羊水乳酸水平及胎心监护预测胎儿窘迫的价值

目的　探讨羊水乳酸水平及胎心监护图形预测胎儿窘迫的价值。方法　 2 0 0 3年 8月至 2 0 0 4年 8月暨南大学医学院第二附属医院测定 90例第一产程活跃期出现不良胎儿监护图形 (观察组 )和 10 0例正常胎儿监护图形 (对照组 )的羊水及新生儿脐动脉血乳酸水平 ,其中对照组 30例同时进行母血、脐血及羊水乳酸水平检测。结果　脐血乳酸水平明显高于母血乳酸水平 ,但较羊水为低 (P <0 0 1)。羊水与脐血乳酸水平存在正相关关系(r =0 92 3,P <0 0 1) ,而母血与脐血乳酸水平无相关关系 (r =- 0 15 7,P >0 0 5 )。观察组中自然分娩率低于对照组 (P <0 0 1) ,剖宫产率及新生儿窒息率均高于对照组 (P <0 0 5 )。胎儿监护异常减速羊水乳酸水平为(10 6 0± 1 6 9)mmol/L ,明显高于对照组的 (7 18± 0 91)mmol/L(P <0 0 1) ,轻度变异减速及心动过速羊水乳酸水平分别为 (7 5 0± 1 4 6 )mmol/L ,(7 36± 1 14 )mmol/L ,与对照组比较 ,差异无显著性意义 (P >0 0 5 )。结论　胎儿监护异常减速与胎儿窘迫密切相关。羊水乳酸水平可望成为一种简便、有效的判断胎儿窘迫的生化指标。     

脐血乳酸水平、产时胎心监护不良图形和新生儿结局关系的研究

目的:研究脐动脉血乳酸水平与产时胎心监护不良图形及新生儿结局之间的关系。方法:229例足月妊娠、单胎、头位产妇根据产时胎心宫缩图(cardiotocography,CTG)分为两组,观察组:轻度变异减速(variable deceleration,VD)68例、不良CTG包括中、重度VD、不典型VD、胎心基线变异减弱或消失、延长减速、重度晚期减速及心动过缓84例。对照组:产时CTG无VD及不良图形、新生儿脐动脉血pH≥7.20的产妇77例,检测新生儿脐动脉血乳酸浓度及生后20项行为神经评分(neonatal behavioral neudogioal as-sessment,NBNA)。结果:对照组脐动脉血乳酸99%参考值范围为1.31~4.05mmol/L,不良CTG脐血乳酸水平明显高于对照组(P<0.01);pH、BE值显著低于对照组与轻度VD组(P<0.01,P<0.05),脐血乳酸水平与pH、BE呈显著负相关(P<0.01)。以对照组x-±2.58s为界值,观察组脐血乳酸超过界值者不良CTG占73.33%,其中不良结局儿占68.18%。结论:脐动脉乳酸水平与pH、BE值有较好的相关性。产时重度VD或VD并存其它异常CTG,胎心基线变异减弱,尤其伴发羊水粪染、脐带异常时与围生儿脐血高乳酸水平、不良结局有关。     

羊水乳酸水平对羊水粪染病例胎儿窘迫的诊断价值

目的探讨羊水乳酸水平在羊水粪染病例中诊断胎儿窘迫的临床价值。方法2003年8月至2004年12月暨南大学第二临床医学院测定72例第一产程活跃期出现羊水粪染(观察组)和52例羊水清、胎儿监护图形正常且有良好新生儿结局(对照组)的羊水及新生儿脐动脉血乳酸水平。结果对照组羊水乳酸值近似正态分布,其95%参考值为5.4~8.9mmol/L。对照组活跃期和分娩时羊水乳酸水平差异无显著性意义(P>0.05)。羊水Ⅲ度粪染的羊水乳酸水平明显高于对照组(P<0.01)。羊水Ⅰ度及Ⅱ度粪染而胎儿监护正常的病例羊水乳酸值与对照组比较,差异无显著性意义(P>0.05)。但羊水Ⅱ度粪染合并胎心基线异常或(和)重度变异减速病例的羊水乳酸水平明显升高(P<0.01)。观察组发生胎儿窘迫及新生儿窒息的病例,其活跃期羊水乳酸水平均明显高于对照组(P<0.01)。以活跃期羊水乳酸值>8.9mmol/L为异常值来诊断胎儿窘迫发生的敏感性、特异性、阳性预测值及阴性预测值分别为61.9%、88.2%、68.4%和84.9%。结论羊水乳酸值测定对提高羊水粪染病例胎儿窘迫的诊断准确性有一定临床价值。     

活跃期羊水乳酸水平对单纯胎心基线变异性降低胎儿窘迫的预测价值

目的探讨活跃期羊水乳酸水平对单纯胎心基线变异性降低胎儿窘迫预测价值。方法暨南大学第二附属医院2004年5月至2008年9月,选择162例在活跃期胎心电子监护中出现单纯胎心基线变异性降低的足月、单胎、头位的初产妇,随机分为研究组82例,胎心电子监护同时经阴道取羊水测定乳酸水平;对照组80例仅行胎心电子监护。比较两组的剖宫产率、胎儿窘迫发生率及研究组脐动脉血pH值与出生前1h内羊水乳酸值的相关性。结果研究组脐动脉血pH值与出生前1h内羊水乳酸水平具有明显的负相关性(r=-0.752,P<0.01)。研究组17例脐动脉血pH<7.20者羊水乳酸水平为(11.06±1.82)mmol/L,较脐动脉血pH≥7.20者羊水乳酸水平(7.45±1.19)mmol/L明显升高(P<0.05)。研究组剖宫产率为35.4%,明显低于对照组的52.5%,两者比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);研究组脐动脉血pH<7.20发生率较对照组明显降低(分别为20.7%和36.2%),差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);羊水乳酸值>8.9mmol/L为异常值诊断单纯胎心基线变异性降低胎儿窘迫的敏感度、特异度、阳性预测值及阴性预测值分别为82...     

第一产程异常胎心监护图形与新生儿结局的关系

目的　探讨第一产程异常胎心监护图形与新生儿结局的关系。方法　回顾分析 2 0 0 2年 8月至 2 0 0 3年 6月在我院足月单胎头位分娩产妇 ,第一产程中胎心率 (FHR)异常图形 2 1 7例 (观察组 )和FHR正常图形的2 6 9例 (对照组 )的临床资料。结果　第一产程异常FHR图形的发生率为 4 4 7% ,常见类型为轻度变异减速(6 4 5 % )、基线变异减弱 (2 1 6 % )和轻度心动过速 (1 2 0 % )。晚期减速、基线变异减弱和重度变异减速是导致新生儿窒息的危险因素。观察组羊水过少 (5 1 % )、脐带缠绕 (2 2 6 % )、羊水粪染 (1 0 6 % )、新生儿窒息 (6 5 % )、新生儿转入NICU(1 0 1 % )的发生率和剖宫产率 (31 8% )明显高于对照组 (P <0 0 5 )。结论　第一产程异常FHR图形的发生率较高 ,其中晚期减速、基线变异减弱、重度变异减速与新生儿窒息的发生相关 ,其他图形可在严密监护下继续试产     

新生儿脐动脉血乳酸及血气分析检测的临床意义

目的　探讨新生儿脐动脉血乳酸及血气测定的意义。　方法　新生儿出生后第一次呼吸前即抽取脐动脉血测血气及乳酸值。　结果　共检测 6 2例新生儿 ,p H=7.2 2± 0 .0 7,剩余碱 =(- 5 .4± 2 .7) m Eq/L,乳酸 =(4 .4± 1.7) mm ol/L。脐动脉血乳酸与 p H呈明显负相关 (r=- 0 .86 ,P<0 .0 1) ,剩余碱与乳酸呈明显正相关 (r=0 .85 ,P<0 .0 1) ,胎心监护中晚期减速及持续减速对胎儿的酸碱状况影响明显 ,早期减速对新生儿出生时的 p H影响不大 ,但早期减速新生儿脐动脉血乳酸较无减速者明显增加。有阴道操作组和无阴道操作组 p H分别为 7.18± 0 .0 7和 7.2 4± 0 .0 6 ,两组比较差异有显著性 (P<0 .0 1) ,两组乳酸值差异无显著性。　结论　脐动脉血乳酸测定和 p H同样有临床意义 ,且标本采集较简单 ,有临床实用价值     

