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The fetal behavioural states: An ultrasonic study
Author(s) -
Arduini D.,
Rizzo G.,
Giorlandino C.,
Vizzone A.,
Nava S.,
Dell'Acqua S.,
Valensise H.,
Romanini C.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
prenatal diagnosis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.956
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1097-0223
pISSN - 0197-3851
DOI - 10.1002/pd.1970050404
Subject(s) - ultrasonic sensor , fetus , medicine , obstetrics , pregnancy , biology , radiology , genetics
In order to accurately detect the fetal behavioural state, we simultaneously measured fetal heart rate and multiple fetal activities in 27 healthy pregnant women at 38 to 40 weeks of gestation. We ultrasonically identified gross body movements, breathing movements and micturition. Analysis of fetal heart rate allowed us to distinguish two different patterns of fetal behaviour: active and quiet phases. The frequency distribution of the analysed fetal events was significantly different in these two phases. These data suggest that a complete biophysical profile of the fetus is effective in differentiating behavioural states and may improve the predictive accuracy of fetal heart rate analysis alone.