Premium
Reduced fetal movements
Author(s) -
Unterscheider Julia,
Horgan Richard,
O'Donoghue Keelin,
Greene Richard
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the obstetrician and gynaecologist
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1744-4667
pISSN - 1467-2561
DOI - 10.1576/toag.11.4.245.27527
Subject(s) - fetus , medicine , fetal movement , pregnancy , obstetrics , obstetrics and gynaecology , intervention (counseling) , gestational age , psychiatry , biology , genetics
• Maternal perception of reduced fetal movements affects up to 15% of pregnancies. • Reduced fetal movements cause concern and anxiety and can be associated with poor pregnancy outcome. • Up to 29% of women complaining of diminished movements carry a small‐for‐gestational‐age fetus. • Multiple pathologies contibute to reduce fetal movements but in many pregnancies a cause is not found.Learning objectives:• To establish what is meant by ‘reduced fetal movements’. • To understand the assessment tools for women presenting with reduced fetal movements. • To identify the fetus at risk of stillbirth and poor perinatal outcome. • To learn which investigations are useful and which are not, in order to apply appropriate assessment and management strategies.Ethical issues:• Lack of good data on the management of reduced fetal movements. • Failure to recognise pregnancy pathologies in women presenting with reduced fetal movements. • Variation in practice in addressing this condition, with the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes. • Risk of producing iatrogenic problems through over‐investigation and unwarranted intervention in a healthy fetus.Please cite this article as: Unterscheider J, Horgan R, O'Donoghue K, Greene R. Reduced fetal movements. The Obstetrician & Gynaecologist 2009;11:245–251.