Braxton-Hicks Contractions and Fetal Breathing Movements

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Abstract
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.

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