[Fetal movements in 4-channel tocography]

INTRODUCTION: The four-channel-tocography was developed to register the spatial and temporal pattern of uterine contractions and to evaluate their clinical relevance. In this study it should be assessed whether the four-channel-tocography can also register fetal movements. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 38 women with a gestational age between 28 and 43 weeks and singleton pregnancy. Four pressure transducers were attached in a square around the umbilicus. Parallel to the continuous registration of four-channel-tocography fetal movements were observed by conventional ultrasound. RESULTS: In a total of 23 hours and 11 minutes 403 fetal movements were registered by ultrasound and 405 by four-channel-tocography. 17% of the ultrasonically observed fetal movements were documented by the four-channel-tocography and 70% of the tocographically registered movements could be verified by ultrasound. CONCLUSION: Fetal movements can be registered by four-channel-tocography with good sensitivity and reliability. Essential for its clinical use is an automatic analysis, which is being developed.