FETAL BREATHING IN LABOR

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  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 56  (1) , 35-38
Abstract
Fetal breathing during labor was investigated in a 3 part study of 42 normal singleton pregnancies. In the 1st part fetal breathing movements (FBM) were compared antenatally and during labor in 22 patients to determine whether FBM persisted during labor in fetuses in whom these movements were demonstrated antenatally. In the 2nd part a double-blind trial was conducted on the responsiveness of fetal breathing in labor to maternal glucose infusion in 12 patients. In the 3rd part the influence of artificial rupture of the membranes (ARM) to induce labor was examined in 8 patients. Fetuses spent 36% of their time making breathing movements antenatally but this decreased to less than 1% during labor. Fetal trunk movements decreased during labor but not significantly. Fetal breathing and trunk movements were not stimulated by maternal glucose infusion. Fetal breathing but not trunk movements were significantly inhibited by ARM prior to the onset of labor. Cessation of fetal breathing in labor is normal, but the cause of this behavior change was not positively identified.

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