Women’s perception of fetal movements and perinatal outcomes: results of a prospective cohort study

Figures & data

Figure 1. Flow chart of the study.

Table 1. Maternal and fetal characteristics.

	Cases		Controls		OR	95% CI
	N°77	30%	N°178	70%
Mean maternal age (years)	33 ± 5		33 ± 5
Mean gestational age at filling questionnaire	39 ± 1		39 ± 1
Mean gestational age at delivery	40 ± 1		40 ± 1
Maternal age (years)
<35	52	67.5	114	64.0	1.11	0.61–2.03
35–40	21	27.3	51	28.7	∞
>40	4	5.2	12	6.7	0.81	0.23–2.80
Country of origin
Italian	61	79.2	134	75.3	∞
Foreign	16	20.8	44	24.7	0.80	0.42–1.53
Education
Low (<8 years)	18	23.4	29	16.3	1.57	1.11–2.22
High (>8 years)	59	76.6	149	83.7	∞
Smoking
No	67	87.0	157	88.2	∞
Yes	10	13.0	21	11.8	1.12	0.50–2.50
Parity
Nulliparous	53	68.8	99	55.6	1.76	1.20–2.58
Multiparous	24	31.2	79	44.4	∞
Pre-pregnancy BMI^a (Kg/m^2)
≤18.5	5	6.5	15	8.4	0.92	0.31–2.70
18.5–24.9	36	46.8	99	55.6	∞
≥30	36	46.8	64	36.0	1.55	1.10–2.17
Gestational weight gain (IOM^a recommendations) [13]
Adequate	29	37.7	79	44.4	∞
Not adequate	48	62.3	99	55.6	1.32	0.76–2.28
Gestational age at delivery (weeks)
37–38	3	3.9	7	3.9	1.00	0.25–4.07
39–40	39	50.6	91	51.1	∞
≥41	35	45.5	79	44.4	1.03	0.60–1.79
Gender
M	51	66.2	90	50.6	1.92	1.33–2.78
F	26	33.8	88	49.4	∞
Birthweight centile (INeS^a charts) [14]
AGA^a	50	64.9	149	83.7	∞
SGA-LGA^a	27	35.1	29	16.3	2.77	2.17–3.55

^aBMI: Body Mass Index; IOM: Institute of Medicine; IneS: Italian Neonatal Study; AGA: appropriate for gestational age; SGA: small for gestational age; LGA: large for gestational age.

The bold values are that reached significant differences.

The shaded values are those Who reached statistical significance.

Table 2. A univariable analysis evaluating the perception of fetal movements and adverse perinatal outcomes risk.

	Cases		Controls		OR	95% CI
	N°	%	N°	%
1. Did the midwife, or the gynecologist who followed you during your pregnancy, give you information about fetal movement perception?
Never	9	11.7	19	10.7	1.16	0.50–2.71
Oral information	62	80.5	152	85.4	∞
Written information	4	5.2	7	3.9	1.40	0.40–4.96
2. In the last 2 weeks how did the strength of your baby’s movements change?
Not change	16	20.8	46	25.8	∞
Increase	47	61.0	108	60.7	1.25	0.64–2.43
Decrease	12	15.6	21	11.8	1.64	0.66–4.08
Unsure	0	0.0	3	1.7		-
3. In the last 2 weeks how did the frequency of your baby’s movements change?
Not change	27	35.1	65	36.5	∞
Increase	25	32.5	60	33.7	1.00	0.53–1.92
Decrease	22	28.6	48	27.0	1.10	0.56–2.17
Unsure	1	1.3	5	2.8	0.48	0.05–432
4. During the last 2 weeks, did you notice anytime that your baby’s movements were more vigorous than usual?
Yes	52	67.5	117	65.7	1.18	0.66–2.11
No	23	29.9	61	34.3	∞
5. If yes, how many times?
Once	1	1.9	6	5.0	∞
More than once	51	98.1	113	95.0	2.71	0.32–23.08
6. During the last 2 weeks, have you felt your baby having hiccups?
No	7	9.1	16	9.0	1.04	0.40–2.67
Yes	51	66.2	121	68.0	∞
Unsure	17	22.1	41	23.0	0.98	0.51–1.89
7. If yes, how many times?
Once	3	4.6	9	5.9	0.80	0.19–3.29
Daily	18	27.7	43	28.1	∞
Occasionally	30	46.2	67	43.8	1.07	0.53–2.15
Unsure	14	21.5	34	22.2	0.98	0.43–2.26
8. During the last 2 weeks, have you felt uterine contractions for longer than an hour?
Yes	19	24.7	39	21.9	1.18	0.62–2.22
No	53	68.8	128	71.9	∞
Unsure	3	3.9	11	6.2	0.66	0.18–2.46
9. During this pregnancy, how many times have you visited the obstetrics emergency room due to the reduction or changes in your baby’s movements?
Never	66	85.7	144	80.9	∞
Once	5	6.5	24	13.5	0.45	0.17–1.24
Two or more	4	5.2	10	5.6	0.87	0.26–2.88
10. In the last 4 weeks, in which position would you usually fall asleep?
Right side or back	14	18.2	28	15.7	1.49	0.94–2.35
Left side	35	45.5	104	58.4	∞
Change position	23	29.9	44	24.7	1.55	1.05–2.30
Semi-seated	3	3.9	2	1.1	4.46	0.72–27.78
11. Have you ever been told that you snore, or are you aware that you snore?
Yes	45	58.4	91	51.1	1.43	1.01–2.05
No	30	39.0	87	48.9	∞

The bold values are that reached significant differences.

The shaded values are those Who reached statistical significance.

Table 3. Multivariable logistic regression evaluating the confounding factors for the risk of adverse perinatal outcomes.

	OR	95% CI	p Value
Smoking	0.97	0.37–2.54	.96
Low education	1.12	1.07–1.88	.05
Nulliparous	1.32	1.03–1.92	.03
BMI ≥30 kg/m^2	1.42	1.05–2.10	.05
Not adequate gestational weight gain	1.43	0.75–2.72	.27

The bold values are that reached significant differences.

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