Fetal bradycardia associated with maternal hypothermia.

A case of fetal bradycardia associated with severe maternal hypothermia (92.9F) is reported. Until maternal temperature was corrected, the baseline fetal heart rate (FHR) remained between 90-110 beats per minute without other evidence of fetal distress and despite normal maternal blood pressure and pulse. With rewarming, the FHR gradually returned to normal. Upon return of maternal hypothermia, fetal bradycardia recurred, again responding only to rewarming. This evidence suggests that low maternal temperature alone may lead to alterations of FHR.