Appendix 3
Movement and Learning Patterns of the Unborn Child and The Development of the Senses

 

Breathing Movements

 

Timing

Source
First seen.
8th week after conception Roodenburg, p 32
A single, large displacement of the diaphragm is sometimes similar to a sigh. 8th week after conception Nijhuis/de Vries, p 6
First seen. 8-9 1/2 weeks after conception Nijhuis/de Vries, p 5
Observed in 10 of 12 fetuses studied, with a median frequence of about 30 breathing movements per hour. 9th week after conception de Vries (1985), p 106
Observed in 12 of 12 fetuses studied, with a median frequency of about 60 breathing movements per hour. 11th week after conception de Vries (1985), p 106
The median breathing movement rate was 208 per hour in 12 fetuses studied. 17th week after conception de Vries (1985) p 105
The rate of breathing movements was much higher during the second hour after the mother's breakfast or lunch than during the third hour. 20th - 22nd weeks after conception de Vries (1987), p 337
Breathing movements occurred most often right after the mother's meal at noon. 20th -22nd weeks after conception de Vries (1987), p 337
The frequency of breathing movements changes during the day. In a study of 10 fetuses, such movements increased from a median of 2% of the observation time in the morning to 12% in the afternoon, and then fell to 11% in the evening. 20th-22nd weeks after conception de Vries (1987), p 337
A significant increase in fetal breathing occurred after giving glucose to the mother. 22nd week after conception Nijhuis/Visser, p 19


 


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