Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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NUMERICAL ANALYSIS OF THE NORMAL HUMAN ANTENATAL FETAL HEART RATE
Article first published online: 23 AUG 2005
DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1981.tb01305.x
Issue
1471-0528/asset/cover.gif?v=1&s=b4e1d96c46e18c61210d584b63c13ee375cf562b "BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology")
BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Volume 88, Issue 8, pages 792–802, August 1981
Additional Information
How to Cite
Visser, G. H. A., Dawes, G. S. and Redman, C. W. G. (1981), NUMERICAL ANALYSIS OF THE NORMAL HUMAN ANTENATAL FETAL HEART RATE. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 88: 792–802. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1981.tb01305.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 23 AUG 2005
- Article first published online: 23 AUG 2005
- Received October 21, 1980/Accepted March 3, 1981.
- Abstract
- References
- Cited By
Summary
A numerical method for separation of the frequency components of the fetal heart rate, and for identifying episodes of high or low variation, was applied to 196 64-minute ultrasound records in normal pregnancies during the last half of gestation. Most variables of heart period variation increased with gestation, as did the incidence of accelerations. Before 35 weeks, accelerations of ≥14 beats/minute did not occur in all records. Cyclic episodes of low and high variation (‘unreactive’ and‘reactive’ episodes), associated with rest-activity cycles, could be identified from 27 weeks onwards. After 36 weeks gestation the length of low variation episodes increased and the variation during these episodes fell. Near term, low variation episodes lasted up to 40 minutes. It is concluded that on scrutiny of fetal heart rate records for evidence of normality, or otherwise, due account should be taken of gestational age.