Fetal yawning.
Incidental fetal yawning movements can rarely be observed during real-time ultrasonographic examination. In this report we document repetitive fetal yawning movements in a 27-week fetus over a 7-min period. Each episode lasted for 4-6 s, and the intervals between them varied from 21 to 195 s. This case demonstrated that fetal yawning, a complex involuntary behavioral reflex, is present in its full extent during the second half of pregnancy.
Sepulveda
W
W
Centre for Fetal Care, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital, London, UK.
Mangiamarchi
M
M
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000502:physiology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D015000:Yawning / Q000502:physiology*