Analysis of cardiotocograms in time and frequency domains

Cardiotocography is the most diffused prenatal diagnostic technique in clinical practice. The simultaneous recording of the Fetal Heart Rate (FHR) and of the Uterine Contractions (UC or tocogram) provides information about fetal well-being during pregnancy and labour to doctors and obstetricians. Currently, it is the only medical report having legal value. The interpretation of the cardiotocograpfic traces is still left to obstetrician expertise. However, in same cases its efficacy is still controversial. Therefore, a more objective and quantitative interpretation would increase its reliability. To this end, the study aims to extract time and frequency parameters for physicians decision support. Comparison between some parameters with the Apgar score and the neonatal weight has been also attempted. Time-frequency distribution of the FHR variability signal is provided in order to evaluate spectral changes in response to UC. A 1/f analysis of FHR has been performed.