Biomaterial Database

The association between fetal body movements, eye movements and heart rate patterns in pregnancies between 25 and 30 weeks of gestation. 1990

A P Drogtrop, and R Ubels, and J G Nijhuis

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Fetal eye movements, fetal body movements and fetal heart rate patterns were studied in healthy fetuses between 25 and 30 weeks of gestation in 21 recordings with a mean recording time of 83.5 min. In contrast with the older fetus, prolonged periods of absence as well as presence of fetal eye or body movements were uncommon. Especially absence of body movements for more than 15 min is extremely rare at this age. These findings emphasize that for the interpretation of fetal biophysical tests, gestational age should be taken into account. A linkage was demonstrated between fetal eye movements and fetal heart rate pattern and between fetal body movements and fetal heart rate pattern, but not between fetal eye movements and fetal body movements. The existence of fetal behavioural states could not be demonstrated.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D005133	Eye Movements	Voluntary or reflex-controlled movements of the eye.	Eye Movement,Movement, Eye,Movements, Eye
D005260	Female		Females
D005324	Fetal Movement	Physical activity of the FETUS in utero. Gross or fine fetal body movement can be monitored by the mother, PALPATION, or ULTRASONOGRAPHY.	Fetal Activity,Fetal Activities,Fetal Movements
D005865	Gestational Age	The age of the conceptus, beginning from the time of FERTILIZATION. In clinical obstetrics, the gestational age is often estimated from the onset of the last MENSTRUATION which is about 2 weeks before OVULATION and fertilization. It is also estimated to begin from fertilization, estrus, coitus, or artificial insemination.	Embryologic Age,Fetal Maturity, Chronologic,Chronologic Fetal Maturity,Fetal Age,Maturity, Chronologic Fetal,Age, Embryologic,Age, Fetal,Age, Gestational,Ages, Embryologic,Ages, Fetal,Ages, Gestational,Embryologic Ages,Fetal Ages,Gestational Ages
D006340	Heart Rate, Fetal	The heart rate of the FETUS. The normal range at term is between 120 and 160 beats per minute.	Fetal Heart Rate,Fetal Heart Rates,Heart Rates, Fetal,Rate, Fetal Heart,Rates, Fetal Heart
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man