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Published on: April 24, 2017
Blink-startle reflex habituation in 30-34-week low-risk fetuses
Carlo V Bellieni1, Filiberto Severi, Catarina Bocchi
1Department of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy. bellieni@iol.it
Objective:
To investigate whether the blink-startle reflex (BSR) is a good marker of habituation to vibroacoustic stimulation in healthy preterm fetuses.
Materials And Methods:
A total of 22 women with uncomplicated pregnancies at 30-34 weeks participated in the study. Vibroacoustic stimulus was repeatedly applied to the maternal abdomen above the fetal head for a period of 2 s every 10 s. Fetal eye tightening monitored by ultrasound within 2 s of the stimulus was considered a positive response. The habituation rate was defined as the number of stimuli applied before the fetus stopped responding to two consecutive stimuli. Results were compared using the Mann-Whitney U-test.
Results:
All 22 fetuses showed habituation at a rate that varied from 1 to 9 (mean 4.2+/-1.8).
Conclusion:
BSR is a good marker of habituation in preterm fetuses. Further study is needed to ascertain whether abnormal BSR habituation could be a sign of fetal distress.
