Abnormal fetal behavioural state regulation in a case of high maternal alcohol intake during pregnancy.
In the near term human fetus disturbed behavioural state organization has been found in cases of intra-uterine growth retardation or maternal type-1-diabetes. The present case report describes abnormal fetal behavioural state organization found in combination with maternal alcohol abuse during pregnancy. The abnormalities included frequent interruptions of the periods of concordant association of 2F-parameters, reflected by a high proportion of no-coincidence, and spontaneous awakenings (State 4F), always following stable periods of State 1F. The latter phenomenon was not found thus far by us or others, neither in normal nor in complicated pregnancies. After birth normal state organization was found. It is suggested that the abnormalities in fetal behaviour might have been due to maternal alcohol abuse, whereas a possible withdrawal effect might have occurred in utero.
D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005133:Eye Movements; D005260:Female; D005324:Fetal Movement; D005333:Fetus / Q000502:physiology*; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications