Maternal perception of sound-provoked fetal movements as a measure of fetal well-being

Maternal perception of sound-provoked fetal movements was studied on 613 occasions in 259 risk pregnancies. The response was compared with a non-stress (N-S) test performed immediately after the sound stimulation. A positive response to sound stimulation, recorded as a fetal movement by the mother, occurred on 534 occasions (87%) and was always accompanied by a normal N-S test; sensitivity 100%. An inconclusive (3%) or negative response to sound (10%) had a specificity of 89% and a predictive value for a pathological N-S test of 19%. There was a positive correlation between inconclusive or negative test results and fetal growth retardation (P less than 0.01), fetal hypoxia (P less than 0.05) and neonatal mortality (P less than 0.05). This rapid test may have a place as a simple first-line screening test.     

Vibro-acoustic stimulation in high-risk pregnancies; maternal perception of fetal movements, fetal heart rate and fetal outcome.

Maternal perception of fetal movement in response to vibro-acoustic stimulation was compared with antenatal fetal heart rate monitoring as a test of fetal well-being in a population of gravidae with high-risk pregnancies (n = 517), admitted to the high-risk ward at Danderyd Hospital, Karolinska Institutet; a total of 2,015 tests were performed. The sensitivity and the specificity of the test compared to the fetal heart rate tracing was 81% and 89% respectively. If the test was performed within 24 hours of delivery, its predictive value for fetal asphyxia (i.e. a 5-minute Apgar score < 7) was 14% (7/49). Ten per cent of the patients felt no fetal movement in response to stimulation (irrespective of gestational age). In five cases where fetal heart rate tracings were pathological, stimulation nonetheless produced fetal movement and fetal outcome was good. Pathological heart rate tracings and no fetal movement in response to stimulation were present in 30 cases (out of 251 with no fetal movements at stimulation), in seven of which the infants had 5-minute Apgar scores < 7. Although many patients underwent repeated vibro-acoustic stimulation, there was no evidence of fetal habituation to the test. On 24 occasions (i.e. 1.2%), the patient denied vibro-acoustic stimulation, mostly because of previous discomfort due to vigorous fetal response. Where resources are limited, maternal perception of fetal movements in response to vibro-acoustic stimulation might be a useful alternative for preliminary screening of high-risk pregnancies.     

The rapid biophysical profile for assessment of fetal well-being

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of the rapid biophysical profile (BPP), the combination of amniotic fluid index (AFI) and sound-provoked fetal movement (SPFM) detected by ultrasound, in predicting intrapartum fetal distress in high-risk pregnancies, compared with the nonstress test (NST). STUDY DESIGN: The prospective study of diagnostic tests was conducted on a total of 1,069 high-risk singleton pregnancies, undergoing antepartum assessment of both the standard NST and the new rapid BPP, including AFI and SPFM detected by ultrasound. Intrapartum continuous fetal heart rate (FHR) monitoring was performed in all of them. The diagnostic indices of the NST and the rapid BPP was calculated in term of predicting intrapartum fetal distress. RESULTS: The rapid BPP was a reliable predictor of intrapartum fetal distress with higher sensitivity and specificity. Its accuracy was better than that of the NST. The incidence of fetal compromise among positive, equivocal, and negative tests of the rapid BPP are 78.57, 15.82 and 0.9%, respectively, whereas the incidence among nonreactive and reactive NST are 31.63 and 2.52%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The rapid BPP is an effective predictor of intrapartum fetal distress in high-risk pregnancies. It may suffice as an inexpensive and less time-consuming method of evaluating antepartum fetal well-being.     

The relationship between fetal biophysical assessment, umbilical artery velocimetry, and fetal acidosis

In a prospective study of 62 patients undergoing cesarean delivery before the onset of labor, fetal biophysical assessment and umbilical artery systolic-diastolic ratios (S/Ds) were performed within 3 hours of delivery. There was a significant relationship between the fetal biophysical profile score and cord arterial as well as cord venous pH. However, there was no identifiable relationship between S/D and cord arterial or venous pH. The efficacies of the biophysical components alone (nonstress test [NST] and fetal biophysical profile) and in combination with S/D to predict fetal acidosis were determined. The NST had the best sensitivity (100%) and negative predictive value (100%). The fetal biophysical profile had the best specificity (91%), positive predictive value (62%), and overall efficiency (90%). The S/D had the lowest sensitivity (66%), specificity (42%), positive predictive value (16%), negative predictive value (88%), and overall efficiency (45%). The addition of S/D to the NST or fetal biophysical profile did not improve diagnostic accuracy. These data suggest that the NST should be used as a primary test for the antepartum detection of fetal acidosis, whereas the fetal biophysical profile is a reasonable adjunct test. The umbilical artery S/D, as determined by continuous-wave Doppler velocimetry, has no value as a primary method or an adjunct in the antepartum detection of fetal acidosis.     

