title: Fetal responses to induced maternal relaxation during pregnancy.
abstract: Fetal responses to induced maternal relaxation during the 32nd week of pregnancy were recorded in 100 maternal-fetal pairs using a digitized data collection system. The 18-min guided imagery relaxation manipulation generated significant changes in maternal heart rate, skin conductance, respiration period, and respiratory sinus arrhythmia. Significant alterations in fetal neurobehavior were observed, including decreased fetal heart rate (FHR), increased FHR variability, suppression of fetal motor activity (FM), and increased FM-FHR coupling. Attribution of the two fetal cardiac responses to the guided imagery procedure itself, as opposed to simple rest or recumbency, is tempered by the observed pattern of response. Evaluation of correspondence between changes within individual maternal-fetal pairs revealed significant associations between maternal autonomic measures and fetal cardiac patterns, lower umbilical and uterine artery resistance and increased FHR variability, and declining salivary cortisol and FM activity. Potential mechanisms that may mediate the observed results are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins University, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States. jdpietr@jhsph.edu
authors.forename: Janet A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: DiPietro
authors.forename: Kathleen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Costigan
authors.forename: Priscilla
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: Edith D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Gurewitsch
authors.forename: Mark L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Laudenslager
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D005323:Fetal Monitoring; D005324:Fetal Movement / Q000502:physiology; D005333:Fetus / Q000502:physiology*; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response / Q000502:physiology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology*; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012063:Relaxation / Q000502:physiology*; D012064:Relaxation Therapy; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D006854:Hydrocortisone