Decreased fetal movement: Maternal characteristics and pregnancy outcome.

Abstract

Introduction: Decreased fetal movement is a common reason for consultation. It can reveal an intrauterine death or fetal distress.

Aim: To evaluate the epidemiological profile of decreased fetal movement and to identify the predictive factors of poor pregnancy outcome.

Methods: We performed a retrospective and descriptive study in the department of Maternity between January 2015 and December 2019 including patients hospitalized for decreased fetal movements.

Results: The study included 150 patients with a mean age of 30.7±5.8 years. The patients were primiparous in 45.3% of cases. The mean term of pregnancy was 37.17±2.97 weeks. Cardiotocography was pathological in 22.7% of patients. The delivery rate during the hospitalization was 87.3% with a mean term of 37.9±2.5 SA. Poor pregnancy outcome was noted in 22.1% of cases. The identified predictive factors of poor pregnancy outcome were: gestational term less than 37 weeks (ORa=9.42), insufficient prenatal care (ORa=2.85), delayed maternal reporting of decreased fetal movement (ORa=1.29), complications during pregnancy (ORa=3.01), small symphysiofundal height for gestational age (ORa=6.17), pathological cardiotocography (ORa=1.66), fetal growth restriction (ORa=6.17), abnormal Umbilical Artery Doppler (ORa=6.51).

Conclusion: Decreased fetal movement can be a false alarm but it is important to identify predictive factors of poor pregnancy outcome to recognize patients at increased risk and optimize their management.