The question: What are the signs and symptoms of fetal distress?
- Carson The expert answers: Unfortunately, there are very few
ways to know that your fetus is in distress in utero. One thing
that we do rely a lot on is the "kick count." The mother does
this herself while going on with her normal daily activities. If
the fetus has not accomplished at least 10 movements from after
breakfast until the mid-afternoon, we ask the mother to call us.
If the 10 movements have been accomplished, she does not worry
about counting any further until the next day. We usually only
ask mothers who have or are at risk for problems or have
complained of decreased fetal movement to do this activity. If
someone calls and says that her baby has not moved ten times in
the time period, then she is asked to come into the office for a
Non-Stress Test (NST). The patient should have eaten recently,
emptied her bladder and should drink some fluids. She is hooked
up to the fetal monitor and asked to push a button each time she
feels the