Fetal Movement Measurement and Technology: A Narrative Review

Abstract

Fetal movement counts have long been used as a measure of fetal well-being but with advancing technology, such counts have been supplanted as the primary measure. Despite the new technologies used in standard clinical practice, the stillbirth rate has not reduced significantly worldwide. Each method of assessing fetal movement has limitations with different methods performing better in different situations. No one method is universally superior. This paper aims to introduce the reader to the broad range of assessment methods, both potential and actual, used to determine fetal movement. These assessment methods are assembled into a taxonomy: maternal involvement, clinician involvement, technology-assisted, and automated technology. A brief historical and technological overview and the expected measurements of each assessment method are described. All reviewed methods have value, but actography appears to offer the most potential by complementing existing approaches. Further research is required to evaluate the suitability of fetal movement assessment and the response to it.

Keywords

• Fetal movement
• ultrasound
• actography
• auscultation