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Maternal and ultrasound measurements of elicited fetal movements: a methodologic consideration
B S Kisilevsky1, H Killen, D W Muir
1School of Nursing, Departments of Psychology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.
Two methods of evaluating fetal movement responses elicited by vibroacoustic stimulation--maternal perceptions and ultrasound scan observations--were compared in 58 low-risk and 35 high-risk pregnancies from 23-36 weeks' gestation. Maternal perception of vibrator-elicited fetal movement was poor compared with ultrasound scan observation. Regardless of gestational age or risk status, the mothers perceived 27-75% fewer movements than observed with ultrasound scan. In addition, maternal movement perceptions on vibrator versus no-stimulus control trials were not reliable until 29-32 weeks' gestation, with the percentage of movement responses increasing across gestation from 11 to 48%. In contrast, ultrasound scan observations of movement were reliable on vibrator compared with no-stimulus control trials from 26 weeks, with the percentage of movement responses increasing from 22% at 23-25 weeks to 94% at 35-36 weeks. We conclude that maternal perceptions of fetal movements cannot be substituted for ultrasound scan observations for accurate assessment of fetal movements during vibroacoustic stimulation testing.
Two methods of evaluating fetal movement responses elicited by vibroacoustic stimulation--maternal perceptions and ultrasound scan observations--were compared in 58 low-risk and 35 high-risk pregnancies from 23-36 weeks' gestation. Maternal perception of vibrator-elicited fetal movement was poor compared with ultrasound scan observation. Regardless of gestational age or risk status, the mothers perceived 27-75% fewer movements than observed with ultrasound scan. In addition, maternal movement perceptions on vibrator versus no-stimulus control trials were not reliable until 29-32 weeks' gestation, with the percentage of movement responses increasing across gestation from 11 to 48%. In contrast, ultrasound scan observations of movement were reliable on vibrator compared with no-stimulus control trials from 26 weeks, with the percentage of movement responses increasing from 22% at 23-25 weeks to 94% at 35-36 weeks. We conclude that maternal perceptions of fetal movements cannot be substituted for ultrasound scan observations for accurate assessment of fetal movements during vibroacoustic stimulation testing.