[Fetal motor activity during pregnancy and labor]

The authors examined by actocardiography a group of 98 women in the third trimester of pregnancy. They evaluated the duration, frequency of different movements and the frequency of FHR accelerations in three groups of pregnant women (normal controls, pregnant women with retarded foetal growth and normal PI and finally women with retarded foetal growth and raised PI values). Progression of intrauterine stress led in the investigated group to a gradual decline of motor activity of the foetus along with a decline of the frequency and ratio of FHR accelerations in the total movements and isolated movements of the head and extremities. Statistical significance was proved in four basic parameters. The authors confirmed the priority of the flowmetric diagnosis as compared with actocardiographic recording of developing foetal stress. In the submitted preliminary communication the authors present data on actocardiographic findings during normal delivery. They revealed in particular a marked coincidence of general foetal movements and uterine contractions.