[Description of cardiogram potentials of fetal movements in labor].

Examples of cardiographic reflections of intranatal fetal movements (body movements) in 130 normotrophic and 26 hypotrophic fetuses (body weight less than or equal to 10th percentile) are presented. Labour-synchronous accelerations of fetal heart rate occurred in 95% associated with fetal body movements. About 83% of the body movements associated with fetal heart rate accelerations occurred periodically. Strikingly, labour with fetal body movements resulted in accelerations, whereas labour alone hardly ever produced medium-term heart rate changes or variable decelerations. In contrast to periodical accelerations with associated body movements, periodical accelerations without associated fetal body movements, which are mainly of hemodynamic origin, indicated potential fetal risk. Even with medium-degree or severe variable decelerations in the expulsive period, fetal body movements with associated heart rate accelerations indicated a good actual fetal condition. The importance of cardiogram synchronous real-time ultrasonic examination of intranatal fetal movements is discussed.