Biomaterial Database

The effect of short-term heat stress on uterine contractility, fetal heart rate and fetal movements at late pregnancy. 1991

K Vähä-Eskeli, and R Erkkola

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Turku, Finland.

The effects of short-term, moderate heat stress (20 min, 70 degrees C) on uterine contractility, fetal heart rate and fetal movements were investigated in 23 healthy subjects 36 to 37 weeks pregnant. The thermal stress caused minimal uterine contractility in five subjects but did not induce labor. Fetal heart rate increased from 146 beats per minute to a maximum of 157 beats per minute (P less than 0.05) by 10 min after termination of thermal stress. Fetal movements increased from 2.3 per minute to 4.9 per minute 35 minutes after heat stress (P less than 0.05). Throughout the experiment fetal heart rate variability remained normal but in four cases the tracings were temporarily non-reactive during or after the heat stress. The newborn infants were all in good condition at delivery which, generally, took place at the estimated time of delivery. The results suggest that moderate thermal stress does not induce regular uterine contractility nor is it harmful to the fetus at late pregnancy.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D011263	Pregnancy Trimester, Third	The last third of a human PREGNANCY, from the beginning of the 29th through the 42nd completed week (197 to 294 days) of gestation.	Pregnancy, Third Trimester,Trimester, Third,Last Trimester,Last Trimesters,Pregnancies, Third Trimester,Pregnancy Trimesters, Third,Third Pregnancy Trimester,Third Pregnancy Trimesters,Third Trimester,Third Trimester Pregnancies,Third Trimester Pregnancy,Third Trimesters,Trimester, Last,Trimesters, Last,Trimesters, Third
D005260	Female		Females
D005324	Fetal Movement	Physical activity of the FETUS in utero. Gross or fine fetal body movement can be monitored by the mother, PALPATION, or ULTRASONOGRAPHY.	Fetal Activity,Fetal Activities,Fetal Movements
D006339	Heart Rate	The number of times the HEART VENTRICLES contract per unit of time, usually per minute.	Cardiac Rate,Chronotropism, Cardiac,Heart Rate Control,Heartbeat,Pulse Rate,Cardiac Chronotropy,Cardiac Chronotropism,Cardiac Rates,Chronotropy, Cardiac,Control, Heart Rate,Heart Rates,Heartbeats,Pulse Rates,Rate Control, Heart,Rate, Cardiac,Rate, Heart,Rate, Pulse
D006340	Heart Rate, Fetal	The heart rate of the FETUS. The normal range at term is between 120 and 160 beats per minute.	Fetal Heart Rate,Fetal Heart Rates,Heart Rates, Fetal,Rate, Fetal Heart,Rates, Fetal Heart
D006358	Hot Temperature	Presence of warmth or heat or a temperature notably higher than an accustomed norm.	Heat,Hot Temperatures,Temperature, Hot,Temperatures, Hot
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D014590	Uterine Contraction	Contraction of the UTERINE MUSCLE.	Myometrial Contraction,Contraction, Myometrial,Contraction, Uterine,Contractions, Myometrial,Contractions, Uterine,Myometrial Contractions,Uterine Contractions