Fetal heart rate response to vibroacoustic stimulation during low and high heart rate variability episodes in late pregnancy

John A.D. Spencer, Anne Deans, Peter Nicolaidis, Sabaratnam Arulkumaran

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

In 52 women in late pregnancy, the mean durations of transient fetal tachycardia after vibroacoustic stimulation during low fetal heart rate variability (4.8 minutes) and high fetal heart rate variability (6.3 minutes) were similar. The fetal heart rate continued with high variability in all cases, suggesting that the fetus did not return to its prestimulation state after vibroacoustic stimulation during quiescence. In 10 women, the duration of high variability after vibroacoustic stimulation during low fetal heart rate variability was significantly shorter (mean, 22 minutes) than the preceding (mean, 36 minutes) or subsequent (mean, 43 minutes) high-variability components of complete rest activity cycles. In another 10 women, the duration of high variability after vibroacoustic stimulation during high fetal heart rate variability was similar to preceding and subsequent high-variability episodes. In these 20 women, the next complete rest-activity cycle after vibroacoustic stimulation was not different in duration to the complete cycle recorded on the previous day.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)86-90
Number of pages5
JournalAmerican Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Volume165
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1991

Keywords

  • fetal behavioral cycles
  • fetal heart rate variability
  • Vibroacoustic stimulation

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Fetal heart rate response to vibroacoustic stimulation during low and high heart rate variability episodes in late pregnancy'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this