REGISTRATION OF FETAL BEHAVIOR IN MULTIPLE PREGNANCY

Multiple pregnancies require intensive monitoring of the fetal conditi on, in particular during the last months of pregnancy. Recording fetal behaviour offers a possibility of investigating the neuromotor develo pment, in twin pregnancies even behavioural patterns of fetuses of the same gestational age and ''environment'' may be compared. In 25 prima rily uncomplicated twin pregnancies we simultaneously recorded antepar tum FHR and FM patterns in twins younger than 36 completed gestational weeks over a period of at least one hour via a new device for simulta neous registration of FM and FHR in twin pregnancies. According to our longitudinal observations we have defined a special terminology for c omparing the behaviour of twins considering gestational age, differenc es of FHR or FM patterns and the continuity of these patterns througho ut gestation. To our opinion this will open a new field not only for c linical diagnostics in complicated twin pregnancies but also for devel opmental research of the possible impact on the further neurological d evelopment of multiple fetuses. Human behaviour in its early stage may be compared considering even ''interfetal communication''.