PERINATAL OUTCOMES IN PREGNANT WOMEN AT TERM WITH REDUCED FETAL MOVEMENTS

Abstract

Objective: To determine the perinatal outcomes in women at term with reduced fetal movements

Study design: Descriptive study

Place of the study: Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Ward 8, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Karachi, over a period of six months from November 2024 to April 2025.

Methodology: 97 Pregnant women with complaint of reduced fetal movement of age between 18–40 years, singleton pregnancy with gestational age of 37--42 weeks assessed on LMP or dating scan, and delivered baby at our hospital were included via non-probability consecutive sampling technique. Detailed obstetric examination leopold manure was done. Blood pressure and fetal heart rate was recorded. At the same time patient with decreased fetal movements were subjected to cardiotocography (CTG) and findings were recorded as reassuring or non-reassuring and USG findings was recorded as fetal movements in USG present or absent. Maternal perception of a subjective decrease in the frequency or strength of fetal movements less than 10 movements in 12 hours was labeled as positive. The women with decreased fetal movements were followed up till delivery to assess the perinatal outcomes. Data was analyzed by using SPSS version 23. Mean and standard deviation were calculated for quantitative data. Whereas, frequency and percentage were calculated for qualitative data. Effect modifiers were controlled through stratification. Post-stratification Chi-square test was applied. P-value < 0.05 was taken as significant.

Results: The mean age of the women was 26.31 + 4.45 years with gestation age was 38.03 + 1.45 weeks, 42 (43.3%) of the women were primigravida, whereas, 55 (56.7%) were multigravida. All 97 (100%) were urban resided. Around 37 (38.1%) of the women were delivered through C--section. The perinatal outcomes in pregnant women at term with reduced fetal movements were assessed, most frequent outcome was low birth weight 31 (32%), NICU admission was 30 (30.9%), Meconium aspiration syndrome found in 18 (18.6%) cases, birth asphyxia in 3 (3.1%) women and abnormal CTG was 7 (7.2%).

Conclusion: Reduced fetal movement is a frequently occurring event during antenatal period, associated with different perinatal outcomes.