Fetal heart rate acceleration in labor: excellent prognostic indicator.

This study explores the significance of fetal heart rate acceleration in labor. Fetal heart rate accelerations were studied in 1,677 monitored laboring patients. Fetal outcome was analyzed according to perinatal mortality rate. Apgar scores, and incidence of late deceleration. The presence of accelerations of the fetal heart rate during labor proved to be an excellent indicator of subsequent good fetal outcome.