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In the University-Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Charite) of Berlin we carried out about 20,000 examinations with the method of ultrasound. In the presented paper we want to put a declaration about the survey of this method in the system of diagnosis during pregnancy. Our experiences led to the same conclusions like published in international journals. The following parameters have been successful in clinical practice: biparietal diameter, position of the fetus, localisation of placenta, diagnosis of heart-beat and other. We concentrated our investigations to the calculation of actual fetal weight in utero. For this aim we established formulas; thus we are able to calculate the weight with the aid of 4 parameters of ultrasound. The evaluation of 621 cases has shown the deviation of the calculated weight compared with the real birth weight is without problems in the group of big babies. For the group of premature deliveries it is nessecery to carry out tocolysis until a calculated weight of 2500 g. In all the babies, calculated in this largeness everyways the real birth weight has been more than 2000 g.

The validity of the modern methods of fetal monitoring to decide for the indication of urgent obstetric operations. The reliability of the modern supervision of the fetus is studied in cases of doubtful fetal heart action. Up to the present day we have no method for the exact estimation of the degree of a damage to the fetus. In such a precarious situation we should use all available methods for the diagnosis of the fetal condition, because the results of only one of the methods offer insufficient evidence. By means of the literature the alterations in the ECG of the dying fetus are interpreted in comparison to artefacts. In cases of doubtful fetal heart action we recommend in addition to the clinical findings to record the fetal ECG, to controll the actual fetal pH and attempt an investigation by ultrasonic.

In face of the simplified performance of the mechanical course of birth in the manuals of obstetrics, in reality the conformations of the mechanical course are immense. This we found also in our investigations. But mere an alteration from the classical form of the course of birth is not an indication of intervention. The mechanical course of birth is, however, of much interest for determination of a possible localisation of an injuring mechanism in a brain damaged infant. It should be noticed exactly in the obstetrical journal.

We recommend to define the "birth trauma" as all influences, which injure the fetus under birth in any pattern. These birth traumatical agents we divide in the group of predominant mechanical agents and in the group of predominant metabolic components (hypoxia). This definition is explained and justified in a matter-of-fact way. We discuss the advantages of its application in practice.