Maternal perception, tocodynamometric findings and real-time ultra-sound assessment of total fetal activity

Abstract

“Total” fetal motor activity was determined in 111 healthy patients between 25 weeks of pregnancy and term using two real-time ultra-sound devices simultaneously. Furthermore tocographic findings and also maternal perception of fetal movements of the same patients were stored synchronously on magnetic tape. A comparison was drawn between these three methods, i.e. real-time ultrasonography, maternal perception and tocographic tracings (“spikes” indicating fetal movements). Of all fetal movements, as assessed by real-time ultrasonography, the mothers perceived a total of 38% whereas “spikes” in tocographic tracings corresponded with fetal motor activity (excluding “breathing”) in only 25% of the cases (P < 0.001). Also major statistically significant differences could be found between maternal perception of fetal body movements with or without fetal limb movements in 56% and routine-tocography in 37% (P < 0.001). Also isolated limb movements were most often detected by mothers (23%) than were revealed by tocographic findings (14%; P < 0.001). Maternal signals were truly positive in 74% compared to tocography in only 56% of the cases (P < 0.001). It is concluded that maternal perception of fetal movements is a more reliable method of monitoring fetal motor activity than analysis of tocographic tracings.