Pregnant women with reduced baby movements benefit from extra scan

An extra ultrasound scan for pregnant women who think their baby’s movements have reduced results in fewer complications in labour, according to a new international study.

The findings - based on the scans of 1,684 women from 23 hospitals - could make the difficult task of determining whether labour should be induced in the final stages of pregnancy easier.

Pregnant women who feel their baby is moving less than usual in the final weeks of pregnancy are referred to hospital for tests to check the baby’s heart rate, growth and amniotic fluid levels.

Now, researchers have discovered that an extra ultrasound scan, in addition to the other tests, is able to help doctors decide if a baby would benefit from being born earlier.

The team measured the resistance in the blood vessels of the umbilical cord and the baby's brain to determine the Cerebro Placental Ratio (CPR). An abnormal CPR value may indicate that the placenta is not functioning properly, which indicates to doctors that it’s better to induce labour for an earlier birth.

Changing Clinical Practice

Professor Asma Khalil, Professor of Obstetrics and Maternal Medicine at the School of Health and Medical Sciences, who was involved in the study said:

“This important study provides evidence that using the cerebroplacental ratio – called CPR - to guide care for women with reduced fetal movements at term can significantly reduce adverse perinatal outcomes."

By identifying which babies may benefit from early birth, even when growth appears normal, CPR-based management offers a safer, more targeted approach to protecting fetal wellbeing. These findings have the potential to change clinical practice and improve outcomes for thousands of mothers and babies.

If doctors know the results of this measurement, they can better distinguish whether the baby's reduced movement has a harmless cause or whether it requires action. This ensures that mother and baby receive the care that best suits their situation.