[relationship between maternal perception of decreased fetal movements and rate of fetal complications during delivery]

ABSTRACT

The maternal perception of fetal movements at term has been used as an evaluative test of fetalwellbeing since the last 30 years, but there are different reports about its value. The aim of this study wasevaluation of decreased fetal movement and relation to situation of fetus in uterus. It is significant that weunderstand the relationship between decreased fetal movement and increased fetal distress, heart decelerationand meconium.This study was carried out from 2000-2001 in Kerman Bahonar hospital. The method was a casecontrol one with 100 cases and 100 controls. Cases and controls were selected from pregnant women enteringactive phase of labor or induction of labor for causes other than perception of decreased fetal movements. Fetalheart rate was monitored in both groups during labor phase and also, color of amniotic fluid and meconiumduring rupture of membrane was recorded. Type of delivery, Apgar scores at minute 1 and 5, mortality andmorbidity were compared in both groups. In this study, amniotic fluid volume was a significant variable that waspaid special attention.After analysis, there was a significant relationship between decreased fetal movement and manyvariables, for example, gravidity, deceleration of fetal heart, 1[st] and 5[th] minutes apgar score, fetal mortality,type of delivery, amniotic fluid volume and meconium staining.We can conclude that decreased fetal movement is a significant factor in evaluation of fetal wellbeing in near-term ante partum cases