fetal movement assessment

[PEDSOBRN]

I was just wondering if you could help me with some questions on fetal assessment. I work nights on a maternity floor and I am wondering what kind of assessments I should be doing at night if the mother is sleeping (for an AP pt.). Do I wake her to ask her if the fetus is moving, because they will usually say no because they have been sleeping. I guess I am also confused as to what I should be documenting. I dont want to say the fetus isnt active. Can you please help. Thanks!

[daisysn2001]

I usually tell mom to hit her call light when she Gets Up to the bathroom during the night. I give them 10-15minutes before going in and that is usually enough time for them to tell if they are having fetal movement. I also usually chart just that also. Up to BR states fetal movement at this time. Hope this helps.

[nurseynightnight]

I usually chart what the mom says. Like "the baby is really active." Or you can also chart if you see/feel fetal movement through the abdomen. For example- fetal movement palpated through abdomen.

I don't make a big deal of this unless mom is off the EFM for long periods of time. We don't have a lot of AP patient's on my small unit. So we usually have the EFM going at least every couple of hours.

[Elvish, BSN, DNP, RN, NP]

All our APs get qshift assessments along c FHTs. Usually when I'm doing FHTs, I can feel for myself if baby is moving....it's my experience that they move away from the doppler. Always, I ask mom baby is moving what's normal for her.

Daisy has a good idea too. Keep in mind, though, that is mom has taken sleep aids like Ambien, baby might be a bit sluggish too, even into the next morning's NST