[Contribution towards diagnostics of intrauterine fetal retardation (author's transl)].

1. Among the simple manual methods for recording intrauterine retardation repeated measurements of the symphysis-fundus distance according to Westin are most valuable. -- 2. Among the hormone-determining methods the estimation of urinary estrogens or unconjugated estriol in serum is generally accepted. -- 2. Estimations of enzymes are of no value (diamine oxidase, alkaline leukocyte phosphatase, heat stable alkaline phosphatase) or have only little significance (cystine aminopeptidase). -- 4. Biochemical methods are being replaced to an increasing extent by biophysical ones both for recording fetal retardation by ultrasonics and fetal well-being by CTG, non-stress test, oxytocin-challenge test and, recently, by registration of fetal breathing and rump movements. -- 5. As a provisional method for evaluation of fetal behaviour the counting of fetal movements by the pregnant women herself can be recommended.