Objective: To evaluate the effect of Dexamethasone on the daily foetal movement count and whether this affects
haemodynamics.
Study Design: This is a cohort study involving pregnant women with a history of preterm labour, to follow up their
daily foetal movement count for 5 days. Meanwhile, the non-stress test, middle cerebral and umbilical arteries Doppler
indices were recorded before and after taking a designated Dexamethasone course. Each woman's data was considered
as her control.
Patients and Methods: A total of 50 women with low risk, except a history of previous 1 or more preterm labour, were
assigned to receive four separate injections of 6 mg Dexamethasone, each given 12 hours apart. Doppler studies and
cardiotocography traces were done before and after administration. Foetal movements were counted by mothers using
Sadovsky method since the first dose and 5 days later. Paired T, McNemar's and Pearson's correlation coefficient tests
were used.
Results: There were decrease in the MCA PI and RI (PI p <0.001, RI p = 0.002), increase in foetal heart rate short term
variability (p = 0.016) and decrease in the foetal movement count on Day 2 (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: Dexamethasone therapy affects the heart rate, haemodynamics and decreases daily foetal movement count.