Electronic Fetal-Maternal Monitoring : Antepartum/Intrapartum

It seems only yesterday that the fetus in utero accurately parameters of uterine activity, and they and the uterine environment were almost complete­ taught a systematic approach to the clinician's understanding of uterine physiology.

It seems only yesterday that the fetus in utero accurately parameters of uterine activity, and they and the uterine environment were almost complete­ taught a systematic approach to the clinician''s understanding of uterine physiology. Their work ly shrouded in mystery. The gender of the child was spread extremely rapidly'' beyond the boundaries principally a matter of sheer speculation. Its size of their native Uruguay. The last 30 years have was estimated by abdominal palpation with notori­ seen a quantum leap in our understanding of fetal ous lack of accuracy. The growth pattern of the and uterine physiology. Nearly all of the old ques­ fetus was not a subject for serious study inasmuch tions-diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic­ as antenatal care and observations were not being systematically made. A question of whether the have been at least partly answered. The body of fetus had a severe malformation was dealt with as a new knowledge is now housed largely within the matter of fear rather than a subject to be seriously subspecialty of Maternal and Fetal Medicine. evaluated. The condition of the fetus in utero at a The author of this book arrived on the scene given time and the question of whether the fetus just after the critical mid-century turning point. would tolerate labor had not seriously been He was fortunate to come under the influence of Professor Raoul Palmer in France, to work in brought forward.