Maternally Perceived Fetal Movement and Computerized Cardiotocography Parameters: What's the Link? A Multicenter Pilot Study on Fetal Health.

Background

Maternal perception of fetal movement (FM) is an indirect indicator of fetal well-being. The aim was to investigate the relationship between computerized cardiotocography (cCTG) parameters and maternal perception of FM.

Methods

We conducted a prospective, multicentric observational study at two tertiary referral hospitals. After cCTG, all women completed a questionnaire assessing maternal perception of FM and fetal hiccups. The primary outcome was the relation between multiple cCTG parameters and maternal perceptions of FM.

Results

We included 419 patients. Women who reported increased FM frequency perception during the previous two weeks had an increased number of accelerations (p = 0.0099). The Dawes-Redman criteria need more time to be satisfied in pregnant women with no hiccup perception (p = 0.0063). These associations were confirmed after adjustment for pre-pregnancy BMI, gestational diabetes, and gestational hypertension. The association between two episodes of reduced FM after 26 weeks and high long-term variability (p = 0.032) was not confirmed after adjustment. No other statistical correlation was observed.

Conclusions

In this pilot multicenter study, fetal well-being assessed with cCTG was associated with increased perceived FM and perception of fetal hiccups. In future phases, this research will integrate maternal FM perception, cCTG, prenatal ultrasound, and neonatal outcomes to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the maternal perception of FM.