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.
Centre for Fetal Care, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital, London, UK.
W
W
Sepulveda
M
M
Mangiamarchi
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*