Biomaterial Database

Fetal movements in utero: nature, assessment, prognostic value, timing of delivery. 1977

E Sadovsky, and W Z Polishuk

Fetal movements in utero are an expression of fetal well-being. However, a sudden increase of fetal movements is a sign of acute fetal distress, such as in cases of cord complications or abruptio placentae. Decreased fetal movements are seen in cases of chronic fetal distress such as preeclampsia, hypertension in pregnancy, etc. It was shown that in these cases a pronounced decrease up to cessation of fetal movements occurred before fetal death in utero while fetal heart beats were still audible for at least 12 hours. This situation was called "movements alarm signal" (MAS). This sign points to a severely disturbed fetus and indicates impending intrauterine fetal death. Such a development is an indication for immediate delivery of the fetus, provided it is viable. High-risk pregnant women are instructed to assess and record fetal movements daily as a monitor of fetal condition. A special device which records fetal movements is used to confirm the women's assessment of fetal movement. It was shown that fetal movement monitoring was found to be more reliable than the urinary estriol determination in predicting impending fetal death in utero. It was also shown that in cases of MAS, fetal heart rate (FHR) changes will appear 1 to 4 days after the MAS has appeared. Meconium was found in only 50% of these cases. Increased fetal movements are manifested as a response to various stimuli such as sound, light, touch, and ultrasound. Classification of high-risk pregnancies into 3 groups according to the hormone assays, enzyme assays, ultrasonic cephalometry, fetal movements, and FHR is suggested.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007743	Labor, Obstetric	The repetitive uterine contraction during childbirth which is associated with the progressive dilation of the uterine cervix (CERVIX UTERI). Successful labor results in the expulsion of the FETUS and PLACENTA. Obstetric labor can be spontaneous or induced (LABOR, INDUCED).	Obstetric Labor
D007745	Labor Onset	The beginning of true OBSTETRIC LABOR which is characterized by the cyclic uterine contractions of increasing frequency, duration, and strength causing CERVICAL DILATATION to begin (LABOR STAGE, FIRST ).	Labor Onsets,Onset, Labor,Onsets, Labor
D009068	Movement	The act, process, or result of passing from one place or position to another. It differs from LOCOMOTION in that locomotion is restricted to the passing of the whole body from one place to another, while movement encompasses both locomotion but also a change of the position of the whole body or any of its parts. Movement may be used with reference to humans, vertebrate and invertebrate animals, and microorganisms. Differentiate also from MOTOR ACTIVITY, movement associated with behavior.	Movements
D010775	Photic Stimulation	Investigative technique commonly used during ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY in which a series of bright light flashes or visual patterns are used to elicit brain activity.	Stimulation, Photic,Visual Stimulation,Photic Stimulations,Stimulation, Visual,Stimulations, Photic,Stimulations, Visual,Visual Stimulations
D010927	Placental Insufficiency	Failure of the PLACENTA to deliver an adequate supply of nutrients and OXYGEN to the FETUS.	Insufficiency, Placental
D011225	Pre-Eclampsia	A complication of PREGNANCY, characterized by a complex of symptoms including maternal HYPERTENSION and PROTEINURIA with or without pathological EDEMA. Symptoms may range between mild and severe. Pre-eclampsia usually occurs after the 20th week of gestation, but may develop before this time in the presence of trophoblastic disease.	Toxemias, Pregnancy,EPH Complex,EPH Gestosis,EPH Toxemias,Edema-Proteinuria-Hypertension Gestosis,Gestosis, EPH,Hypertension-Edema-Proteinuria Gestosis,Preeclampsia,Preeclampsia Eclampsia 1,Pregnancy Toxemias,Proteinuria-Edema-Hypertension Gestosis,Toxemia Of Pregnancy,1, Preeclampsia Eclampsia,1s, Preeclampsia Eclampsia,EPH Toxemia,Eclampsia 1, Preeclampsia,Eclampsia 1s, Preeclampsia,Edema Proteinuria Hypertension Gestosis,Gestosis, Edema-Proteinuria-Hypertension,Gestosis, Hypertension-Edema-Proteinuria,Gestosis, Proteinuria-Edema-Hypertension,Hypertension Edema Proteinuria Gestosis,Of Pregnancies, Toxemia,Of Pregnancy, Toxemia,Pre Eclampsia,Preeclampsia Eclampsia 1s,Pregnancies, Toxemia Of,Pregnancy Toxemia,Pregnancy, Toxemia Of,Proteinuria Edema Hypertension Gestosis,Toxemia Of Pregnancies,Toxemia, EPH,Toxemia, Pregnancy,Toxemias, EPH
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D011296	Prenatal Diagnosis	Determination of the nature of a pathological condition or disease in the postimplantation EMBRYO; FETUS; or pregnant female before birth.	Diagnosis, Prenatal,Fetal Diagnosis,Fetal Imaging,Fetal Screening,Intrauterine Diagnosis,Antenatal Diagnosis,Antenatal Screening,Diagnosis, Antenatal,Diagnosis, Intrauterine,Prenatal Screening,Antenatal Diagnoses,Antenatal Screenings,Diagnosis, Fetal,Fetal Diagnoses,Fetal Imagings,Fetal Screenings,Imaging, Fetal,Intrauterine Diagnoses,Prenatal Diagnoses,Prenatal Screenings,Screening, Antenatal,Screening, Fetal,Screening, Prenatal
D011379	Prognosis	A prediction of the probable outcome of a disease based on a individual's condition and the usual course of the disease as seen in similar situations.	Prognostic Factor,Prognostic Factors,Factor, Prognostic,Factors, Prognostic,Prognoses
D004964	Estriol	A hydroxylated metabolite of ESTRADIOL or ESTRONE that has a hydroxyl group at C3, 16-alpha, and 17-beta position. Estriol is a major urinary estrogen. During PREGNANCY, a large amount of estriol is produced by the PLACENTA. Isomers with inversion of the hydroxyl group or groups are called epiestriol.	(16alpha,17beta)-Estra-1,3,5(10)-Triene-3,16,17-Triol,(16beta,17beta)-Estra-1,3,5(10)-Triene-3,16,17-Triol,16-alpha-Hydroxy-Estradiol,16alpha,17beta-Estriol,16beta-Hydroxy-Estradiol,Epiestriol,Estra-1,3,5(10)-Triene-3,16beta,17beta-Triol,Ovestin,16 alpha Hydroxy Estradiol,16alpha,17beta Estriol,16beta Hydroxy Estradiol