The Potential Use of the Fetal Observable Movement System in Clinical Practice

Abstract

This paper summarizes the potential use of a fine-grained fetal facial scoring system. The use of this coding system is discussed in relation to maternal health as well as effects on fetal development, including smoking in pregnancy and maternal stress. It is argued that the proposed fine-grained movement analysis might lend itself to support an increase health behaviors. Furthermore, we suggest that the fine-grained movement coding, although labor intensive, might detect subtle but important differences in fetal development, which are missed by more general obser vations. Finally, advantages and disadvantages of this system are discussed.

Current status of fetal neurodevelopmental assessment: Four‐dimensional ultrasound study

“…47 Each individual anatomically distinct movement is encoded, facilitating the standardization of fetal facial movement investigation. 10 So, the FOMS is a precise and reliable fetal facial scoring system to effectively compare data on fetal facial movements between observers or laboratories. 47 Reissland et al 48 provided the first evidence of developmental progression from individual unrelated facial movements toward fetal facial expressions, such as smiling and crying, using the FOMS.…”

“…50 Moreover, there was a significant increase in the proportion of fetal lateralized mouth openings during pregnancy, and this was also evidence of left lateralization preference in mouth movement. 51 Reissland et al 10 suggest that FOMS is more sensitive to subtle behavioral changes than KANET, which focuses on gross motor behavior. Therefore, FOMS may have a marked potential for clinical use in diagnosing abnormal fetal neurodevelopment, which KANET might fail to detect.…”

“…8 New fetal neurobehavioral assessment tests, such as Kurjak's Antenatal Neurodevelopmental Test (KANET) and the Fetal Observable Movement System (FOMS), may reflect the normal and abnormal neurological development of the fetus, and will facilitate more precise assessments of fetal neurobehavior or neurodevelopment, as well as fetal brain and CNS functions. 9,10 In this review article, we present the current status of fetal neurodevelopmental assessment using 4-D ultrasound, and, on this basis, make recommendations for future research on fetal neurobehavioral development, and inter-twin contacts and intra-pair stimulations in twin pregnancies.…”