OBJECTIVE: Ultrasonographic assessment of fetal movements at 14 to 16 weeks of gestation before and after maternal oral intake of carbohydrate. DESIGN: Thirty consecutive healthy pregnant women between 14 and 16 weeks of gestation were scanned transvaginally. Real-time ultrasound recordings of 20 min duration were performed in the fasting state and after an oral intake of 110 g of glucose. The number of fetal movements, body and limb movements and breathing movements were evaluated. Fetal movements were quantified using a digital chronometer, and the percentage of time spent moving and the rate of movements per minute were then calculated. Data was statistically analyzed using the simple and Wilcoxon paired t-test. RESULTS: Absolute number of fetal movements, body movements, rotation movements, time spent moving and rate of movements per minute showed a statistically significant increase after maternal intake of carbohydrate (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Maternal oral intake of 110 g of carbohydrate significantly increases fetal movements at 14 to 16 weeks of gestation, thus allowing better ultrasonographic viewing of the fetus. Copyright 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
OBJECTIVE: Ultrasonographic assessment of fetal movements at 14 to 16 weeks of gestation before and after maternal oral intake of carbohydrate. DESIGN: Thirty consecutive healthy pregnant women between 14 and 16 weeks of gestation were scanned transvaginally. Real-time ultrasound recordings of 20 min duration were performed in the fasting state and after an oral intake of 110 g of glucose. The number of fetal movements, body and limb movements and breathing movements were evaluated. Fetal movements were quantified using a digital chronometer, and the percentage of time spent moving and the rate of movements per minute were then calculated. Data was statistically analyzed using the simple and Wilcoxon paired t-test. RESULTS: Absolute number of fetal movements, body movements, rotation movements, time spent moving and rate of movements per minute showed a statistically significant increase after maternal intake of carbohydrate (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Maternal oral intake of 110 g of carbohydrate significantly increases fetal movements at 14 to 16 weeks of gestation, thus allowing better ultrasonographic viewing of the fetus. Copyright 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.