The clinical evaluation of oedemata during pregnancy is more or less subjective and not reproducible. There is no common factor to the relevance of its presence. The aim of this investigation was to check systematically the frequency and degree of generalised Oedemata and their clinical relevance. 184 pregnant women were examined for their finger circumference between the 16th and 36th week of gestation. According to the change in the circumference, three significantly different groups of oedemata were found. The group with strongly marked oedemata showed increased hypertensive complications and the highest rate of growth retarded children. This objective and simple method of measuring the finger circumference, is suggested for antenatal care.