The variability of fetal breathing movements in normal human fetuses at term.

With the use of a B-scan phase-locked tracking system, 108 observations of fetal breathing were performed on 97 normal antenatal patients at term. One hundred thirty-three recorded segments of fetal breathing movements were obtained. Breath-to-breath variability was analyzed in 79 segments and expressed as a coefficient of variability. The mean coefficient of variability was 28.6% +/- 13.2%, and a histogram plot revealed a normal distribution. All fetuses had normal antepartum testing and all Apgar scores and neonatal courses were normal. The potential application of human fetal breathing variability as a test for fetal health is discussed.