Investigating maternal-fetal heart rate coupling by high resolution joint symbolic dynamics

The aim of this study was to quantify short-term maternal-fetal cardiac couplings in early, mid and late gestation fetuses by using the high resolution joint symbolic dynamics (HRJSD) analysis approach. The analysis was based on fetal electrocardiograms (FECGs) of 66 healthy fetuses [22 from 16~25 weeks (GA1), 22 from 26-30 weeks (GA2) and 22 from 32-41 weeks (GA3)]. Results demonstrate that HRJSD revealed nine significant maternal-fetal coupling pattern and 4 fetal heart rate families that were able to differentiate among three gestational groups. In conclusion, the application of HRJSD revealed detailed information about short-term nonlinear maternal-fetal cardiac couplings and regulatory mechanisms (patterns) of developing autonomic nervous system function.