[Qualitative description of cardiogram potentials of fetal body and respiratory movements in the non-contracting uterus].

Cardiographic reflections of fetal movements were assessed using cardiogram synchronous ultrasonic examination in 44 normotrophic and 40 hypotrophic fetuses with body weights less than or equal to 10th percentile. The study showed that 90% of the fetal body movements were associated with accelerations in fetal heart rate. The degree of associated accelerations depended on the duration of the fetal body movements. In the hypotrophic fetuses the associated heart rate accelerations had a lower amplitude and a relatively longer duration. In impaired fetuses body movements were associated with decelerations in heart rate. Fetal respiratory movements resulted in an increasing beat-to-beat variability in the CTG. This effect did not occur constantly. During prolonged fetal respiratory segments no fetal body movements were observed and vice versa. Possible causes for the association between fetal movements and cardiogram are discussed.