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Influence of maternal carbohydrate intake on fetal movements at 14 to 16 weeks of gestation
Author(s) -
Goldstein Israel,
Makhoul Imad R.,
Nisman Daniel,
Tamir Ada,
Escalante Gerardo,
ItskovitzEldor Joseph
Publication year - 2003
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.518
Subject(s) - gestation , fetus , medicine , fetal movement , ultrasound , pregnancy , endocrinology , biology , genetics , radiology
Objective Ultrasonographic assessment of fetal movements at 14 to 16 weeks of gestation before and after maternal oral intake of carbohydrate. Design Thirty consecutive healthy pregnant women between 14 and 16 weeks of gestation were scanned transvaginally. Real‐time ultrasound recordings of 20 min duration were performed in the fasting state and after an oral intake of 110 g of glucose. The number of fetal movements, body and limb movements and breathing movements were evaluated. Fetal movements were quantified using a digital chronometer, and the percentage of time spent moving and the rate of movements per minute were then calculated. Data was statistically analyzed using the simple and Wilcoxon paired t ‐test. Results Absolute number of fetal movements, body movements, rotation movements, time spent moving and rate of movements per minute showed a statistically significant increase after maternal intake of carbohydrate (p < 0.0001). Conclusions Maternal oral intake of 110 g of carbohydrate significantly increases fetal movements at 14 to 16 weeks of gestation, thus allowing better ultrasonographic viewing of the fetus. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.