[A fetal distress signal: decreased fetal movements. A case of antenatal anaemia (author's transl)].

The authors report an observation of antenatal anaemia which showed as fetal distress found by a decrease of fetal movements and confirmed by cardiotocography. At birth, the baby was very pale and has a severe anaemia. 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. Normal fetal movements 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. Analysis of their results demonstrated the value of this method which appears to be useful particularly for the assessment of chronic fetal distress.