A preliminary investigation is reported into episodes of fetal jerking movements of regular periodicity, which were detected in about 8% of mothers by palpation or from the maternal history. In two cases, a recording of regular fetal movements was obtained. They occurred in episodes lasting 0.5–15 min, usually at a frequency of 10–30/min, before or during labour. The movements consisted of jerks of the fetal trunk, and are likely to be respiratory in origin. Regular fetal jerking movements (fetal Ê»gasps’) may be a respiratory sign of fetal distress, especially during labour.