Assessment of fetal well-being: fetal movement count versus non stress test.

In this prospective study, comparisons were made between the results of fetal movement count as performed by either the attending staff or by the patients using the non stress test (NST). A total of 283 NSTs were performed in 200 patients who had singleton pregnancy of at least 32 weeks gestation with indications for assessment of fetal well-being. Fetal movement counts performed by the attending staff and by the patients were recorded on 241 and 170 occasions, respectively. The results showed that the best correlation between fetal movement count by the attending staff with NST was when the criteria of three or more fetal movements within 10 min was used. Likewise, the best correlation between fetal movement count by patients with NST was found when ten fetal movements within 2 h was used as a cut off point. The result of this study suggests the usefulness of fetal movement count performed either by attending staff or patients as a cheap and effective method of screening for good fetal well-being in places where NST is not readily available and may also be used as a screening for patients prior to further evaluation.     

Proposed management for reduced fetal movements: five years' experience in one medical center

Objective.?To assess the management of reduced fetal movements (RFM) based on repeated fetal movement counts, nonstress test (NST), and ultrasound examination.

Methods.?This is a retrospective cohort study carried out in a single tertiary maternity hospital. A total of 2393 women with singleton pregnancies at?>28 weeks' were referred to obstetric triage with chief complaint of RFM. Persistent movement counts of?<5/h and abnormal results of NST or ultrasound mandated an admission for further evaluation. Women with transient RFM and normal ultrasound and NST were discharged. We compared the outcome between these two groups. Maternal and perinatal parameters were compared between women who were admitted and those who were discharged home after evaluation.

Results.?A total of 2393 women were referred to obstetric triage with chief complaint of RFM, of whom 753 (31.5%) were admitted for further evaluation. Their demographic and obstetrical parameters were similar to those of the nonadmitted women, as were the fetal demise rates. NICU admission and cesarean section rates and low Apgar scores were significantly higher among admitted patients.

Conclusion.?RFM has a clinical significance as a predictor of adverse perinatal outcome. Our study suggests that repeated fetal movement counts, NST, and ultrasonography may identify women at risk for adverse perinatal outcome.     

Predictive value of antepartum fetal heart rate non-stress test in high-risk pregnancy

For antepartum evaluation of high-risk pregnancies the non-stress test (NST) was performed in order to predict favorable or adverse fetal outcome. Between January 1, 1980 and December 31, 1980, 4078 NSTs were performed on 454 women with high-risk pregnancies. The NSTs were evaluated for pathology by a CTG pathology score. The NST interpretation were normal 95%, slight pathological 4% and severe pathological 1%. The group of women in whom all NST results were normal gave birth to healthy babies. In tact with an increasing number of pathologica-NSTs and with worsening CTG pathology score, a significant increase was found for cesarean section rate, acute operative delivery, low Apgar score, low umbilical cord artery pH and infants born small for gestational age or clinically dysmature. The frequence of perinatal morbidity was almost the same, irrespective of whether the NSTs showed accelarations or not on one or more occasions. To identify fetuses suffering from retarded intra-uterine growth the predictive value of normal NST was 97.3% and the predictive value of pathological NST was 34.8%. To identify perinatal morbidity the predictive values were 87.4% and 55.1% respectively. The NST appears to be a reliable test for antepartum assessment of fetal well-being in high-risk pregnancies.     

Plasma volume, umbilical artery Doppler flow, and antepartum fetal heart testing in high-risk pregnancies

The purpose of this clinical study is to investigate the diagnostic value of plasma volume (PV), nonstress test (NST), contraction stress test (CST), and umbilical artery Doppler (UAD) in detecting fetal compromise in 81 patients (83 fetuses) at risk for fetal growth retardation. Neither PV nor UAD studies were used in the clinical management. There were two stillbirths and three neonatal deaths for a perinatal mortality of 6%. Twenty-seven infants (32.5%) were small for gestational age (SGA), seven (8.6%) had cord pH 7.20 or less, and five (6.2%) had 5-minute Apgar scores less than 7. Overall, PV had the highest sensitivity and NST the highest specificity regarding delivery of SGA infants. The positive and negative predictive values for infants with low cord pH and low Apgar scores were similar among the various tests. There were nine fetuses with zero or reverse diastolic flow: seven were SGA (four perinatal deaths) and all of them had both nonreactive NST and positive CST. The other two infants were appropriate for gestational age with all other tests being normal. Antepartum fetal heart rate testing appears to be similar to other tests in predicting poor fetal outcome in high-risk pregnancies.     

