Pregnant women between 32-41 weeks' gestation designated for either vaginal birth or cesarean section will be recruited for the study. After signing an informed consent, data regarding maternal resting heart rate and fetal baseline heart rate as depicted on the monitor will be collected.~Patients will be divided into 2 equal groups according to fetal baseline heart rate:~st group-fetal heart rate between 110-130 beats per minute (bpm).~nd group-fetal heart rate between 140-160 bpm. A blood sample will be acquired from the parturient and the umbilical cord as well as a sample from the placenta will be obtained. Levels of Acetyl Choline Esterase (AChE) will be determined from all aforementioned samples. Statistical correlation between fetal baseline heart rate and fetal and maternal AChE levels will be assessed.~Data regarding demographic, medical and obstetric information of the participants will be obtained from the hospital's electronic records.
Pregnant women between 32-41 weeks' gestation designated for either vaginal birth or cesarean section will be recruited for the study. Data regarding maternal resting heart rate and fetal baseline heart rate as depicted on the monitor will be collected. A blood sample will be acquired from the parturient and the umbilical cord as well as a sample from the placenta will be obtained. Levels of Acetyl Choline Esterase (AChE) will be determined from all aforementioned samples. Statistical correlation between fetal baseline heart rate and fetal and maternal AChE levels will be assessed.