Patterns of gross fetal body movements over 24-hour observation intervals during the last 10 weeks of pregnancy.

Continuous measurements of gross fetal body movements were made with an ultrasonic real-time scanner for periods of 24 hours in 31 women. Fetuses made 0 to 130 gross fetal body movements per hour which accounted for 0% to 50% of the time. At 38 to 39 weeks' gestational age, fetuses demonstrated a peak in activity between 2100 and 0100 hours. The longest period of complete absence of gross fetal body movements was 75 minutes. Maternal meals and glucose concentrations did not influence gross fetal body movements.