Reevaluation of the significance of fetal movement monitoring / 中国实用妇科与产科杂志

ABSTRACT

Fetal movement counting is one of the common methods for fetal prenatal monitoring. The changes of the normal pattern of fetal movements(FM)indicate abnormal fetal status in uterus.Studies have found that reduced fetal movement is the primary sign of fetal distress,which is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes such as stillbirth,placental insufficiency,and fetal growth restriction.Increased fetal movement after 32 week's gestation is regular,but a single episode of vigorous FM increases risk of stillbirth.Clinically,fetal safety is preliminarily evaluated by counting numbers of FM to find abnormalities of fetus early and decrease adverse pregnancy outcomes,which is economical,convenient,and simple.However,this method is subjective,due to the different sensitiveness of pregnant women.