Effect of Maternal Respiration on Fetal Heart Rate Variability

Fetal development assessment is largely carried out by measurements of non-invasive fetal heart rate (fHR) throughout gestation. Different literature demonstrated that fetal HR and HR variability (HRV) are affected by different maternal factors such as weight, exercise, and respiration. Up until now, more knowledge is needed to understand how the mother affects fetal development because this may enhance both maternal and fetal health assessment during pregnancy. Previously, maternal respiration was found to affect the HR coupling interaction between the mother and fetus. However, it is still unknown how maternal respiration affects fetal HR and HRV. In this study, we investigated the associations of maternal respiratory power spectrum density (PSD) and respiratory rates with fetal RR interval (fRRI) and fetal HR variability (HRV). Maternal respiration was recorded by using a thoracic belt and fetal RRI and HRV were calculated from non-invasive PulsedWave Doppler (PWD) images. The total number of data that was used in this study is 25 (gestational age (GA): (24 ± 2.0) weeks, and maternal age: (33 ± 5.2) years old). The data used in this study is publicly available online at physionet.