Maternal perception of sound-provoked fetal movement as a test of antepartum fetal wellbeing.

Chutiwongse, S; Tannirandorn, Y; Sukcharoen, N; Witoonpanich, P; Snidvongs, W; Phaosavasdi, S

Maternal perception of sound-provoked fetal movement as a test of antepartum fetal wellbeing.

Date

1991-05-01

Authors

Abstract

Maternal perception of sound-provoked fetal movement test was studied on 506 occasions in 443 women with obstetric or medical antenatal risk factors after 26 weeks gestation. The response was compared with a nonstress test (NST) performed immediately after a three-second vibroacoustic stimulation with an electronic artificial larynx. A positive response to sound stimulation, recorded as a fetal movement by the mother, occurred on 497 occasions (97.3%) and was accompanied by a reactive NST on 484 occasions; giving a specificity of 99.6 per cent and a negative predictive value of 97.4 per cent. An inconclusive or negative response to sound (2.7%) had a sensitivity of 35.0 per cent and a positive predictive value for a nonreactive NST of 77.8 per cent. Results of sound-provoked fetal movement test and NST, performed within a week of delivery, in 434 women were compared with fetal outcome. The maternal perception of sound-provoked fetal movement test had better specificity (99.1% vs 96.9%), positive predictive value (55.6% vs 35.0%) for poor fetal outcome than the NST, although its sensitivity (50.0% vs 70.0%) and negative predictive value (98.8% vs 99.3%) were lower. Maternal perception of sound-provoked fetal movement test may suffice as an inexpensive and simple method of evaluating antepartum fetal well-being in risk situations. When the mother does not feel any sound provoked fetal movement, NST is then performed. This clinical application can be helpful in a primary health care setting where rapid assessment of fetal health at risk is required.

Description

Chotmaihet Thangphaet.

Citation

Chutiwongse S, Tannirandorn Y, Sukcharoen N, Witoonpanich P, Snidvongs W, Phaosavasdi S. Maternal perception of sound-provoked fetal movement as a test of antepartum fetal wellbeing. Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand. 1991 May; 74(5): 257-63