[Counting active movements of the fetus: could it be useful?].

In most cases a count of the active movements of the fetus by the mother is a good index of fetal activity. The information provided compares favourably with that furnished by analysis of the fetal heart rate and hormone levels in the mother's plasma. Counting the fetal movements every day for 1 or 2 hours starting at the 24th to 26th week of pregnancy is a simple, inexpensive and noninvasive method that could be used as and screening test for fetal distress. More complex and costly investigations necessitating hospitalization could then be reserved for patients noting an abnormal count. However, this scheme demands intelligence and motivation of the mother, and one must expect a certain rate of refusal or dropout.