Researchers at the University of Durham and the University of
Lancaster conducted a study that was later published on November
21 on PLOS ONE. In the study, they concluded that even fetuses
yawn. It is hoped that this study information can one day be
used to understand more on the purpose of yawning in the fetus
and how the yawning behavior changes through the different
growth stages. In their study, researchers studied 15 pregnant
women who were pregnant for the first time. Over a period of
weeks, beginning at the 24-week mark, they began to take 3D
videos of the 7 female fetuses and 8 male fetuses. Videos were
recorded once a month, up until the 36-week mark. The study
found that on average, the 24-week fetuses yawned around 6 times
per hour. Over the weeks, the amount of yawning slowed down and
eventually stopped completely at 36 weeks. To record the amount
of yawns, researchers monitored the faces of the fetuses. They
were able to distinguish between facial opening to prepare for
breast feeding and yawnin