Braxton-Hicks contractions and fetal breathing movements.
Fetal breathing movements were observed for periods of approximately 100 minutes in 10 women at 36-42 weeks' gestation. Simultaneous recordings of uterine activity were made using an external tocograph. Fetal breathing movements were present at the onset of 82 Braxton-Hicks' contractions. There was a significant change in the rate of fetal breathing with a trough before the acme of the contraction, followed by a peak as uterine activity decreased. It is suggested that these changes are related to pressure on the fetus during the contraction and probably are unrelated to changes in fetal oxygenation.
D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000517:prevention & control; D011247:Pregnancy; D012119:Respiration; D014590:Uterine Contraction