Noninvasive fetal electrocardiography: an overview of the signal electrophysiological meaning, recording procedures, and processing techniques.

Background: Noninvasive fetal electrocardiography (fECG), obtained positioning electrodes on the maternal abdomen, is important in safeguarding the life and the health of the unborn child. This study aims to provide a review of the state of the art of fECG, and includes a description of the parameters useful for fetus clinical evaluation; of the fECG recording procedures; and of the techniques to extract the fECG signal from the abdominal recordings.

Methods: The fetus clinical status is inferred by analyzing growth parameters, supraventricular arrhythmias, ST-segment variability, and fetal-movement parameters from the fECG signal.