Summary
Analysis of fetal heart rate records has shown that the frequency, duration and amplitude of transient episodes of fetal bradycardia, regardless of their relationship to uterine activity, are factors of great importance in assessing fetal condition. Dip area is a quantitative measure of these factors; it is easily communicated and avoids the present confusion of classification and nomenclature.
Summary
An external technique for recording the fetal heart rate (FHR) during pregnancy is described. The system is based upon the detection of the fetal electrocardiogram (ECG) from the maternal abdomen and elimination of the maternal QRS complexes by a new system of subtraction. Fetal QRS complexes with an amplitude of 10 microvolts or more were processed to produce heart rate recordings of much higher quality than previously obtained with the phonocardiographic and ultrasonic systems. The proportion of successful recordings was reduced between 27 and 34 weeks of gestation due to the decrease in size of the fetal QRS complex which occurred at this time; this was a major drawback of the ECG system.
Summary
An index of fetal welfare in labour has been devised based upon the fetal basal heart rate, the dip area (Shelley and Tipton, 1971) and the presence or absence of meconium. This index appears to surpass other methods of predicting fetal outcome in labour.
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