Aim. The objective of the study was to analyze fetal cardiotocographic parameters during exposure to classical music by Johann Strauss and popular music by ABBA. Material and methods. 60 women in the third trimester of pregnancy at the mean gestational age of 35 weeks were involved in the study. 90 cardiotocographic readings were taken before and during exposure to two classical music pieces by Johann Strauss and two songs by ABBA. Results. During exposure to classical music pieces by Johann Strauss, a significant decrease in the baseline fetal heart rate was observed. During exposure to popular music songs by ABBA, a significant decrease in the number of accelerations >10 BPM and high variability episodes was observed. A significantly higher number of accelerations >10 BPM, accelerations >15 BPM and low variability episodes was found in the group exposed to classical music as compared to the group exposed to popular music by ABBA. A significantly higher number of uterine contractions was observed in the group exposed to music by ABBA as compared to the group exposed to music by Johann Strauss. Conclusion. The results of this study suggest that exposure to music affects the values of cardiotocographic parameters in the fetus. The results are enlightening and can contribute to hearing diagnostics or help shorten the duration of non-stress tests. Musical intervention is safe, inexpensive and easy to administer. Further studies are necessary in order to determine the impact of exposure to music on the condition of the fetus.

Key words: music, pregnancy, Fetal Heart Rate, Short-Term Variability.