Engineers and obstetricians at Monash University have developed a Band-Aid-like wearable patch that tracks fetal movements through the mother’s abdomen. This soft, thin device—measuring just 10–14 cm²—offers a new way for expectant parents to monitor their baby’s well-being from home. Published in Science Advances, the study shows the patch detects fetal rolling, stretching, and kicking with more than 90% accuracy in a clinical trial of 59 pregnant women.
Why Better Monitoring Matters
Currently, pregnant women rely mostly on self-counting fetal movements, which often leads to uncertainty and anxiety. Since reduced fetal movement is one of the most common reasons for hospital visits, a reliable home-based tool could significantly improve reassurance and early detection of potential problems.
How the Wearable Patch Works
Associate Professor Vinayak Smith from Monash University’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology explained that the wearable fills a major gap in continuous, non-invasive fetal monitoring.
“Fetal movements tell us a lot about how a baby is doing, but we lack an easy, comfortable tool for long-term monitoring outside hospitals,” he said. “Our lightweight and flexible device allows individuals to wear it for extended periods without disrupting daily activities.”
Co-corresponding author Dr. Fae Marzbanrad, who leads the Biomedical Signal Processing Research Lab at Monash Engineering, highlighted the device’s smart integration of soft sensors and AI. The patch uses two sensors to capture subtle abdominal surface patterns created by different fetal movements. A machine-learning system then detects fetal activity while canceling out maternal movements. This approach, she noted, allows the device to identify a wider range of movement types than earlier wearable prototypes.
Testing and Clinical Validation
As reported by medicalxpress, the team first tested the sensors on 2D and 3D artificial abdominal models to evaluate detection accuracy from various depths and directions. They then trialed the device on 59 pregnant women, placing two patches on the abdomen while using ultrasound as the reference standard. The researchers trained and validated the AI model to interpret movement signals accurately.
Potential to Transform Maternity Care
Associate Professor Smith said the technology could help expectant parents feel more informed and support earlier intervention if movement patterns change.
“A continuous, comfortable monitor has real potential to provide clearer information between appointments and give parents greater confidence,” he said. “This tool could play an important role in modern maternity care.”
Next Steps
Although not intended to replace clinical assessments, the patch could complement routine care by improving monitoring outside medical settings. The next phase involves larger clinical trials and progressing toward regulatory approval for use in homes and community health environments.