Intrauterine fetal reanimation in acute intrapartum fetal distress.

Uterine contractions during labour may produce acute intrapartum fetal distress. Intrauterine fetal reanimation is possible by reducing the strength of uterine contractions. Betamimetic therapy appears successful for this.

Effects of bromocriptine administration to pregnant rabbits upon fetal lung maturation.

If endogenous prolactin secretion is important in normal development of fetal lung surfactant, the inhibition of its secretion should be associated with delayed maturation of fetal lung. We therefore studied the effect of bromoergocriptine administration to pregnant rabbits upon lecithin content of fetal lung washes. The does were treated since the 27th day of gestation with either Mesilate of 2-Bromo-alpha-ergocriptine (C32H40BrN5O5, CH3SO3H) (Bromocriptine) (Parlodel, Sandoz) (1 mg/kg/day) or solvent twice daily until delivery.

Vertical position during the first stage of the course of labor, and neonatal outcome.

This study included 369 normal term labors. In 145 cases the women were sitting, standing or walking at will during the first stage, whereas 224 remained lying in bed during the whole labor. When the mother remains in the 'vertical position during the first stage of labor (1) the physiological timing of the spontaneous rupture of membranes is not altered, (2) duration of the first stage is shortened in 25%--this shortening may reach 34% in the nulliparas, (3) cephalic molding is not increased, (4) the incidence of forceps delivery diminishes and (5) perinatal morbimortality is not increased.

Transference of para-amino-hippurate from the mother to the amniotic fluid.

There are few studies in which substances mainly cleared by the kidney are injected to the mother and the time course of their concentrations in amniotic fluid is analyzed. This type of studies may contribute to the knowledge of the transference of substances through the mother-fetus-amniotic fluid complex. Thirteen pregnant women were studied.

Disappearance of para-amino-hippurate from amniotic fluid.

Eight pregnant women and three pregnant sheep received 400 mg of para-amino-hippurate (PAH) intraaminotically. Serial samples of amniotic fluid and maternal blood were obtained. In sheep samples of fetal blood were also withdrawn.

Effects of orciprenaline on uterine contractility and maternal heart rate. A quantitative study.

Amniotic pressure and maternal heart rate were recorded continuously and simultaneously in 15 women in labor or prelabor. Orciprenaline (Alupent) was administered through an intravenous infusion pump at the rate of 10 and 20 mug/min. Uterine contractility and maternal and fetal heart rate were measured before its onset and during the infusion.

Heart rate in fetuses and neonates in normal conditions and with mild depression.

The continuous recording of fetal and neonatal heart rate gives reliable information on the condition of the fetus and neonate. In the present study the results obtained in vigorous and mildly depressed newborns, by the continuous recording of fetal heart rate during labor and of neonatal heart rate during 90 minutes after birth, are presented. Twenty three pregnant women were studied during labor, as well as their newborns.