胎心监护基线静止型220例分娩结局分析

目的了解足月妊娠胎心监护基线静止型与胎儿宫内缺氧的关系。方法选择胎心监护图形胎心基线变异为静止型的初产妇220例为观察组，胎心基线变异为波浪型的初产妇对照组，比较两组分娩过程及新生儿结局。结果基线变异静止型产程中出现羊水Ⅱ-Ⅲ度污染，羊水过少，胎心监护出现晚期减速或重度变异减速以及新生儿窒息均明显高于波浪型，差异有显著性（P〈0．05）。结论胎心基线变异静止型提示胎儿储备能力下降，常合并羊水过少，存在胎儿宫内潜在缺氧的可能，临床应给予高度重视。     

胎儿缺氧和酸中毒对超氧化物歧化酶水平的影响

目的　探讨胎儿窘迫状态下缺氧、呼吸性酸中毒和代谢性酸中毒等因素对胎儿抗氧化作用的影响。方法　对 386例新生儿出生时抽取脐动脉血行血气分析和超氧化物歧化酶 (SOD)水平检测 ,根据脐动脉血气分析结果诊断新生儿有无缺氧、代谢性酸中毒、呼吸性酸中毒及混合性酸中毒 ;同时根据出生后 1分钟Apgar评分 ,诊断新生儿有无窒息 (缺氧 )。并行多因素方差分析。结果　 (1)386例新生儿中 ,无缺氧及酸中毒者 317例 ,单纯缺氧 31例 ,单纯酸中毒 17例 ,缺氧 +酸中毒 2 1例 ;酸中毒中 ,呼吸性酸中毒 8例 ,代谢性酸中毒 2 1例 ,混合性酸中毒 9例。 (2 )SOD水平检测 :单纯缺氧者为 (118 5± 7 1)mmol/L ,单纯酸中毒者为 (12 2 0± 11 4 )mmol/L ,缺氧 +酸中毒者为 (14 0 0± 7 0 )mmol/L ,无缺氧无酸中毒者为 (98 5± 2 6 )mmol/L ;多因素方差分析结果显示 ,缺氧 :F =4 999(P<0 0 5 ) ,酸中毒 :F =7 0 2 5 (P <0 0 1) ,缺氧 +酸中毒 :F =0 0 13(P >0 0 5 )。 (3)呼吸性酸中毒者的SOD水平为 (12 7 3± 18 4 )mmol/L ,代谢性酸中毒者为 (12 6 0± 8 1)mmol/L ,混合性酸中毒者为(15 0 0± 10 4 )mmol/L ;多因素方差分析结果显示 ,呼吸性酸中毒 :F =4 4 0 4 (P <0 0 5 ) ,代谢性酸中毒 :F =3 96 5 (P <0     

第一产程异常胎心监护图形的分析

目的:探讨第一产程异常胎心监护图形的临床意义。方法:选自第一产程胎心监护图形异常的患者348例为观察组,367例第一产程胎心监护正常者为对照组。观察并比较两组间孕妇并发症及胎儿合并症的情况。结果:①电子胎心监护显示早期减速(ED)所占比例最高,为55.2%,然后依次为变异减速(VD)、晚期减速(LD)、心动过速、心动过缓、基线变异减弱及延长减速(PD)。②观察组中,伴有脐带绕颈及羊水量异常的患者分别占28.4%和10.3%,其比例均明显高于对照组,两组之间均有统计学差异(P<0.05)。③观察组中羊水粪染(Ⅱ-Ⅲ度),Apgar评分≤7分(出生1min),胎儿窘迫及剖宫产的比例均明显高于对照组,两组之间均有统计学差异(P<0.05)。结论:不同电子胎心监护异常图形有不同的临床意义,应该结合临床资料综合分析。     

