Interventions relating to fetal movements as a risk factor for improving pregnancy outcomes: A Cochrane systematic review

Decreased fetal movements (DFM) are a well-recognised clinical indicator of potential fetal distress and have been associated with an increased risk of stillbirth and other adverse pregnancy outcomes. In response, a growing number of interventions have been developed and implemented with the aim of improving the detection and management of DFM to improve maternal and fetal outcomes. However, there remains considerable uncertainty about the effectiveness of these interventions, and clinical practice varies widely. This Cochrane systematic review aims to assess and synthesise the evidence on interventions targeting fetal movements as a risk factor to reduce stillbirth and improve pregnancy outcomes.

Research team: Miranda Davies-Tuck, Philippa Middleton, Megan Weller, Adrienne Gordon, Valerie Smith, Susan Walker, Vicki Flenady.

Publications

Davies-Tuck M, Middleton P, Weller ME, Gordon A, Smith V, Walker SP, Flenady V. Interventions relating to fetal movements for improving pregnancy outcomes. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021;2021(7).