Diurnal variation of fetal activity

Fetal movements (FM) in utero are an expression of fetal well-being, and the importance of assessing these movements has been shown in cases of chronic fetal distress. The diurnal variations were studied in 2 groups of high-risk pregnant women who assessed FM by subjective perception. The patients in the first group assessed FM before and after meals. The majority (86%) reported no significant difference in fetal activity before and after meals; the remaining 14% noted a constant decrease after meals. Of the second group, which assessed FM 3 times daily, 82% discerned no significant differences and 18% showed significant diurnal variations. It is concluded that assessment of FM is not necessarily dependent on a strict timetable.