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Updated: Aug 16, 2026
Fetal Echocardiography and Pulsed-wave Doppler Ultrasound in a Rabbit Model of Intrauterine Growth Restriction
Published on: June 29, 2013
Using fetal acoustic stimulation to shorten the biophysical profile
Michael G Pinette1, Jacquelyn Blackstone, Joseph R Wax
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Maine Medical Center, 887 Congress Street, Suite 200, Portland, Maine 04102, USA.
Purpose:
To determine whether fetal acoustic stimulation can decrease the time required to achieve a reassuring biophysical profile.
Methods:
Patients scheduled for a biophysical profile were prospectively assigned to study and control groups. The study group received 3 seconds of acoustic stimulation if fetal breathing, tone, or movement were not present during the first 5 minutes of the study. The biophysical profile was completed in the standard fashion, for both groups.
Results:
A total of 870 patients were enrolled (458 control, 412 with stimulation). The fetal acoustic stimulation group had decreased testing time (3 minutes) and fewer non-reassuring tests (5%). The fetal acoustic stimulation group had fewer studies without breathing, potentially reducing the need for further testing or intervention.
Conclusions:
Fetal acoustic stimulation can be used to decrease the biophysical profile testing time and to reduce the number of non-reassuring tests.
