Fetal heart rate and intrauterine growth.
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether fetal heart rate in early and late pregnancy relates to size at birth.


METHODS
Prospective study of fetal heart rates in early and late pregnancy.


METHODS
Princess Anne Hospital, Southampton.


METHODS
63 primigravid women.


METHODS
Anthropometric measurements made on the newborn infant.


RESULTS
There were no differences in heart rate between the sexes at 18 weeks gestation but by 36 weeks the boys had rates which were 4.4 beats lower than those of the girls. Higher fetal heart rate at 18 weeks was associated with lower ponderal index, smaller head circumference and smaller mid-arm circumference. There were no trends in fetal heart rate at 36 weeks with any birth measurements.


CONCLUSIONS
Babies born at term who have a pattern of neonatal measurements which reflect growth retardation have raised heart rates in early pregnancy. Influences which impair fetal growth appear to take effect early in gestation.
Robinson
S M
SM
MRC Environmental Epidemiology Unit, Southampton General Hospital.
Wheeler
T
T
Hayes
M C
MC
Barker
D J
DJ
Osmond
C
C
D000886:Anthropometry; D001724:Birth Weight; D001794:Blood Pressure; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies