Simplified antepartum fetal heart assessment

Antepartum fetal heart rate monitoring based on the association of fetal heart rate accelerations with fetal movements (non-stress test) is a standard method for fetal surveillance. Application of this method requires a continuous fetal heart rate recording monitor. Audible detection of heart rate accelerations was compared with recorded accelerations in 100 tests. A listening observer detected 77.7 per cent of all accelerations with an amplitude of at least 15 beats/minute. This allowed the detection of 94.2 per cent (82 out of 87) reactive non-stress tests. In no case was a non-reactive test called falsely reactive by the listening observer. This method may be useful for assessing fetal condition when continuous fetal heart rate monitors are not available.