Ultrasound evaluation of the development of fetal gastric function

Fetal gastric contraction waves were observed with ultrasonography in normal fetuses to evaluate the developmwnt of the fetal gastric function. The fetal gastric contraction waves were detected in some cases as early as 16 weeks of gestation and in all cases by 22 weeks of gestation. The waves of peristalsis, which standed out to the lumen of the stomach appeared at the corupus and moved to the pylotic part. These waves tended to form a group with the progression of the gestational age. The interval of each peristaltic wave within the group was constant with a interval time of 20-26 seconds throuthout the pregnancy. The mean duration time of the group pf peristalsis invreased until 32-33 weeks of gestation but did not increase significantly thereafter. These results suggest that the maturation of fetal gastric function is mostly completed by 32-33 weeks of gestation.