The objective is to contribute data to ongoing research activities focused on identification of EKG waveform changes in the context of clinical conditions and maternal medication use. Additionally, to develop the capacity to measure contractions more accurately and more reliably using skin-surface electrodes.
Specific Aim 1: To develop a technique for the quantitative analysis of fetal heart-rate (FHR) data recorded during labor using advanced mathematical techniques, including pattern-recognition analysis. * Specific Aim 2: To develop the capacity to measure fetal cardiac data using EKG sensors applied to the maternal abdomen during labor. * Specific Aim 3: To validate prenatal non-invasive measurement of the fetal QTc interval. * Specific Aim 4: To develop and validate the capacity to measure uterine contractions using the uterine EMG signal recorded from maternal skin-surface electrodes. * Specific Aim 5: Collect clinical data related to medication usage and hypoxia.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
900
Use of a system that monitors fetal heart rate through use of fetal EKG read using abdominal electrodes
South Shore Hospital
South Weymouth, Massachusetts, United States
RECRUITINGQuantitative FHR
Quantitative analysis of fetal heart-rate data recorded during labor using advanced mathetmatical techniques, including pattern-recognition analysis using EKG electrodes applied to the maternal abdomen.
Time frame: During Labor
Uterine contractions
Uterine contractions will be identified by analyzing data from surface electrodes to identify patterns consistent with uterine muscle coordinated shortening. These data will be compared to data from either the external tocometer or the internal IUPC. Cross correlation analysis will be used to compare the two signals and validate the analysis of uterine EMG signal.
Time frame: During labor
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