Fetal movement counting improved identification of fetal growth restriction and perinatal outcomes--a multi-centre, randomized, controlled trial

Fetal movement counting is a method used by the mother to quantify her baby's movements, and may prevent adverse pregnancy outcome by a timely evaluation of fetal health when the woman reports decreased fetal movements. We aimed to assess effects of fetal movement counting on identification of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PloS one 2011-12, Vol.6 (12), p.e28482-e28482
Main Authors: Saastad, Eli, Winje, Brita A, Stray Pedersen, Babill, Frøen, J Frederik
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Age
Analysis
Apgar score
Archives & records
Babies
Biology
Births
Brochures
Change detection
Clinical Trial
Delivery of Health Care - statistics & numerical data
Delivery, Obstetric
Epidemiology
Female
Fetal development
Fetal Growth Retardation - diagnosis
Fetal Growth Retardation - physiopathology
Fetal Growth Retardation - surgery
Fetal Movement
Fetuses
Growth
Health risk assessment
Humans
Identification
Induced labor
Intervention
Medical research
Medicine
Motivation
Obstetrics
Pathology
Population
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Outcome
Pregnant women
Prenatal care
Public health
Randomization
Stillbirth
Ultrasonic imaging
Womens health
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Summary:Fetal movement counting is a method used by the mother to quantify her baby's movements, and may prevent adverse pregnancy outcome by a timely evaluation of fetal health when the woman reports decreased fetal movements. We aimed to assess effects of fetal movement counting on identification of fetal pathology and pregnancy outcome. In a multicentre, randomized, controlled trial, 1076 pregnant women with singleton pregnancies from an unselected population were assigned to either perform fetal movement counting from gestational week 28, or to receive standard antenatal care not including fetal movement counting (controls). Women were recruited from nine Norwegian hospitals during September 2007 through November 2009. Main outcome was a compound measure of fetal pathology and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Analysis was performed by intention-to-treat. The frequency of the main outcome was equal in the groups; 63 of 433 (11.6%) in the intervention group, versus 53 of 532 (10.7%) in the control group [RR: 1.1 95% CI 0.7-1.5)]. The growth-restricted fetuses were more often identified prior to birth in the intervention group than in the control group; 20 of 23 fetuses (87.0%) versus 12 of 20 fetuses (60.0%), respectively, [RR: 1.5 (95% CI 1.0-2.1)]. In the intervention group two babies (0.4%) had Apgar scores
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0028482