RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 [Counting active movements of the fetus: could it be useful?]
JF Canadian Medical Association Journal
JO CMAJ
FD Canadian Medical Association
SP 1172
OP 1175
VO 127
IS 12
A1 X. De Muylder
YR 1982
UL http://www.cmaj.ca/content/127/12/1172.abstract
AB In most cases a count of the active movements of the fetus by the mother is a good index of fetal activity. The information provided compares favourably with that furnished by analysis of the fetal heart rate and hormone levels in the mother's plasma. Counting the fetal movements every day for 1 or 2 hours starting at the 24th to 26th week of pregnancy is a simple, inexpensive and noninvasive method that could be used as and screening test for fetal distress. More complex and costly investigations necessitating hospitalization could then be reserved for patients noting an abnormal count. However, this scheme demands intelligence and motivation of the mother, and one must expect a certain rate of refusal or dropout.