胎儿窘迫孕妇静脉血及脐血中内源性阿片肽水平的测定

目的　探讨内源性阿片肽与胎儿窘迫发生的关系。方法　采用放射免疫法测定 40例正常妊娠妇女 (正常妊娠组 )及 43例胎儿窘迫孕妇 (胎儿窘迫组 )静脉血及其新生儿脐血中阿片肽 (β 内啡肽、强啡肽A1 13和亮啡肽 )的水平 ,胎儿窘迫组孕妇同时行新生儿脐动脉血血气分析。结果　 (1)胎儿窘迫组脐血中 β 内啡肽、强啡肽A1 13和亮啡肽的水平分别为 (45 3± 68)ng/L、(2 42± 3 3 )ng/L及(498± 68)ng/L ;正常妊娠组分别为 (2 5 1± 3 9)ng/L、(10 3± 2 2 )ng/L及 (3 2 2± 40 )ng/L。与正常妊娠组比较 ,胎儿窘迫组脐血中 3种阿片肽水平均显著升高 (P <0 0 5 )。 (2 )胎儿窘迫组脐血血气分析结果 :pH为 (7 0± 0 1) ,PO2 为 (1 7± 0 6)kPa ,PCO2 为 (8 9± 0 7)kPa ;其中 β 内啡肽水平与脐血pH、PO2呈显著负相关 [相关系数 (r)为 - 0 418及 - 0 43 7,P <0 0 1],与PCO2 呈显著正相关 (r =0 44 2 ,P <0 0 1) ;强啡肽A1 13水平与脐血pH及PO2 呈负相关 (r为 - 0 3 3 7及 - 0 3 83 ,P <0 0 5 ) ,与PCO2 呈正相关 (r=0 3 46,P <0 0 5 )。 (3 )胎儿窘迫组孕妇血中 β 内啡肽、强啡肽A1 13和亮啡肽水平分别为(40± 13 )ng/L、(64± 16)ng/L及 (2 19± 40 )ng/L ;正常妊娠组分别为 (3 7± 9)ng/L、(5     

Acute fetal distress

Three different clinical patterns of acute fetal distress may be observed during labor: an ante-partum hypoxia with a persistent nonreactive and "fixed" fetal heart rate (FHR) on admission to the hospital, a progressive intra-partum asphyxia manifested, as the labor continues, by a substantial rise in baseline heart rate, a loss of variability and repetitive severe variable or late decelerations, and finally, as a result of a catastrophic event, a sudden prolonged FHR deceleration to approximately 60 beats per minute lasting until delivery. However the majority of fetuses with nonreassuring tracings of FHR are neurologically intact, as evidenced by the high false-positive rate of electronic fetal monitoring (EFM). Therefore the diagnosis of fetal distress must be corroborated by complementary methods, such as continuous recording of the fetal electrocardiogram or computed-assisted EFM, fetal pulse oximetry or fetal scalp sampling with immediate determination of blood gases or lactates. Defavorable outcome of an acute fetal distress leading to neonatal encephalopathy or death is best predicted by a persisting low Apgar score (<3) for more than 5 minutes and by a severe metabolic acidosis (umbilical artery pH<7,00 and base-excess>-12mmol/l).     

Predictive value of electronic fetal monitoring for intrapartum fetal asphyxia with metabolic acidosis

Objective: To determine the predictive value of each fetal heart rate (FHR) variable and of patterns of FHR variables for fetal asphyxia during labor.Methods: This matched case-control study included an asphyxia group of 71 term infants with umbilical artery base deficit greater than 16 mmol/L and a control group of 71 term infants with umbilical artery base deficit less than 8 mmol/L. Each FHR record available for the 4 hours before delivery was scored in 10-minute cycles for each FHR variable. Selected patterns of important FHR variables were examined during the last hour before delivery for their predictive value for fetal asphyxia.Results: The FHR variables associated with fetal asphyxia included absent and minimal baseline variability and late and prolonged decelerations. Fetal heart rate patterns with absent baseline variability were the most specific but identified only 17% of the asphyxia group. The sensitivity of this test increased to 93% with the addition of less specific patterns. The estimated positive predictive value ranged from 18.1% to 2.6%, and the negative predictive value ranged from 98.3% to 99.5%.Conclusion: A narrow 1-hour window of FHR patterns including minimal baseline variability and late or prolonged decelerations will predict fetal asphyxial exposure before decompensation and newborn morbidity. Thus, with careful interpretation, predictive FHR patterns can be a useful screening test for fetal asphyxia. However, supplementary tests are required to confirm the diagnosis and to identify the large number of false-positive patterns to avoid unnecessary intervention.     