专家型远程胎儿监护系统的临床应用

目的　探讨专家型远程胎儿监护系统作为围产期孕妇家庭自我监护方法的临床应用价值。方法　将 2 84例孕妇按随机数字表法分为试验组 (134例 )和对照组 (15 0例 ) ,试验组中高危孕妇73例、非高危孕妇 6 1例 ,对照组高危孕妇 78例、非高危孕妇 72例。试验组孕妇以专家型远程胎儿监护系统结合胎动计数进行家庭自我监护 ,每日定时听取、传输胎心率至监护中心 ,选择胎动活跃时每周在家中进行胎儿无负荷试验 (NST) 1～ 2次 ;自觉胎动异常时及时行NST检查 ,并传输胎心率曲线图至监护中心 ,医生根据结果即时做出诊断和处理。对照组以胎动计数和常规门诊NST检查作为监护方式。结果　试验组NST异常检出率 (2 2 0 % )较对照组 (13 5 % )显著升高 (P <0 0 5 ) ,试验组中高危孕妇与非高危孕妇异常NST检出率分别为 2 2 3%和 2 1 6 % ,差异无显著性 (P >0 0 5 ) ;试验组新生儿窒息发生率 (1 5 % )明显低于对照组 (4 0 % ,P <0 0 5 )。结论　专家型远程胎儿监护系统是家庭自我监护的新方法 ,它可减轻妊娠晚期孕妇的心理压力 ,降低新生儿窒息率     

Classification of the nonstress test and fetal outcome in 1,056 pregnancies

During a 2 1/2-year period, 1 056 pregnant women (1 072 fetuses) were monitored with the nonstress test (NST) in the antenatal period. Testing time was 30 minutes. The NST was classified into one of four classes: normal, suspect pathological, slight pathological, and severe pathological. In 88.5% of the pregnancies, all NSTs were normal. Suspect, slight, or severe pathological NSTs occurred at least once in 8.1%, 2.1%, and 1.3% of the women respectively. All women with a severe pathological NST had high-risk complications. Lethal malformations excluded, there were only two perinatal deaths among the tested women. In the four different classes, the frequencies of cesarean section were 11%, 17%, 41%, and 79%. One-minute Apgar scores were less than 7 in 5%, 12%, 41%, and 64%. The need for referral to neonatal intensive care was 19%, 40%, 41%, and 93% respectively. A normal NST predicted normal fetal outcome in an excellent way, while the three pathological classes appeared to represent different degrees of impending fetal jeopardy.     

Antepartum fetal evaluation by assessment of fetal heart rate and fetal movements

Three antenatal monitoring tests--fetal movement acceleration test (FMAC-test), fetal heart rate-nonstress test (FHR-NST), and daily fetal movement recording (DFMR) were evaluated in 212 high risk pregnant women. While in 196 cases all three tests were normal, in 16 patients one to three tests showed pathological results. In the latter group, there was a significantly higher incidence of perinatal mortality, low Apgar score and growth retardation. Since false positives are known to occur in these tests, at least two should be pathological to warrant delivery in am attempt to prevent fetal death in utero. The sequence in which the pathology appears in the deteriorating fetus is as follows: the first to become non-reactive is the FMAC-test, followed by decreased fetal movements till cessation, and, finally, severe changes in the FHR-NST take place. The importance of this sequence of events is discussed.     

Coupling of fetal movement and fetal heart rate accelerations as an indicator of fetal health.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical value of identified coupling of fetal heart rate (FHR) accelerations (more than five beats per minute for any duration) with objectively detected fetal movements. METHODS: One hundred sixty-six patients underwent routine fetal testing using a Doppler device that recognized both FHR and fetal movements. The coupling index was determined to be the percentage of fetal movements associated with FHR accelerations, and various coupling indices were compared with nonstress test (NST) results. RESULTS: A coupling index above 25% and below 75% compared well with the traditional NST by standard epidemiologic criteria and by the kappa statistic. CONCLUSION: Coupling of even small FHR accelerations and fetal movements could substitute for or replace the NST in antenatal screening.     

