Fetal heart rate and uterine contraction during automobile driving.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to clarify the influence of automobile driving in the third trimester of pregnancy on fetal heart rate and uterine contraction.


METHODS
Twenty-nine pregnant women with singleton pregnancies after 28 weeks of gestation were monitored using a portable cardiotocogram during driving, and the results obtained before and after driving were compared.


RESULTS
Baseline fetal heart rate and its variability, as well as periodic fetal heart rate patterns, showed no abnormal patterns during car driving. Automobile driving in late pregnancy was not a reinforcement factor for uterine activity. Maternal systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate showed no specific characteristic or adverse change during driving.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study suggest that automobile driving in the third trimester of pregnancy has no adverse influences on either pregnant women or fetuses.
Nakajima
Yukari
Y
Division of Child and Reproductive Health, Area of Nursing Science, Course of Health Science, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan. nakajima@sahs.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
Yamaji
Kenji
K
Ohashi
Kazutomo
K
D001334:Automobile Driving; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015148:Cardiotocography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third / Q000502:physiology; D014590:Uterine Contraction / Q000502:physiology*