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Table 1 Hourly layout for 24-hour period frequencies of maternal and fetal heart rate rhythms. (36 – 40 weeks gestation)

From: Development of daily rhythmicity in heart rate and locomotor activity in the human fetus

Time of day (h)

Mother (bpm)

Fetus (bpm)

7 – 8

66.5 ± 1.3 *

133 ± 1.9 **

8 – 9

68 ± 1.2 *

133 ± 2.1 **

9 – 10

68.5 ± 1.3 **

132 ± 2.0 **

10 – 11

72 ± 1.4 **

136 ± 2.1 **

11 – 12

76 ± 1.4 **

135 ± 2.3 **

12 – 13

79 ± 1.3 *

136 ± 2.3 **

13 – 14

79 ± 1.2 *

134 ± 1.9 *

14 – 15

75 ± 1.2 *

136 ± 2.1 **

15 – 16

76 ± 1.1 *

133 ± 2.3 *

16 – 17

76 ± 1.1 *

132 ± 1.8 **

17 – 18

76.5 ± 1.2 *

133 ± 2.2 **

18 – 19

79 ± 1.0 *

135 ± 1.8 **

19 – 20

71 ± 1.1 *

131 ± 1.8 *

20 – 21

72 ± 1.1 **

133 ± 2.0 *

21 – 22

69 ± 1.2 *

135 ± 1.9 **

22 – 23

70 ± 1.1 *

134 ± 1.8 **

23 – 24

65 ± 1.0 *

136.5 ± 2.0 **

24 – 1

64 ± 1.2 *

138.5 ± 1.9 *

1 – 2

65 ± 1.1 *

138.5 ± 2.2 *

2 – 3

61 ± 1.2 *

133.5 ± 1.9 **

3 – 4

64 ± 1.1 *

136 ± 1.8 **

4 – 5

62 ± 1.1 *

132 ± 1.9 **

5 – 6

66.5 ± 1.1 *

133 ± 2.1 **

6 – 7

68 ± 1.0 *

134 ± 2.2 **

  1. * p < 0.001 (compared to heart rate at 7 am).
  2. ** p > 0.05.