Behavioral states and state-related heart rate and motor activity patterns in the newborn infant and the fetus ante partum. A comparative study. III. Analysis of sleep state-related motor activity patterns.

Evaluation of fetal movements revealed a striking difference of motor activity during assumed quiet sleep and active sleep in the fetus. Furthermore, motor activity was found to be enhanced in post-term fetuses. Consequences for the methods of fetal acceleration determination (FAD) and daily fetal movement count (DFMC) are discussed.