Umbilical artery blood acid-base analysis and fetal heart rate baseline in the second stage of labor.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the correlation between umbilical arterial acidemia and second-stage baseline fetal heart rate (FHR) abnormalities in Japanese newborn infants. METHODS: Subjects were 365 newborns, born at term. Specimens were obtained from the umbilical artery as soon as possible after delivery and blood gas determinations were performed within 5 minutes of delivery. FHR monitoring was performed in the second stage. RESULTS: Umbilical arterial acidemia occurred in 54.1% of the newborns with moderate to severe bradycardia, in 27.3% with mild bradycardia, and in 19.3% with tachycardia, compared with only 1.3% of those with a normal FHR (p < 0.001). The mean umbilical arterial base excess was significantly greater in newborns with metabolic acidemia (-13.9+/-2.9 mmol/l) than in those with either mixed (-11.5+/-2.8 mmol/l) (p < 0.02) or respiratory (-9.1+/-3.2 mmol/l) (p < 0.01) acidemia. CONCLUSION: The second-stage baseline FHR abnormalities were highly correlated with an increased risk of umbilical arterial acidemia at delivery.     

Intrapartum fetal heart rate monitoring. VIII. Atypical variable decelerations

A total of 1,996 fetal heart rate (FHR) tracings were analyzed to assess the prognostic significance of variable decelerations. Nineteen percent (186 cases) of 988 tracings with variable decelerations in the last 30 minutes of monitored labor exhibited signs of atypia listed in order of frequency: (1) loss of initial acceleration, (2) slow return to the baseline FHR, (3) loss of secondary acceleration, (4) prolonged secondary acceleration, (5) biphasic deceleration, (6) loss of variability during deceleration, and (7) continuation of the baseline at a lower level. Variable decelerations with one or more of these features were called atypical variable decelerations and predicted a high incidence of fetal acidosis and low Apgar scores. By contrast, adverse fetal outcome was uncommon with pure variable decelerations (p much less than 0.001) irrespective of the duration and amplitude of the deceleration. Both pure and atypical variable decelerations were associated with other FHR abnormalities in over 60% of the cases. However, the particularly unfavorable combination with decreased FHR variability and tachycardia or bradycardia was seen more frequently with atypical than with pure variable decelerations (p much less than 0.001) and predicted the highest incidence of low Apgar scores. It is concluded that atypical features aid greatly in the identification of distress in fetuses with variable decelerations.     

Nuchal cords and neonatal outcome

To assess the significance of nuchal cords, 110 affected woman-infant pairs at term gestation were compared with 110 control pairs. Newborns with a nuchal cord had an increased prevalence of umbilical artery acidemia (22 of 110 versus 13 of 110; P less than .05) and more variable fetal heart rate (FHR) decelerations in the first stage of labor (mild = 41 versus 20; P less than .0001; moderate-severe = 21 versus 5; P less than .0001) and the second stage of labor (moderate-severe = 46 versus 21; P less than .0001). In newborns with a nuchal cord, the umbilical artery acidemia was usually mixed (68%) or respiratory (23%) in origin, and pure metabolic acidemia was infrequent (9%). We conclude that nuchal cords are associated with an increased prevalence of variable FHR decelerations in the first and second stages of labor and with an increased incidence of umbilical artery acidemia.     

