Fetal and Neonatal Hand Movement

Abstract

Background and Purpose. Fetal movement occurs early in human gestation and can be observed by ultrasound imaging. This was a descriptive study of fetal hand movements from 14 weeks of gestation to postnatal day 1. The purpose of the study was to identify specific hand movements and their developmental trends in order to better understand low-risk human development.Subjects. Twenty-one women with low-risk pregnancies were identified from a university obstetrics clinic. Their fetuses or neonates were the focus of this study.Methods. Ultrasound imaging was used at 14, 20, 26, 32, and 37 weeks of gestation, and videotaping was used at 1 day after birth. Between 12 and 16 minutes of usable imaging was obtained at each fetal age, and 24 minutes of videotape was collected neonatally. The duration and frequency of 7 hand movements were determined and reliably scored. Nonparametric analyses were used.Results. Fetal and neonatal movements did not appear to be random, and they appeared to be directed or aimed at specific targets. Fetal movement was variable throughout gestation. Differences occurred between fetal and neonatal data. Durations of certain hand movements provided data that exhibited some developmental trends, such as decreasing linear trends and regression-typeU curves. Fetal movements to or at the head and face and the observations scored at 32 weeks of gestation were the best predictors of neonatal movement.Conclusion and Discussion. Results suggest the potential for fetal movement to be observed and scored reliably, with scores used to further our understanding of the development of human movement.

Do Human Fetuses Anticipate Self‐Oriented Actions? A Study by Four‐Dimensional (4D) Ultrasonography

“…We demonstrated that human fetuses bring their hands toward and make contact with their faces. This supported the findings of previous studies (e.g., Kurjak et al, 2003;Kurjak et al, 2004;Sparling, Van Tol, & Chescheir, 1999). In addition, we found two noteworthy characteristics with regard to the fetal HMC anticipation.…”

“…Although further studies are required to answer this question, several studies have produced related data. For example, using a different technology (2D), Sparling et al (1999) counted the frequencies of fetal "hand to/at/near mouth" movements from 14 to 37 weeks. They found that the frequency of movements decreased after 26 weeks of gestation.…”

“…On the other hand, the fetal arm movements occurred 3.9 times on an average during a 20-min observation period. Sparling et al (1999) also counted the frequencies of "hand to/at/near mouth" movements in 1-day-old neonates in addition to those of the fetuses. They found that although the frequencies decreased in fetuses after 26 weeks of gestation (approximately 0.2 timeshin), the neonatal arm movements suddenly increased (1.2 timeshin; U-shape change [Thelen & Smith, 19941).…”

Discrimination of Biomechanically Possible and Impossible Hand Movements at Birth

“…In the uterus, fetuses acquire extensive sensory-motor experience of their hands, by exploring themselves and the uterine environment (Piontelli, 2010;Zoia et al, 2007). During the third trimester of gestation they are capable of making full hand closures and grasping their own fingers as well as the umbilical cord (Jakobovits, 2009;Kurjak et al, 2004;Kurjak et al, 2005;Sparling, Van Tol, & Chescheir, 1999). After birth, infants spend a great amount of their waking time looking at their own hands (White, Castle, & Held, 1964), which fall within their limited visual field.…”

An Attempt to Introduce Neurological Test for Fetus Based on 3D and 4D Sonography

“…Only a few studies are available on fetal movement patterns during the second trimester. 15,[35][36][37][38][39][40] De Vries and colleagues studied fetal movements from 20 and from 24 postmenstrual weeks onward. 15 During the second trimester of pregnancy, the incidence of body movements increases considerably.…”