Fetal heart rate patterns and development in the first year of life.

The development of 50 high-risk infants who were provided intrauterine monitoring during labor was prospectively evaluated. Twelve infants had normal fetal heart rate patterns, 16 moderate-severe variable patterns, and 22 severe variable or late deceleration patterns. The parity, socioeconomic status, race of the mothers, and sex of the infants were similar in each group. The infants were examined neurologically 48 to 72 hours after birth and at 2, 4, 6, 9, and 12 months of age. Denver Developmental Standard testing was performed at 2, 4, 6, 9, and 12 months of age. A statistically significant developmental bias was seen favoring those infants with normal fetal heart patterns. Fetal heart rate patterns predicted abnormal performance more accurately than did Apgar scores. Although this data is incomplete, the duration of ominous fetal heart rate patterns appears to adversely affect development.