The association between fetal body movements, eye movements and heart rate patterns in pregnancies between 25 and 30 weeks of gestation

Fetal eye movements, fetal body movements and fetal heart rate patterns were studied in healthy fetuses between 25 and 30 weeks of gestation in 21 recordings with a mean recording time of 83.5 min. In contrast with the older fetus, prolonged periods of absence as well as presence of fetal eye or body movements were uncommon. Especially absence of body movements for more than 15 min is extremely rare at this age. These findings emphasize that for the interpretation of fetal biophysical tests, gestational age should be taken into account. A linkage was demonstrated between fetal eye movements and fetal heart rate pattern and between fetal body movements and fetal heart rate pattern, but not between fetal eye movements and fetal body movements. The existence of fetal behavioural states could not be demonstrated.