Growth-retarded fetuses and pulmonary maturity

The amniotic fluid of 250 patients in the third trimester of pregnancy was examined for surfactant content by means of the bubble test and total phospholipid estimation. No evidence was found that intra-uterine growth retardation accelerates pulmonary maturity in the fetus, and the finding of early pulmonary maturity does not indicate intrauterine growth retardation.