Fetal monitoring using abdominally recorded signals (ADS) allows physicians to detect occurring changes in the well-being state of the fetus from the beginning of pregnancy. Mainly based on the fetal electrocardiogram (fECG), it provides the long-term fetal heart rate (fHR) and assessment of the fetal QRS morphology. But the fECG component in ADS is obscured by the maternal ECG (mECG), thus rem...

especially in the case of deliveries without fetal distress, although we found a similar trend with assisted vaginal vertex deliveries for fetal distress. The anxiety for the patient generated by the decision for caesarean section may provoke increased maternal catecholamine release that initially causes reduced perfusion of the placental bed and gas exchange, with temporary fetal acidosis. Cor...

Prenatal diagnosis, traditionally used as a synonymous for invasive fetal testing and evaluation of chromosomal constellation, presently encompasses many other issues like pedigree analyses, fetal risk assessment, population screening, genetic counseling and fetal diagnostic testing as well. Ultrasound guided chorionic villus samling (CVS), amniocentesis and, to a lesser extent, fetal blood sam...

Background Prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease is important to ensure both informed parental counselling before birth, and effective planning of potentially life-saving interventions after birth. MRI offers a safe, radiationfree adjunct to conventional diagnostic modalities, particularly in mothers with high BMI or at later gestations where ultrasound may be limited. However, cardiov...