The effect of methadone treatment on the quantity and quality of human fetal movement.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of daily maternal methadone maintenance treatment on the quality and quantity of fetal movement.

Methods: At 34-37 weeks gestation, real-time ultrasound recordings were obtained from 17 methadone treated and 17 non-opioid-dependent mothers at two time points relative to the methadone mothers' daily dose of methadone. The first observation was just prior to the mother taking her daily dose (Time A) and the second was 1-h postdose (Time B).