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Fetal heart rate at 10 to 14 weeks and birthweight
N J Sebire1, R Nayar, M Carvalho
1Harris Birthright Research Centre for Fetal Medicine, King's College Hospital Medical School, Denmark Hill, London, UK.
Insights
Fetal heart rate at 10-14 weeks gestation showed no link to birthweight in 6644 pregnancies. This suggests early pregnancy factors influencing later cardiovascular disease are not detectable via fetal heart rate at this stage.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Fetal Medicine
- Perinatology
Background:
- Fetal heart rate (FHR) is a potential indicator of fetal well-being.
- Early gestation assessments are crucial for predicting long-term health outcomes.
- The relationship between early fetal development and adult cardiovascular disease requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between early fetal heart rate and birthweight.
- To determine if early fetal heart rate can predict later cardiovascular disease risk through birthweight.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from 6644 singleton pregnancies with live births.
- Fetal heart rate measurement between 10 to 14 weeks of gestation.
- Statistical analysis to assess the correlation between FHR and birthweight.
Main Results:
- No significant association was found between fetal heart rate (FHR) and birthweight in the studied cohort.
- The median FHR was measured at 12 weeks of gestation.
Conclusions:
- Early fetal heart rate at 10-14 weeks of gestation is not a predictor of birthweight.
- The findings suggest that any intrauterine insults or adaptive fetal responses linking FHR and birthweight to cardiovascular disease are not present or detectable at this early gestational stage.
Abstract:
In 6644 singleton pregnancies resulting in live births, the fetal heart rate was measured at 10 to 14 weeks of gestation (median 12). There was no significant association between fetal heart rate and birthweight. These findings demonstrate that if there is an association between fetal heart rate, birthweight and subsequent development of cardiovascular disease the responsible intrauterine insult and/or the adaptive fetal response are not present at 10 to 14 weeks of gestation.