Maternal response to daily fetal movement counting in primary care settings

Maternal counting of fetal movement (FM) to assess fetal well-being was studied in 394 pregnancies followed by family physicians. Counting was well accepted, with 85% of women finding it reassuring and 91% wanting to include it in subsequent pregnancies. Eighty-eight percent of women reported counting five or more days per week. Thirteen women reported decreased activity a total of 20 times. A nonstress test (NST) was performed 20 times and an oxytocin challenge test (OCT) was performed four times as a result of these reports. One of the 20 reports of decreased activity was followed by a nonreactive NST and suspicious OCT, and led to the induction of a viable 38-week fetus. There were no stillbirths in the group and only one neonatal death of an anencephalic infant.     

脐动脉血流速度检测及胎心监护对子宫内缺氧的预测价值

目的：比较多普勒超声脐动脉血流速度检测和胎儿监护－无负荷试验（NST）对胎儿宫内缺氧的预测价值。方法：检测4326例正常妊娠妇女的脐动脉收缩期最大血流速度（S）与舒张末期血流速度（D）的比值（S／D）、脐动脉血流博动指数（PI）、脐动脉血流阻力指数（RI）、快速血流速比（FVR）,建立妊娠晚期各孕周相应的正常值。同时对2873例正常晚期妊娠妇女,进行多普勒超声脐动脉血流速度检测和NST,追踪检测后1周内出生的新生儿情况,并与检测结果对照。结果：（1）正常妊娠妇女S／D、PI、RI值随孕周的增加而逐渐下降,FVR值则变化不大;（2）脐动脉血流S／D、PI、RI、FVR值和NST分别异常者,新生儿出生时表现有宫内缺氧情况者分别为62．0％、60．7％、63．3％、27．0％和75．7％,而脐动脉血流S／D、PI、RI、FVR值和NST正常者,新生儿出生时表现有宫内缺氧情况者分别为12．8％、13．9％、13．0％、15．7％和7．5％,两者比较差异有极显著性（P＜0．01）。（3）多因素回归分析显示,RI和NST两个变量与胎儿宫内缺氧关系密切,差异有显著性（P＜0．05）。结论：NST和RI值在正常妊娠妇女中,预测宫内缺氧的临床价值较好,多指标检测分析比单一指标更准确。     

Maternal Perception of Fetal Activity and Late Stillbirth Risk: Findings from the Auckland Stillbirth Study

Abstract: Background: Maternal perception of decreased fetal movements has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, including stillbirth. Little is known about other aspects of perceived fetal activity. The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between maternal perception of fetal activity and late stillbirth (≥ 28 wk gestation) risk. Methods: Participants were women with a singleton, late stillbirth without congenital abnormality, born between July 2006 and June 2009 in Auckland, New Zealand. Two control women with ongoing pregnancies were randomly selected at the same gestation at which the stillbirth occurred. Detailed demographic and fetal movement data were collected by way of interview in the first few weeks after the stillbirth, or at the equivalent gestation for control women. Results: A total of 155/215 (72%) women who experienced a stillbirth and 310/429 (72%) control group women consented to participate in the study. Maternal perception of increased strength and frequency of fetal movements, fetal hiccups, and frequent vigorous fetal activity were all associated with a reduced risk of late stillbirth. In contrast, perception of decreased strength of fetal movement was associated with a more than twofold increased risk of late stillbirth (aOR: 2.37; 95% CI: 1.29–4.35). A single episode of vigorous fetal activity was associated with an almost sevenfold increase in late stillbirth risk (aOR: 6.81; 95% CI: 3.01–15.41) compared with no unusually vigorous activity. Conclusions: Our study suggests that maternal perception of increasing fetal activity throughout the last 3 months of pregnancy is a sign of fetal well‐being, whereas perception of reduced fetal movements is associated with increased risk of late stillbirth. (BIRTH 38:4 December 2011)     

Direct intramuscular fetal or maternal antenatal corticosteroid therapy: short-time effects on fetal behavior and oxygenation: a comparative study

Objective: To compare the effects of antenatal administration of corticosteroids used in two different regimens, on fetal biophysical profile (BPP), baseline fetal heart rate (BFHR), nonstress test (NST) and perinatal outcomes.

Study design: We evaluated the effects of single direct intramuscular (i.m.) fetal dose of dexamethasone (4 mg/kg), or four doses of 6 mg dexamethasone given to the mother 12 hours apart on the parameters of fetal BPP 0–4 hours before and after antenatal contraction stress (ACST). We evaluated two groups of 41 fetuses in the 31st gestation week at risk of fetal hypoxia at the Department of Gynecology/Obstetrics, Clinical Center of Serbia in 2013.

