Effect of Intravenous Glucose Infusion on Human Fetal Breathing Activity

Abstract

This study demonstrated that the bolus administration of 25 g of glucose, intravenously, to healthy women with uncomplicated pregnancies at 32 to 34 weeks' gestation resulted in increased fetal breathing movements. Fetal breathing activity was detected 98.5% of the time if one made recordings for 20 minutes during the first and second hour following the bolus glucose administration. This approach may prove a useful clinical method of assessing the importance of fetal breathing movements as a measurement of fetal health in high-risk pregnancies.