BMI does not affect the perception of foetal movement

Takeaway

• Decreased fetal movement should not be dismissed because of obesity.

Why this matters

• Obesity among pregnant women is increasing and represents a modifiable risk factor for stillbirth.
• Decreased foetal movement in women with obesity is thought to arise from a "dampening" effect of abdominal fat.

Key results

• Strength, frequency, and busy times of movements were similar between the groups.
• When hungry, women with obesity reported more increased foetal movement compared with women with normal weight (26.6% vs 14.1%; P=.001).
• Within 1 hour of eating, women with obesity reported less foetal movement compared with women with normal weight (43.3% vs 26.2%; P=.001).

Study design

• Pregnant women were recruited from the HUMBA study, a randomised controlled trial of dietary intervention in women with BMI ≥30 kg/m², and MCSS, a case-control study looking at modifiable risk factors for late stillbirth.
• Foetal movement questionnaire at ≥32 weeks of gestation was completed.  
• Women with BMI ≥30 kg/m² (n=233) were compared with women with BMI <25 kg/m² (n=149).
• Funding: HUMBA and MCSS were funded by Cure Kids, Mercia Barnes Trust, Nurture Foundation, University of Auckland Faculty Research Development Fund, and others.

Limitations

• Perceptions of the decreased foetal movement were not correlated with fetal behaviour.