Results: In fetal ACST group, we found significantly different changes in fetal breathing movement before (D0-f) and after therapy (D1-f), p = 0.019 (?11.75;??1.12), 95% confidence interval (CI), as well as in the maternal ACST group, p = 0.001; (?11.75;??1.12), 95% CI. We found significant difference between BPP 0-m and BPP1-m in the maternal group, p?= 0.000. Neonatal asphyxia occurred more often with the increased frequency of fetal breath movements after both ACST (p = 0.04 versus p = 0.07).

Conclusion: Fetal ACST results in increased fetal breathing movements. Maternal ACST can result in changes to BPP. The increase in fetal breathing movements determinates neonatal asphyxia regardless of the ACST.     

振动声音刺激引起胎动胎心率加速对预测胎儿预后的意义

本文对319例单胎足月孕妇进行振动声音刺激试验(VAS—T)及声刺激引起的胎动(SPFM)与传统的无负荷试验(NST)对预测胎儿预后的临床意义进行前瞻性对比研究。结果三者的阴性预测价值及敏感性均很高。VAS—T及SPFM的特异性、阳性预测价值均明显高于NST,而假阳性率显著低于NST,且大大缩短了试验时间,表明VAS—T及SPFM是有效、简便、省时、经济的产前胎儿监护方法。     

An evaluation of the importance of formal, maternal fetal movement counting as a measure of fetal well-being.

Maternal perception of fetal movements has, over the years, become recognised as a valuable tool for early detection of fetal compromise. Several studies published in the mid-1970s have demonstrated that a reduction or cessation in maternally perceived fetal movements may precede antepartum late fetal death by a day or longer. From these findings formal fetal movement counting emerged as a valuable, non-invasive method of assessing fetal well-being; the belief being that clinical actions taken on the basis of reduced fetal movement counting may prevent antepartum death or morbidity. Conversely, more recent studies have failed to demonstrate that there is a beneficial effect of a formal, fetal movement counting policy on antepartum death. It is not disputed that fetal movements are of clinical importance but it seems that routine daily counting of fetal movements by women followed by appropriate action when movements are reduced offers no advantages over formal inquiry about fetal movements during standard antenatal care. Thus, the application of formal, maternal fetal movement counting as a method of fetal surveillance to reduce late antepartum death must be questioned.     

The predictive value of fetal acoustic stimulation.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the predictive abilities, test duration times, and incidence of nonreactive results in the acoustic stimulation test (AST) and the nonstress test (NST). METHOD: Four-hundred randomly selected patients, delivering within 7 days of a preceding test, were divided into two groups (group I: NST; group II: AST). In the AST group, fetal heart rate tracing were recorded for the first 5 minutes as a baseline recording. If the reactivity criterion was not met, transabdominal acoustic stimulation to the fetal head was performed. In the NST group, nonreactive tests were followed by a repeat NST. In both groups, nonreactive tests were followed by oxytocin challenge test (OCT) on the same day. Depressed 5-minute Apgar scores (< 7) and an umbilical arterial blood pH of < 7.2 were taken as indicators of fetal distress. Sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of NST and AST were calculated and compared. RESULTS: The incidence of nonreactive tests was lower in the AST group. AST decreased the test duration time by 10.1 minutes. The sensitivity values were 87.5% in the NST group and 85.7 in the AST group; specificities of were found to be 94% for AST and 88% for NST. The negative predictive value was found to be 98% in each group, but the positive predictive value was 54.5% in the AST group and 38.8% in the NST group. CONCLUSION: AST offers benefits, by decreasing the incidence of nonreactive tests and reducing the test time. AST lowers the rate of false positives without changing the negative reliability of NST. It is a safe test and allows more efficient use of perinatal services.     

Acute effects of maternal smoking on fetal hemodynamics.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate acute effects of cigarette smoking on fetal hemodynamics. METHOD: Sixty seven women between 32nd to 40th weeks of gestation were evaluated. Maternal blood pressure and heart rate, fetal heart rate (FHR) tracing, umbilical and fetal middle cerebral arterial (MCA) color Doppler measurements were evaluated. Pre- and postsmoking results were compared with paired t-test. RESULTS: Maternal heart rate significantly increased after smoking. Baseline FHR and FHR variability remained unchanged. The number of participants who had a reactive NST was 60 in 67 before smoking (89.5%) and decreased to 47 after smoking (70.1%) (p=0.009). There were no significant changes between maximum and minimum flow velocities, pulsatility index (PI), resistance index (RI) and systolic/diastolic flow ratio (S/D) of umbilical and middle cerebral arteries. CONCLUSION: The nicotine load of a single cigarette may be inadequate to cause a detectable decrease in utero-placental blood flow; however, smoking prior to the FHR recording may alter the FHR reactivity.