Fetal Heart Rate and Variability: Stability and Prediction to Developmental Outcomes in Early Childhood

  1. Janet A. DiPietro1,*,
  2. Marc H. Bornstein2,
  3. Chun-Shin Hahn2,
  4. Kathleen Costigan3,
  5. Aristide Achy-Brou4

Article first published online: 3 NOV 2007

DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2007.01099.x

Issue

Child Development

Child Development

Volume 78, Issue 6, pages 1788–1798, November/December 2007

Additional Information

How to Cite

DiPietro, J. A., Bornstein, M. H., Hahn, C.-S., Costigan, K. and Achy-Brou, A. (2007), Fetal Heart Rate and Variability: Stability and Prediction to Developmental Outcomes in Early Childhood. Child Development, 78: 1788–1798. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2007.01099.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Johns Hopkins University

  2. 2

    National Institutes of Health

  3. 3

    Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions

  4. 4

    Johns Hopkins University

* concerning this article should be addressed to Janet DiPietro, Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe St., E4531, Baltimore, MD 21205. Electronic mail may be sent to jdipietr@jhsph.edu.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 3 NOV 2007
  2. Article first published online: 3 NOV 2007

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Stability in cardiac indicators before birth and their utility in predicting variation in postnatal development were examined. Fetal heart rate and variability were measured longitudinally from 20 through 38 weeks gestation (n = 137) and again at age 2 (n = 79). Significant within-individual stability during the prenatal period and into childhood was demonstrated. Fetal heart rate variability at or after 28 weeks gestation and steeper developmental trajectories were significantly associated with mental and psychomotor development at 2 years (n = 82) and language ability at 2.5 years (n = 61). These data suggest that the foundations of individual differences in autonomic control originate during gestation and the developmental momentum of the fetal period continues after birth.

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