Electronic fetal-maternal monitoring : antepartum, intrapartum

It seems only yesterday that the fetus in utero accurately parameters of uterine activity, and they and the uterine environment were almost complete­ taught a systematic approach to the clinician's understanding of uterine physiology. Their work ly shrouded in mystery. The gender of the child was spread extremely rapidly' beyond the boundaries principally a matter of sheer speculation. Its size of their native Uruguay. The last 30 years have was estimated by abdominal palpation with notori­ seen a quantum leap in our understanding of fetal ous lack of accuracy. The growth pattern of the and uterine physiology. Nearly all of the old ques­ fetus was not a subject for serious study inasmuch tions-diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic­ as antenatal care and observations were not being systematically made. A question of whether the have been at least partly answered. The body of fetus had a severe malformation was dealt with as a new knowledge is now housed largely within the matter of fear rather than a subject to be seriously subspecialty of Maternal and Fetal Medicine. evaluated. The condition of the fetus in utero at a The author of this book arrived on the scene given time and the question of whether the fetus just after the critical mid-century turning point. would tolerate labor had not seriously been He was fortunate to come under the influence of Professor Raoul Palmer in France, to work in brought forward. Front Matter....Pages i-x History of Intrapartum Monitoring....Pages 1-17 Physical Basis of Monitoring Uterine Contractions....Pages 18-25 Physical Basis of Monitoring Fetal Heart Rate, Oxygenation, and Acid-Base Status....Pages 26-37 Instrumentation and Technique....Pages 38-63 Normal Uterine Contractility....Pages 64-110 Abnormal Uterine Contractility....Pages 111-125 Systemic Effects of Contractions....Pages 126-143 Initiation of Labor....Pages 144-153 Pharmacology of the Uterus....Pages 154-223 Induction of Labor....Pages 224-239 Premature Labor....Pages 240-261 Fetal Heart Rate Baseline Patterns....Pages 262-293 Early Decelerations....Pages 294-305 Late Deceleration....Pages 306-340 Variable Decelerations....Pages 341-368 Agonal Patterns....Pages 369-389 Antenatal Monitoring....Pages 390-410 Anesthesia and Analgesia....Pages 411-471 Complications and Advantages....Pages 472-487 Back Matter....Pages 489-495