Effects of maternal anxiety on perception of fetal movements in late pregnancy

BACKGROUND: To determine whether maternal state and trait anxiety levels affect maternal perception of fetal movements in the third trimester. METHOD: Forty healthy pregnant nulliparous women not on medication and with a singleton, uncomplicated pregnancy were studied. Maternal anxiety was assessed using the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI, Form-Y) at 36 gestational weeks. At term (37- 40 gestational weeks), fetal movements were recorded simultaneously by the mother and by an ultrasound observer. The ultrasound transducer was positioned to include a cross-section of the fetal trunk and of at least one fetal limb. The ultrasound observer pressed a push-button for as long as she saw a fetal movement on the ultrasound screen. The screen was placed out of sight of the pregnant woman, who pressed another push-button for as long as she felt a fetal movement. The signals were fed into two different channels of a cardiotocograph. Fetal heart rate (FHR) was recorded throughout the examination and classified as FHR patterns A, B, C, or D. Examination time was 120 min. Agreement between maternally recorded and sonographically recorded fetal movements was determined manually for each FHR pattern and was compared between women with low and high state and trait anxiety. The low state anxiety group had STAI scores ranging from 20 to 31, and the high state anxiety group had STAI scores from 32 to 57. The corresponding values for the low and high trait anxiety groups were 20 to 29 and 30 to 54. RESULTS: The agreement between maternally perceived and ultrasonographically recorded fetal movements did not differ between women with low and high state and trait anxiety in any FHR pattern. CONCLUSION: This study does not support that maternal anxiety--within the normal range--affects perception of fetal movements in late pregnancy.