PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Ian Hill-Smith
TI  - Professional and patient perspectives of NICE guidelines to abandon maternal monitoring of fetal movements
DP  - 2004 Nov 01
TA  - British Journal of General Practice
PG  - 858--861
VI  - 54
IP  - 508
4099  - http://bjgp.org/content/54/508/858.short
4100  - http://bjgp.org/content/54/508/858.full
SO  - Br J Gen Pract2004 Nov 01; 54
AB  - Over the past 30 years, fetal movement counts have been recommended to women in the second half of pregnancy as a way of monitoring fetal wellbeing and providing an early warning of fetal distress. However, guidance from the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends abandoning this. Evidence is reviewed to show that the chance of preventing physical damage to the fetus is indeed low. The activity of monitoring movements has been favoured by the majority of women. The new NICE guidance is useful to clarify professional understanding of the limitation of counting fetal movements, but women who notice decreased movements will still need referral for human factors.