[Spontaneous and induced fetal movement activity in the 2d trimester of pregnancy].

During routine screening in the first half of pregnancy the authors evaluated in 3446 foetuses the incidence of spontaneous movements and movements after their attempted induction by movement of the uterus, when no spontaneous movements were recorded during examination. The examinations were made by means of a rotation probe 3.5 MHz of a Sonoline 2 apparatus (Siemens) always between 7.30 and 11.30 a.m. It was revealed that: 1. Spontaneous motor activity of the foetus depends significantly ot the foetal age; during the period between the 12th and 16th week it was recorded in 94.4%, in the 17th to 21st week it declines to 87.4% and during the 22nd-25th week it rises again to 94.7%. 2. The number of foetuses where movements were recorded after the first movement of the uterus depends also significantly on foetal age: in the 12th-16th week it is 57.5% of the number of foetuses without spontaneous movement, in the 17th to 21st week 66.3% and in the 22nd to 25th week 66.7%. 3. On the basis of preliminary work it is not possible to decide whether the movements observed after movement of the uterus are spontaneous or induced, however, if attempts to induce movements would imply only prolonged examination and recording of spontaneous activity, it is justified. 4. In one foetus where we did not observe spontaneous activity nor movements after movement of the uterus we revealed during a check-up examination rapidly developing polycystic kidneys. 5. Observation of foetal movements during screening is not time consuming and should become a matter of routine.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)