Observational studyBJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology2026
Echoes of Pregnancy: Maternal Perception of Phantom Fetal Movements After Childbirth.
Observational study in BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Echoes of Pregnancy: Maternal Perception of Phantom Fetal Movements After Childbirth.BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology · 2026Observational
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivePhantom fetal movements (PFMs) refer to the perception of fetal-like abdominal sensations following pregnancy. Despite their prevalence, PFMs remain insufficiently studied, and their underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. This study aimed to examine the prevalence, characteristics and associated factors of PFMs in the general population.
designObservational online study.
settingGeneral population in France. POPULATION: Women with a history of childbirth.
methodsStudy data were collected via a secure online REDCap survey, comprising closed-ended questions on sociodemographics, lifetime obstetrical history, detailed pregnancy experiences, fetal movement perception and postnatal PFMs.
main outcome measuresThe main outcome measures were frequency, duration and subjective emotional experiences of PFMs. Additional variables included demographic characteristics, obstetric history and the characteristics of fetal movement perception during pregnancy.
resultsA total of 4038 women and 6139 pregnancies were included. PFMs were reported by 40.5% of participants, occurring mainly during the 6 months after childbirth. Younger maternal age, number of pregnancies, caesarean delivery and post-partum complications were significantly associated with PFMs. Moreover, earlier fetal movements during pregnancy were linked to more frequent perceptions of PFM. Higher intensity and frequency of fetal movements during pregnancy were correlated with increased intensity and frequency of PFMs. Emotional responses to PFMs showed increased negative affect, with 19.8% describing them as uncomfortable. PFM occurrence was significantly associated with specific emotional responses to fetal movements during pregnancy.
conclusionsThese findings highlight the need for further research to explore the physiological underpinnings and potential clinical significance of PFMs. In addition, increased awareness among healthcare professionals is crucial for providing better support to affected women.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What Socratic holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.