Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
First-trimester fetal heart rate in mothers with opioid addiction
Maximilian Schmid1, Lorenz Kuessel, Katharina Klein
1Department of Obstetrics and Feto-maternal Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Austria. maximilian.schmid@meduniwien.ac.at
Aim:
To investigate the difference in fetal heart rate of opioid-dependent mothers compared to non-dependent mothers in the first trimester of pregnancy.
Design:
The data of 74 consecutive singleton pregnancies of mothers enrolled in a maintenance programme for opioid-dependent women was matched to 74 non-exposed singleton pregnancies by maternal age, crown-rump length, smoking status, ethnic background and mode of conception.
Measurement:
Fetal heart rate measured as part of first-trimester screening by Doppler ultrasound between 11+0 and 13+6 gestational weeks was compared retrospectively.
Findings:
The mean fetal heart rate in opioid-dependent mothers was 156.0 beats per minute (standard deviation 7.3) compared to 159.6 (6.5) in controls. The difference in fetal heart rate was significant (P = 0.02). There was a significant difference in mean maternal body mass index (P = 0.01) but not in mean nuchal translucency (P = 0.3), gestational age (0.5), fetal gender (P = 0.3) and parity (P = 0.3) between both groups. Fifty-five per cent (41 of 74) of cases were taking methadone, 30% (22 of 74) buprenorphine and 15% (11 of 74) were taking slow-release morphines throughout the pregnancy.
Conclusions:
In fetuses of opioid-dependent mothers a decreased fetal heart rate can already be observed between 11+0 and 13+6 gestational weeks. The effect of opioid intake needs to be taken into consideration when interpreting fetal heart rate in opioid-dependent mothers at first-trimester screening.
More Related Videos
09:54Combining Laser Capture Microdissection and Microfluidic qPCR to Analyze Transcriptional Profiles of Single Cells: A Systems Biology Approach to Opioid Dependence
Published on: March 8, 2020
07:34Fetal Mouse Cardiovascular Imaging Using a High-frequency Ultrasound (30/45MHZ) System
Published on: May 5, 2018
Related Concept Videos
Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids
Opioid Receptors: Overview
Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena
Opioid Analgesics: Morphine and Other Natural Cogeners
Analgesia and Pain Management
Fetal Circulation
Two umbilical arteries transport blood from the fetus to the placenta. At the placenta, the blood absorbs oxygen and nutrients while simultaneously eliminating waste products. This oxygen-enriched and nutrient-rich blood then returns to the fetus through one...