156 women participated. There was a general pattern to fetal movement descriptions with increasing
gestation, beginning with words such as “gentle”, to descriptions of “strong” and “limb” movements, and finally to
“whole body” movements. Women perceived and described qualitative changes to fetal movements that changed
throughout gestation. The majority (83%) reported that they were asked to assess fetal movements in an implicit
qualitative method during their antenatal care. In contrast, only 16% regularly counted fetal movements and many
described counting as confusing and reported that the advice they had received on counting differed.