[Detection of fetal movements in the tocogram]

The total fetal movement activity was determined in 111 pregnant patients from 24 weeks to 42 weeks by simultaneous real-time ultrasonography and tocodynamometry. A comparison of the methods of investigation showed that tocodynamometry only detects 37% of all fetal movements with or without movements of the extremities. Movements of the extremities were only recorded in 14% of the cases. A total of only 25% of all fetal movements showed "spikes" in the tocogram. Of all the recorded spikes only 56% corresponded to a fetal movement, whereas 44% of the spikes in the tocogram were false-positive. These data demonstrate that routine clinical cardiotocography has a limited value only in the monitoring of fetal movement activity.