Nonimmunologic fetal ascites is an uncommon problem that occurs for many reasons. Ten cases of nonimunologic fetal ascites occurring during a 3-year period were reviewed. The pregnancies were complicated by hydramnios (40%); premature delivery (30%) and hypertension (20%). Fetal ascites has been diagnosed more frequently following the introduction of routine ultrasound scanning during pregnancy. Modalities available for antenatal diagnosis of underlying fetal abnormalities include fetal cardiac monitoring, hemoglobin electrophoresis, glucose tolerance testing and serologic tests. No specific cause of the fetal ascites was detectable in 40% of our cases. Management of affected pregnancies was influenced by the high incidence of congenital anomalies and premature delivery. Outcome was poor, only 50% of the babies survived beyond the neonatal period; 40% cases had spontaneously relived from ascities at birth.