Effects of intravenous glucose injections on human fetal breathing movements and gross fetal body movements at 38 to 40 weeks' gestational age.

Fetal breathing movements and gross fetal body movements were studied subsequent to the intravenous injection of either 25 gm of glucose or an equal volume of normal saline solution in 10 healthy women with uncomplicated pregnancies at 38 to 40 weeks' gestation. The incidence of fetal breathing increased from 17.5% during the control period to 54.9% after glucose injection. Neither glucose nor saline solution had any effect on the incidence of gross fetal body movements. All fetuses made some breathing movements during any 15-minute interval between 30 and 75 minutes after glucose injection. These data suggest a useful strategy for clinical measurement of fetal breathing activity near term.