Monash researchers awarded Stillbirth Foundation Australia grant for fetal monitoring device

Dr Vinayak Smith

Congratulations to Professor Euan Wallace and Dr Vinayak Smith who have received a grant from Stillbirth Foundation Australia to fund a clinical trial of their new wearable device, FetalKicks.

Professor Wallace and Dr Smith from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, teamed up with colleagues from the Faculty of Engineering, Professor Wenlong Cheng and Drs William Yap and Faezeh Marzbanrad, to develop a device that monitors fetal movement during pregnancy.

Six babies are stillborn in Australia each day, with decreased fetal movements one of the most important warning signs of stillbirth. Currently, there is no objective way to assess and measure fetal movements and the detection of any changes relies solely on the mother’s perceptions.

Professor Euan Wallace

By combining their obstetric and bioengineering expertise, the team have created a Band-Aid size patch that is worn by expectant mothers to continuously monitor their baby’s movements. Early studies have shown the device is better at detecting fetal movements than the mother’s own feelings.

The Stillbirth Foundation Australia grant will now provide funding for phase 3 testing of the device, allowing the team to develop its ability to monitor fetal movements around the clock and automatically detect them via an app. These outcomes will give both mothers and their clinician’s the ability to continuously track the baby’s movement, and provide them with vital real time information.

Professor Wallace and Dr Smith are hopeful FetalKicks will become available to all pregnant women who choose to wear the device, allowing for the timely detection of a fetus with reduced movement; and putting them one-step closer to a future without stillbirth.