Fetal acoustic stimulation in early labor in patients screened with the admission test

Fetal heart rate reactions to the fetal acoustic stimulation test were investigated in 952 women in early labor. All had cephalic presentations (greater than 33 weeks of gestation) and were screened with a 15-minute fetal heart rate recording (admission test) before the sound stimulation was applied. Three different types of responses were observed: type I, an accelerative response; type II, a biphasic response with acceleration(s) followed by a deceleration; type III, no response or a prolonged deceleration (greater than 60 beats/min and greater than 60 seconds). A type I response was recorded in 98.0% of the women after a reactive admission test result, in 90.2% after an equivocal admission test result, and in 42.9% after an ominous admission test result. Fetal distress in labor occurred in these three groups in 2.0%, 22.2%, and 35.7% of cases, respectively. The risk for fetal distress was high after an ominous admission test and a type III response on the fetal acoustic stimulation test (75.0%). The fetal acoustic stimulation test might be of value in labor and give additional information about fetal well-being in patients previously screened by the admission test. Testing time can be shortened after an equivocal admission test.