The relationship between fetal and maternal hemodynamic oscillations in normal and growth restricted fetuses

Abstract

The study was aimed to the investigation of the maternal heart rate variability involvement in regulation of fetal circulatory system in case of healthy pregnancy and in fetal growth restriction. 98 patients at 34-40 weeks of gestation were enrolled in the study. And 30 of them were involved in Group I (control). In Group II 34 pregnant women with fetal growth restriction and normal Doppler indices were observed. 34 patients with decreased values of hemodynamic indices were monitored in Group III. The circulatory abnormalities in the utero-placental bed in patients with fetal growth restriction induced maternal and fetal autonomic response. The development of fetal compromise was due to an increased sympathetic and decreased parasympathetic tones. The fact of the considerable relationship between fetal and maternal heart rate variability in healthy pregnancy demonstrated the oscillatory nature of their interaction. Placental bed pathology in patients with fetal growth restriction and abnormal circulatory indices contributed to failed hemodynamic fluctuations exchange between mother and fetus.