Quickening and auscultation of fetal heart tones as estimators of the gestational interval A review

Antepartum fetal assessment A nurse-midwifery perspective

“…For years, midwives and physicians have used auscultation with a fetoscope to evaluate the fetal condition and in some cases to detect FHR accelerations as reassurance of a healthy fetus. Auscultation of the FHR with a fetoscope at or near 20 weeks' gestation continues to be of recognized clinical value 23 . However, the introduction of electronic devices for the detection of the FHR in the 1960s set the stage for a general decline in the use of the fetoscope during other periods of gestation.…”

Dating pregnancy Gathering and using a reliable data base

“…Perhaps when one does not expect to hear unamplified fetal heart tones earlier than 19 or 20 weeks, the attempt is not made. As Engstrom 38 notes, although the most controlled study finds a range of 15 to 19 weeks for first auscultation of unamplifed fetal heart tones, analysis of all related studies demonstrates a mean interval of 17 to 22 weeks from last menstrual period. First unamplified fetal heart tones are significantly less reliable than either last menses or uterine height in the estimation of gestational age.…”

“…Repeated studies have shown quickening to be unreliable in dating pregnancy. Engstrom 38 has done an excellent summary of the research examining both quickening and first fetal heart tones as estimators of the gestational interval.…”