ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To determine effects of maternal fasting on antepartum computerized fetal heart tracing analysis. STUDY DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study of two groups of healthy pregnant women who were recruited, a fasting and a nonfasting control group. Each pregnant woman gave a blood sample, and had a computerized fetal heart tracing. RESULTS: A total of 124 pregnant women were studied. The mean hours since the last oral intake were significantly different between the two groups (p=0.003). Fetuses of fasted mothers had fewer episodes of large acceleration compared to the controls (p=0.001). This difference was significantly associated with maternal appreciation of fetal movement (p=0.003). CONCLUSION: The number of large accelerations in computerized fetal heart tracing is decreased in pregnant women abstaining from food and water.
Subject(s)
Fasting/physiology , Heart Rate, Fetal/physiology , Pregnancy/physiology , Blood Glucose/metabolism , Case-Control Studies , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Fetal Movement/physiology , Humans , Islam , Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena/physiology , Time FactorsABSTRACT
The incidence of perinatal death resulting from rhesus Rh isoimmunization has dropped dramatically since the introduction of Rh immunoglobulin. However, Rh sensitization continues to be one of the leading causes of fetal anemia. Our patient is a 38-year-old woman; she gives a history of 2 uneventful pregnancies followed by 5 consecutive stillbirths. Investigations revealed an anti-D titre of 1/2048 and anti-C titre of 1/256. Ultrasound examination revealed fetal ascites at 18 weeks gestation. The fetus had a total of 9 successful intrauterine transfusions. She was delivered by an elective cesarean section at 34 weeks gestation; outcome was a healthy female baby weighing 2060 g. Examination at 9 month of age showed normal growth and neurodevelopment.
