Fetal heart rate throughout pregnancy

Abstract

Serial fetal heart rate (FHR) determinations were made from early pregnancy to term in 24 healthy fetuses by means of an ultrasonic device. A decreasing FHR pattern was noticed from the eleventh through the thirtieth weeks, after which the values remained more stable (about 140 beats per minute) until term. The roles of an increase in fetal weight and vagal maturation are discussed briefly, to correlate them with the decreasing FHR patterns noticed during the eleventh to thirtieth weeks of pregnancy. © 1972.