Fetal heart rate in the second stage of labour and fetal outcome.

Fetal heart rate tracings were obtained in 50 patients who had a normal 1st stage of labour until delivery of the baby. Fetal condition at birth was assessed by umbilical cord artery (UCA) pH and Apgar scores. Forty-eight of the 50 fetal heart tracings showed frequent, marked, early decelerations throughout the 2nd stage of labour. These tracings, when not accompanied by other pathological features, were associated with a good fetal outcome at birth.