Timing of delivery in high risk pregnancy by monitoring of fetal movements

Subjective Recording of Fetal Movements

“…It has been reported that maternal awareness of a decrease in fetal movements might be a clinically useful sign of fetal jeopardy (10,13). A definite decrease in fetal movements followed by cessation for at least 12 hours has been claimed to indicate prompt delivery in order to save the fetus from intra-uterine death (13,17). It is becoming increasingly common to use subjective registration of fetal movements for supervision of high-risk pregnancies.…”

Daily fetal movement counting A valuable assessment tool

“…Sadovsky 59 in 1978 defined movement alarm signal as a signal pointing to a “severely distressed fetus and indicates impending intrauterine fetal death.” They go on to say it is “an indication for immediate delivery of the fetus, provided it is viable.” 11…”

“…One of the advantages to the use of the daily fetal movement counts as a screening tool is that its warning signal of decreased movement occurs in enough time for life‐saving action to be carried out in most cases. Sadovsky et al 59 in 1978 noted that fetal movement decreased from 1 to 12 days before intrauterine death occurred. Eighteen out of the 19 women in this study had decreased fetal movement from 1 to 3 days before death occurred.…”

“…If these tests show a deteriorating condition and the fetus is shown to be viable, delivery is recommended. Sadovsky 59 recommends prompt delivery when a definite decrease in fetal movement is followed by total cessation for at least 1 day with viability and fetal heart rate present.…”