A study compared subjective and ultrasound assessments of fetal movement in 40 pregnant women. A real-time ultrasound scanner was used to record movements for 45 minutes. There was a significant positive correlation between the number of movements recorded by the two methods, but wide 95% confidence limits and no correlation in patients with fewer than 20 movements suggested that subjective data may yield false positives. Fetal activity should be assessed via real-time ultrasound in patients reporting low "kick counts." The mother's assessment of fetal movement is used to indicate fetal wellbeing. Pearson and Weaver equated low counts with poor fetal outcome, and most workers accept a good correlation between true fetal movement and "kick counts." Sadovsky et al used an electromagnetic device and reported that patients felt 87% of observed movements. A study using a high-resolution real-time ultrasound scanner compared subjective and objective assessments of fetal movement. Results showed a significant positive correlation between the two methods, but wide confidence limits and no correlation in patients with fewer than 20 movements indicated that subjective data may be unreliable. Fetal activity should be assessed via real-time ultrasound in patients with low "kick counts." Forty pregnant women between 25 and 40 weeks' gestation participated. Thirty were clinically normal, five had raised blood pressure, three had growth-retarded fetuses, and two complained of diminished fetal movement. Ultrasound examination using a real-time scanner was performed with the patient semi-recumbent. The transducer was positioned to include a transverse section of the fetal trunk and both legs and held in place with a Kretz Technic clamp. Most fetal movements were observed, though some were missed.A study compared subjective and ultrasound assessments of fetal movement in 40 pregnant women. A real-time ultrasound scanner was used to record movements for 45 minutes. There was a significant positive correlation between the number of movements recorded by the two methods, but wide 95% confidence limits and no correlation in patients with fewer than 20 movements suggested that subjective data may yield false positives. Fetal activity should be assessed via real-time ultrasound in patients reporting low "kick counts." The mother's assessment of fetal movement is used to indicate fetal wellbeing. Pearson and Weaver equated low counts with poor fetal outcome, and most workers accept a good correlation between true fetal movement and "kick counts." Sadovsky et al used an electromagnetic device and reported that patients felt 87% of observed movements. A study using a high-resolution real-time ultrasound scanner compared subjective and objective assessments of fetal movement. Results showed a significant positive correlation between the two methods, but wide confidence limits and no correlation in patients with fewer than 20 movements indicated that subjective data may be unreliable. Fetal activity should be assessed via real-time ultrasound in patients with low "kick counts." Forty pregnant women between 25 and 40 weeks' gestation participated. Thirty were clinically normal, five had raised blood pressure, three had growth-retarded fetuses, and two complained of diminished fetal movement. Ultrasound examination using a real-time scanner was performed with the patient semi-recumbent. The transducer was positioned to include a transverse section of the fetal trunk and both legs and held in place with a Kretz Technic clamp. Most fetal movements were observed, though some were missed.