Stillbirths and fetal movements

The unexplained stillbirth is an event distressing to patients, families and medical attendants alike. Many of these deaths can be prevented by the use of fetal movement record cards. In a retrospective study of stillbirths occurring over two consecutive twenty-month periods, the first twenty-month period being prior to, the second subsequent to the introduction of fetal movement record cards on a non-prescriptive basis a significant decrease in perinatal mortality and stillbirth rates was observed. The percentage of patients using fetal movement record cards in the second time period cannot be estimated, but in only one of twenty-seven unexplained stillbirths was the mother using a fetal movement record card. Examination of antenatal records for hospital clinic patients suffering unexplained stillbirths shows that systematic enquiry about fetal activity was absent in the first time period and rare in the second time period.