[Maternal determination of fetal movements. A sure and simple method of monitoring the pregnancy].

Counting of fetal movements (FM) by the mother-to-be was first recommended by Sadovsky in 1973. Objective studies have demonstrated that 82 to 87 p. cent of FM visible on cardio-topographic tracings or in ultrasound recordings are indeed felt by the pregnant woman. Currently, two protocols are employed: Cardiff's method (counting of 10 FM beginning at 9 a.m.) and Sadovsky's method (counting of FM for one hour at three different times of day). From a practical standpoint, a sudden increase in the incidence of vigorous and forceful movements followed by their stoppage corresponds to compression of the umbilical cord. A decrease in FM may represent a fetal malformation or intrauterine fetal asphyxia. The positive predictive value of counting of FM by the patient in the detection of fetal distress is 64 to 78 p. cent, with a decrease in fetal activity preceding changes in fetal cardiac rhythm by 12 to 96 hours. This simple, sure and readily applicable method ensures continuous monitoring of fetal behavior, while clinical or electronic monitoring is necessarily discontinuous.