Computerized analysis of fetal heart rate after maternal glucose ingestionin normal pregnancy

Objective: To examine the effect of maternal oral glucose ingestion on ante partum FHR indices in normal pregnancies at term. Study design: A prospecti ve study was performed on 44 non-laboring healthy women with normal singlet on pregnancy at 37-40 weeks gestation. All women had a normal oral glucose tolerance test at 24-28 weeks gestation. FHR was recorded with the Sonicaid Fetal rWonitor System (Oxford 8000), fur 30 min prior to and 60 min follow ing oral ingestion of 50 g of glucose in the study group of 27 women, and f ollowing water ingestion in a control group of 17 women. Results: All pregn ancies had a normal outcome. The maternal blood glucose levels before and 3 0 and 60 min after glucose ingestion were 70+/-14, 107+/-121, and 106+/-22 mg/dl, respectively (P<0.001). A significant negative correlation was found between the changes in maternal blood glucose levels 30 min after glucose ingestion and the changes in the number of large FHR accelerations at 30 an d 60 min after glucose ingestion (r=-0.44, P<0.01 and r=-0.42, P<0.01, resp ectively). A significant correlation was found between the changes in mater nal blood glucose levels 30 min after glucose ingestion and changes in epis odes of low FHR variation at this time period (r=0.45, P<0.01). No signific ant changes in any of the FHR variables were noted in the control group. Co nclusion: In normal pregnancies FHR indices of variation tend to decrease a fter maternal oral ingestion of glucose. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.