SynthesisBMC medicine2021
A better understanding of the association between maternal perception of foetal movements and late stillbirth-findings from an individual participant data meta-analysis.
Synthesis in BMC medicine, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 31 citations in OpenAlex.
- Risk Factors for Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in Reduced Fetal Movement: An IPD Meta-Analysis.BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology · 2025Pooled it
- Does fetal size affect maternal perception of fetal movements? Evidence from an individual participant data meta-analysis.Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica · 2023Pooled it
- Foetal Movement Information and Maternal Concerns in the Third-Trimester: Findings of an Aotearoa New Zealand National Survey.The Australian & New Zealand journal of obstetrics & gynaecology · 2026Article
- Optimizing Fetal Surveillance in Fetal Growth Restriction: A Narrative Review of the Role of the Computerized Cardiotocographic Assessment.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Review
- Co-developing sleep-wake and sensory foundations for cognition in the human fetus and newborn.Developmental cognitive neuroscience · 2025Review
- Article
- Cord entrapment in a footling breech presentation with decreased fetal movements.CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association journal = journal de l'Association medicale canadienne · 2023Article
- Evaluating antenatal risk in twin pregnancies-A feasibility study to identify modifiable factors associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes.Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica · 2023Observational
- Fetal growth restriction and stillbirth: Biomarkers for identifying at risk fetuses.Frontiers in physiology · 2022Review
- The Use of "FetalKickApp" for Counting Fetal Movement in Pregnant Women: A Case Study of The University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.Nigerian medical journal : journal of the Nigeria Medical AssociationReview
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
14 authors at 5 institutions in 4 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundLate stillbirth continues to affect 3-4/1000 pregnancies in high-resource settings, with even higher rates in low-resource settings. Reduced foetal movements are frequently reported by women prior to foetal death, but there remains a poor understanding of the reasons and how to deal with this symptom clinically, particularly during the preterm phase of gestation. We aimed to determine which women are at the greatest odds of stillbirth in relation to the maternal report of foetal movements in late pregnancy (≥ 28 weeks' gestation).
methodsThis is an individual participant data meta-analysis of all identified case-control studies of late stillbirth. Studies included in the IPD were two from New Zealand, one from Australia, one from the UK and an internet-based study based out of the USA. There were a total of 851 late stillbirths, and 2257 controls with ongoing pregnancies.
resultsIncreasing strength of foetal movements was the most commonly reported (> 60%) pattern by women in late pregnancy, which were associated with a decreased odds of late stillbirth (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.20, 95% CI 0.15 to 0.27). Compared to no change in strength or frequency women reporting decreased frequency of movements in the last 2 weeks had increased odds of late stillbirth (aOR = 2.33, 95% CI 1.73 to 3.14). Interaction analysis showed increased strength of movements had a greater protective effect and decreased frequency of movements greater odds of late stillbirth at preterm gestations (28-36 weeks' gestation). Foetal hiccups (aOR = 0.45, 95% CI 0.36 to 0.58) and regular episodes of vigorous movement (aOR = 0.67, 95% CI 0.52 to 0.87) were associated with decreased odds of late stillbirth. A single episode of unusually vigorous movement was associated with increased odds (aOR = 2.86, 95% CI 2.01 to 4.07), which was higher in women at term.
conclusionsReduced foetal movements are associated with late stillbirth, with the association strongest at preterm gestations. Foetal hiccups and multiple episodes of vigorous movements are reassuring at all gestations after 28 weeks' gestation, whereas a single episode of vigorous movement is associated with stillbirth at term.
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Registered trials
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