Continuous Abnormal Fetal Breathing in the Human Fetus Associated with Severe Perinatal Asphyxia

We present a case of continuous abnormal fetal breathing which was associated with a severely asphyxiated neonate. The period of apnea was fixed at approximately 3 s and the breathing activity consisted of a single inspiratory and expiratory movement. The depth of each breath appeared similar. No movement or tone was observed. This “picket fence” fetal breathing pattern, which has been described in fetal lambs as a preterminal event, has not been reported previously in humans.