Normal standards for fetal neurobehavioral developments – longitudinal quantification by four-dimensional sonography

Aim: To construct normal standards for fetal neurobehavioral development using longitudinal observations through all trimesters by four-dimensional sonography. Subject and methods: A group of 100 healthy normal singleton pregnancies were recruited for longitudinal 4D US examinations to evaluate fetal neurodevelopmental parameters between 7 to 40 weeks' gestation. Variables of maternal and fetal characteristics including gestational age, eight fetal movements patterns in the first trimester and 14 parameters of fetal movement and fetal facial expression patterns recorded thereafter for the construction of fetal neurological charts. Results: Measurement of 7 parameters in the first trimester and 11 parameters in the second and third trimesters correlated with gestational age (P