Evaluation of the relationship between reduced fetal movement and obstetric-neonatal outcomes and placental pathologies.

BACKGROUND: Fetal movements are one of the simple methods that show the baby's well-being. Conditions associated with decreased fetal movements have not been determined, so it is important. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between reduced fetal movement and obstetric-neonatal outcomes and placental pathologies.

METHODS: In this prospective controlled study, laboratory results (blood glucose, hemoglobin, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)), a non-stress test (NST), biophysical profile results, obstetric and neonatal outcomes, and placental pathological results of 74 pregnant women at 35 or more gestational weeks (to exclude the effect of prematurity on obstetric and neonatal outcomes) attending the obstetrics clinic between 26-December 2017 and 30-January 2019 with complaints of reduced fetal movement, were compared with 74 healthy pregnant women. Since prematurity and postmaturity may adversely affect obstetric-neonatal and placental pathology results, term pregnancies between 370/7-406/7 weeks were evaluated separately.

RESULTS: In the group with reduced fetal movement, the biophysical profile was lower than the controls (p=0.013). Among placental pathologies, chorangiosis and hypercoiled cord were significantly higher in the group with reduced fetal movement than controls (p <0.05). Small for gestational age (SGA) and fetal growth restriction (FGR) in this group had these pathologies. Results of women at 370/7-406/7 weeks were similar except for the additional finding of chorioamnionitis.

CONCLUSIONS: Reduced fetal movement may be associated with the low biophysical profile. In cases where fetal movement decreases, placental chorangiosis and hypercoiled cord seem to be associated with fetal growth restriction.