Screening of foetal distress by assessment of umbilical cord lactate

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: Studies on umbilical cord blood for determination of lactate indicate that high levels seem to be correlated to foetal metabolism for anaerobic glycolysis taking place in oxygen-deprived tissues of the foetus. These findings may be of particular-deprived clinical importance when foetal distress or foetal hypoxemia is caused by perinatal events. METHODS: The maternal and foetal heart rates, acid-base values measured and the outcome of 94 pregnancies complicated by intrapartum foetal asphyxia have been reviewed, and the maternal and foetal acid-base and lactate levels during the course of labour and at delivery were studied in patients with evidence of metabolic acidosis. Lactate concentrations were measured during labour and at delivery in blood samples obtained from the foetal presenting part and from the umbilical cord with the use of a rapid electrochemical technique. The foetuses were evaluated by means of the Apgar score, intrapartum cardiotocography, observation of the presence of meconium stained amniotic fluid, and clinical features of distress at birth. RESULTS: Evidence of clinical foetal distress was not related to the severity of the asphyxia. An increased lactate level was found in asphyctic infants and a clear correlation between lactic acidosis and foetal distress was documented. Low Apgar scores were observed in infants with moderate or severe asphyxia at delivery. Scalp lactate correlated significantly with umbilical artery lactate, but not with 1-min or 5-min Apgar scores. The lactate concentration was higher in cases of instrumental delivery compared to spontaneous delivery. No perfect correlation was found between lactate level and neonatal outcome but there were not a significant number of neonates with immediate complications. The rate of forceps delivery in the distress group was significantly higher than that of the healthy foetuses, so spontaneous labour was less frequently associated with foetal distress than instrumental delivery. In the distress group, severe variable decelerations were generally recorded in the second stage of labour. The incidence of neonatal Apgar score < or = 7 in neonates with abnormal baseline foetal heart rate (FHR) was higher than in those with severe variable decelerations, mild variable decelerations, and transient tachycardia. Duration of the active second stage of labour was significantly with the presence of foetal lactate at the time of crowning of the foetal head and the presence of lactate in umbilical arterial and vein blood at delivery. Expulsion time > or = 45 minutes, compared with shorter active second stage, and acidaemia at birth implied larger arterial-venous lactate differences. The presence of foetal lactate at crowning was also significantly associated with the level of umbilical arterial-venous lactate difference. CONCLUSION: Lactate and pH values provide the best parameters to distinguish between asphyctic and normal newborns, with lactate having the most discriminating power. The prospective value of the discrimination functions derived from lactate and pH data is good when the foetuses are allocated into normal parameters but poor when an attempt is made to allocate the foetuses into pathologic ones, with a high false-negative rate. However, the discriminating ability is improved when pathologic foetuses are included into one single abnormal group. These results confirm the potential use of rapid foetal blood lactate measurements for the early diagnosis of intrapartum foetal distress.     

Evaluation of fetal heart monitoring in the first stage of labor

Objective : To evaluate the usefulness of continuous electronic fetal heart rate (FHR) monitoring in the first stage of labor. Methods : A total of 814 pregnant women in labor without identifiable risk factors was divided into two groups. In group A (468 cases), continuous FHR monitoring began in the earliest phase of the first stage of labor (cervical dilatation &#104 4 cm), while in group B (346 cases) it began when the cervical dilatation was > 4 cm. Initial FHR tracings were normal in all 814 cases. The fetal monitoring findings were analyzed at 10-min intervals, and comparisons were made between the two groups concerning FHR findings and their correlation with the state of the newborns. Results : No significant difference was found between the two groups in the incidence of repetitive variable decelerations (1.9% and 1.7%, respectively); sporadic variable decelerations (9.2% and 8.7%, respectively); persistent repetitive late decelerations that resulted in Cesarean section (1.1% and 1.4%, respectively); or sporadic late decelerations (8.3% and 8.1%, respectively). One newborn from each group required intensive neonatal care. Conclusions : The same tracing sufficiency of fetal stress was observed in the two groups. However, the manner of labor supervision in group B seemed to be more beneficial, because of greater maternal comfort, a lower necessity for personnel, lower consumption of cardiotocographic materials and the possibility of labor induction for more women. Since fetal monitoring is widely used, it is preferable to start continuous FHR monitoring when the dilatation of the cervix approximates 4-5 cm (second phase of the first stage of labor) without risk of fetal loss.     

Relationship of early intrapartum fetal heart rate patterns to subsequent patterns and fetal outcome

This study evaluated subsequent fetal heart rate (FHR) patterns and fetal outcome in laboring women with normal or abnormal initial FHR patterns. Four hundred term gravidas presenting in the latent phase of labor were studied. Ninety (22.5%) exhibited abnormalities on the initial tracing, with the majority of those abnormalities (58.9%) including mild variable decelerations, either alone or in combination with other abnormalities. An analysis of the outcome for those patients revealed a significant increase in cesarean delivery for fetal distress and depressed one-minute Apgar scores when compared to patients with initially normal tracings. Analysis of subsequent FHR patterns in that group showed a significant increase in the incidence of atypical variable declerations and bradycardia. Patients with more than one abnormality on the initial FHR tracing showed a greater incidence of loss of variability, loss of reactivity and bradycardia on subsequent FHR tracings. Likewise, pregnancy outcome for this group was remarkable for an increased risk of meconium staining, cesarean delivery for fetal distress and depressed one-minute Apgar scores. An abnormal initial FHR tracing seems to be associated with the subsequent development of ominous FHR patterns and increased fetal morbidity, particularly when more than one abnormality is present on the initial tracing.