[A method of fetal surveillance in utero: active movements count (author's transl)]

The authors have investigated the method introduced by Sadovsky for analysing fetal activity in which the woman counted her fetal movements in accordance with a time schedule. The counts were performed for three periods of 30 minutes, each day, at 9 a.m., 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. Thirty minutes was the time chosen for each period because, after this time, most patients became tired and subsequent recordings became unreliable. After careful instruction, the patient was provided with a digital counter. The total number of movements counted was recorded on a special data form. This method was found to be useful for the assessment of chronic fetal distress in disturbances of the feto-placental unit, particularly in hypertension. Normal fetal movements in high-risk pregnancies are an indication of fetal well-being. Decreased fetal movements may be an indication of chronic fetal asphyxia. In this case, cardiotocography has to be undertaken. We intend to make a prospective study to elucidate the normal pattern of fetal activity throughout pregnancy, the factors which affect the fetal movements and the prognostic significance of their variations.