How the fetus withstands an environment of reduced oxygenation during life in the womb
has been a vibrant area of research since this field was introduced by Joseph Barcroft, a …

Uterine contractions in labor result in a 60% reduction in uteroplacental perfusion, causing
transient fetal and placental hypoxia. A healthy term fetus with a normally developed …

Experimental studies that are relevant to human pregnancy rely on the selection of
appropriate animal models as an important element in experimental design. Consideration …

Hypoxia is necessary for fetal development; however, excess hypoxia is detrimental.
Hypoxia has been extensively studied in the near-term fetus, but less is known about earlier …

The fetus is consistently exposed to repeated periods of impaired oxygen (hypoxaemia) and
nutrient supply in labour. This is balanced by the healthy fetus's remarkable anaerobic …

Original interpretations of fetal heart rate (FHR) patterns equated FHR decelerations with
'fetal distress', requiring expeditious delivery. This simplistic interpretation is still implied in …

A distinctive pattern of recurrent rapid falls in fetal heart rate, called decelerations, are
commonly associated with uterine contractions during labour. These brief decelerations are …

One of the most distinctive features of fetal heart rate recordings in labor is the deceleration.
In clinical practice, there has been much confusion about the types of decelerations and …

In mammals, including man, epidemiological and experimental studies have shown that a
range of environmental factors acting during critical periods of early development can alter …

Widespread use of fetal heart rate monitoring for intrapartum fetal surveillance preceded our
detailed understanding of the behaviour and regulation of the fetal cardiovascular system …