 109 patients evaluated, fetal heart rate patterns and the amount of amniotic fluid were the best predictors of potential fetal distress. Doppler velocimetry during labor was not useful as a predictive tool when used alone. Initial fetal heart tracings and the measurement of amniotic fluid can be used as an admissions test to facilitate the management of patients in labor. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)