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Fetal activity following stimulation of the mother's abdomen, feet, and hands
Author(s) -
Diego Miguel A.,
Dieter John N. I.,
Field Tiffany,
Lecanuet Jean Pierre,
HernandezReif Maria,
Beutler Julia,
Largie Shay,
Redzepi Mercedes,
Salman Fawwaz A.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
developmental psychobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1098-2302
pISSN - 0012-1630
DOI - 10.1002/dev.10071
Subject(s) - fetus , stimulation , gestation , massage , medicine , abdomen , fetal head , sensory stimulation therapy , obstetrics , pregnancy , anatomy , biology , genetics , alternative medicine , pathology
Fetal activity during midgestation ( M age=19.8 weeks) was studied in response to vibratory stimulation of the mother's abdomen (at the height of the fetal head), foot massage, hand massage, or control condition (no stimulation). Consistent with previous research conducted during midgestation, the fetuses of mothers who received two trials of 3‐sec, 60‐Hz vibratory stimulation did not show changes in movement. In contrast, the fetuses of mothers who received a 3‐min foot massage showed greater movement than the control fetuses. However, stimulating the mother's hand (another highly innervated area) did not increase fetal activity. By late gestation ( M age=35.4 weeks), vibratory stimulation resulted in increased fetal activity. These findings replicate previous research indicating that vibratory stimulation to the mother's abdomen does not elicit fetal activity until later in gestation. Furthermore, our findings indicate that stimulating the mothers' feet, but not the hands, can evoke fetal activity in midgestation. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 41: 396–406, 2002. Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/dev.10071