The effect of intravenous glucose on human fetal breathing measured by Doppler ultrasound.

Fetal breathing movements were recorded from 24 normal fetuses using the continuous Doppler ultrasound method. This system has been improved by the addition of a microprocessor which facilitates the accurate determination of breath to breath intervals. A control group of twelve patients in late pregnancy received 2 ml sterile water. By comparison the administration of 25 g intravenous glucose to a similar group of 12 patients caused an increase in the proportion of time during which fetal breathing was present from 18.2 +/- 5.8 per cent (mean +/- SE) to 67.0 +/- 6.3 per cent after 25 minutes (p < 0.001). There was no significant change in the rate or variability of breathing.