title: Influence of the fetal scalp electrode stimulation test on fetal heart rate and body movements in quiet and active behavioral states during labor.
abstract: Thirty women were studied to examine the effect of fetal scalp stimulation on fetal heart rate (FHR) accelerations and gross body movements in quiet and active fetal behavioral states during the active phase of labor. Stimulation was performed by five consecutive tractions of the fetal scalp electrode. Fetal response in terms of fetal movements and FHR accelerations occurring within 15 seconds after stimulation was observed in all fetuses of the active state group. In the quiet state group 14 of 15 fetuses responded with body movements and in 12 fetuses FHR accelerations were observed. Subsequently, most of the fetuses returned to the quiet state. We suggest that a normal and healthy fetus is expected to respond to the fetal scalp electrode stimulation test even in the quiet behavioral state.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rambam Medical Center Technion, Faculty of Medicine, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: E Z
authors.initials: EZ
authors.lastname: Zimmer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vadasz
mesh_terms: D004566:Electrodes; D005260:Female; D005323:Fetal Monitoring; D005324:Fetal Movement; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000502:physiology*; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D011247:Pregnancy