Fetal heart rate monitoring in cases of decreased fetal movement.

Thirty pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy in whom fetal movements were reduced up to cessation, for at least 12 hours, were monitored for FHR. The FHR 12-48 hours after the cessation of fetal movements was pathological in 21 cases and normal in 9 cases. The most frequent pathological FHR changes were loss of beat to beat variation and variable decelerations. In the following 48 hours another four cases showed pathological FHR changes. One to four days before the reduced fetal movements only six out of 15 cases showed pathological FHR changes which were L.B.B.V. Meconium was found in only 50% of the cases. It is suggested that pregnant women, especially high risk cases, should record fetal movements as a screening method. FHR monitoring is also a valuable method for detecting antenatal fetal distress, and should be used as an adjunct to fetal movements recording. When acute fetal distress has been established by MAS alone or with FHR change, the fetus should be promptly delivered.