The relationship between fetal heart rate accelerations, fetal movements, and uterine contractions.

The association between fetal heart rate (FHR) accelerations and fetal movements during uterine contractions was studied in 52 pregnant women near term or at the beginning of labor. FHR and uterine contractions were recorded by tococardiograph. At the same time, fetal movements, whether associated or not with contractions, were viewed by real-time ultrasound. During uterine contractions, 95.5% of the FHR accelerations were associated with fetal movements. Also, 90.9% of the accelerations which appeared when the uterus was not contracting were associated with fetal movements. Fetal movements were not seen in 91% of uterine contractions which were not associated with FHR accelerations. The suggestion is made that uterine contractions stimulate both fetal movements and FHR accelerations.