Variable range directional doppler and abdominal ECG for FHR monitoring.

Antepartum nonstress fetal heart rate (FHR) monitoring may become a valuable screening tool for all pregnancies. Two methods proposed for an antepartum FHR monitor are examined: abdominal electrocardiogram (AECG) and variable range directional Doppler (RDD). A good quality (detailed, clearcut baseline) RDD FHR record was obtained in 74/75 (99%) examinations, and a good quality AECG record was obtained i31/75 (41%). Each patient was monitored in the supine, lateral and sitting positions. Considering all positions, 76% of the RDD records and 19% of the AECG records were good. The RDD system was efficacious for routine, clinical antepartum FHR monitoring, but the performance of the AECG was too limited for this purpose.