Fetal behavior at 30 to 32 weeks of gestation

Coordinated behavior states with concomitant variation in cyclic patterns of heart rate and of eye and gross body movements are present in the near term fetus. As in the newborn infant, there is conflicting evidence concerning their relationship at earlier gestational ages. In the present study 120-min recordings were made of fetal heart rate, eye, and gross body movements in 11 healthy nulliparous women who were 30 to 32 wk pregnant. From the presented data it is concluded that at this gestational age heart rate variation and eye and gross body movements are not independent variables and that coordination among the cyclic patterns of these variables starts well before 36 wk.