[Actocardiograph--an instrument for the diagnosis of fetal behavioral stages?]

The investigation of fetal behaviour are an important clinical tool for assessing fetal well-being. However, they are time-consuming and at least 2 real-time scanners must be employed. The aim of this study was to find out if fetal behavioural states can be diagnosed by using only the "actocardiograph". Thus we compared tracings of the actocardiograph with simultaneously registered tracings from "polygraphic monitorings" including real-time observations of fetal eye, breathing and body movements. We could demonstrate that state 1F and 4F can be recognised in 93% resp. 82%. Periods without a definite state cannot be diagnosed from actocardiographic tracings. This suggested that the combined recording of fetal movements and fetal heart rate with the actocardiograph might be useful for the registration of fetal movements and for the overall diagnosis of fetal behavioural states. However polygraphic monitorings including real-time observations give the only precise picture of neuromotoric coordination.