FETAL RECOIL DURING LABOR TO EVALUATE FETAL WELL-BEING WHEN HEART-RATE MONITORING IS NOT INFORMATIVE

Background: Fetal movement is a predictor of fetal wellbeing. Fetal mo vement in response to a stimulation (fetal recoil) has been tested, an d all fetuses that demonstrated recoil had umbilical arterial blood pH at least 7.20. Cases: We used fetal recoil to allow labor in three wo men with fetal heart tracings that were not informative. In all three, Apgar scores or umbilical artery pH values confirmed normal fetal aci d-base status at birth. Conclusion: Fetal recoil is a potentially usef ul method to assess fetal status when fetal heart rate monitoring is n ot informative. (C) 1997 by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.