title: Approach to the fetal movements: a pilot study of six cases.
abstract: The aim of this study was to verify developmental aspects of fetal movements through 2D ultrasonic recordings of normal fetuses, product of low risk pregnancies. A qualitative analysis of the several types of movements was performed in a sample of six fetuses, each four weeks, from 12th to 40th gestational week. In the close period to 20th gestational week was registered the largest prevalence of movements. It was observed that certain movements disappear, and others stay or appear through period. Complex movements (breathing, deglutition and suction) were more frequent after the 20th week than before. In spite of the fetuses have presented a general motor pattern, individual variations were observed. These findings are in consonance with literature, toward the existence of certain motor patterns, with emergence and disappearance of the several types of movements according to the gestational age, and individual variations that suggest specificity.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine at Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo University, 14048-900 Ribeirão Preto SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Theodolinda Mestriner
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Stocche
authors.forename: Carolina Araújo Rodrigues
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Funayama
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005323:Fetal Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005324:Fetal Movement / Q000502:physiology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011247:Pregnancy; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal