MRF-Based Mapping of Fetal and Maternal Deformations for Understanding and Supporting Fetal Movement Perception

This study proposes a foundational method for objectively classifying whether mothers can easily perceive fetal movements, a crucial indicator in perinatal care. Traditional fetal movement assessments rely on subjective maternal reports or wearable sensor-based methods susceptible to external noise. This paper applies the previously established Multi- Resolution Feature (MRF) method to independently quantify both fetal and maternal deformation from simulated fetal movement videos. We constructed a novel fetal-maternal de- formation map using these deformation values as axes. The results demonstrate that this map can visually represent the relationship between fetal and maternal deformation. Further- more, exploratory analysis of the data distribution on the map suggested the existence of distinct fetal movement patterns: movements accompanied by significant maternal abdominal wall deformation (likely perceived by the mother) and move- ments where the fetus is active but less transmission occurs to the mother (likely difficult for the mother to perceive). This method is expected to be a stepping stone towards establishing a new approach for more detailed assessment of fetal health and, consequently, improving the quality of perinatal medical care.