Fetal movement counts: An assessment tool

A review of the literature was undertaken to determine the feasibility of using fetal movement counting as an assessment tool for monitoring and predicting the outcome of a given pregnancy. Various methods of classifying fetal movements are discussed. Fetal movement patterns are divided into the first and the second halves of the pregnancy, with the associated implications of the different evaluative data in determining fetal compromise, distress, and death. The values of daily fetal movement counts are discussed, as are the methods for calculating them and the indications for recording and assessing fetal movement patterns. In conclusion, fetal movements give an indication as to the prognosis of the pregnancy and fetal/neonatal outcome.