Reference values for fetal movement counting for long hours and its clinical significance

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K10109
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Embryonic/Neonatal medicine
• Research Institution: Teikyo University
• Principal Investigator: Eiji Ryo 帝京大学, 医学部, 教授 (30221683)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 胎動 / 胎児神経発達 / 胎児健康状態

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Fetal movements have been recognized as an important biological index to estimate the state of a fetus. However, there have been no practical and objective methods to count fetal movements for hours at home. We have developed a fetal movement acceleration measurement recorder (FMAM recorder) that has made it possible to count gross fetal movement during overnight sleep at home. Using the FMAM recorder, the normal reference values were determined based on the data that could be recorded for more than 4 h per night in women who had a normal pregnancy and delivery.

Free Research Field

胎児生理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

胎動は胎児の健康状態や発達を反映する重要な情報である。しかし、これまで胎動を長時間、定量的に計測する実用的な方法がなかった。研究代表者らは、妊婦自身が自宅で長時間の胎動を記録できる胎動計(Fetal Movement Acceleration Measurement Recorder: FMAM recorder)について研究し、その信頼性、実用性を確認してきた。今回この胎動計を用いて胎動の妊娠週数毎の基準値を明らかとした。これは今後の胎動研究の基盤となるものである。