Abstract:
BACKGROUND:Maternal reports of decreased fetal movements are associated with adverse pregnancy outcome, but there are conflicting data about perception of fetal movements in women with obesity. AIM:To compare perceived fetal movements in women with obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥30 kg/m2) and women with normal BMI (<25 kg/m2). MATERIAL AND METHODS:Data from two separate pregnancy studies were used for this analysis; the Healthy Mums and Babies (HUMBA) trial, which recruited women with obesity and the Multicentre Stillbirth Study (MCSS), which recruited women from a general obstetric population. Fetal movement data were collected using identical interviewer-administered questionnaire in each study. We compared fetal movement strength, frequency and pattern between HUMBA and MCSS women with obesity and MCSS women with normal BMI. RESULTS:Participants were 233 women with obesity and 149 with normal BMI. Mean (SD) gestation at interview was similar between groups (36.9 [2.2] vs 36.6 [0.9], P = 0.06). Perceived fetal movement strength and frequency did not differ between groups. In both women with obesity and normal BMI, a diurnal fetal movement pattern was present, with the majority reporting strong or moderate movements in the evening (88.7% vs 99.3%) and at night-time (92.1% vs 93.1%). Women with obesity, were more likely to report strong fetal movements when hungry (29.1% vs 17.7%, P = 0.001) and quiet fetal movements after eating (47.4% vs 32.0%, P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS:In women with obesity compared to normal BMI, strength and frequency of fetal movements were similar, although patterns were altered in relation to maternal meals.