During pregnancy and delivery, it is important to carry out adequate monitoring and follow-up, so that the medical personnel verify that everything is in order, and so that they can identify the presence of any complications.
One of the most serious complications that can occur during childbirth, and that can even appear from pregnancy although less seriously, is fetal distress . We tell you what it is, what its symptoms are and what causes it.
What is fetal distress
Fetal distress, also called loss of fetal well-being or fetal distress, is a dangerous complication of delivery in which the baby does not receive the necessary oxygen , and which could cause irreparable damage to brain tissue, which is why it is important that doctors act quickly, taking the necessary steps to protect the baby’s health.
Symptoms that could indicate that the baby is experiencing fetal distress are:
- Worrisome changes in the baby’s heart rate , such as an increase or decrease, especially during and after a contraction.
- Presence of meconium in the amniotic fluid .
- Decreased movements of the baby felt by the mother.
- Fetal acidosis
Depending on the severity of each case and what the doctors analyze, it will be decided what to do to protect the health and life of the baby . In some, it will be enough for the mother to change her position or to give her oxygen so that the delivery can continue vaginally, but in severe cases or if the situation does not improve, an emergency cesarean section should be performed.
Types of fetal distress
Although it is more common to hear or know about this complication during childbirth, as we have mentioned, it is also possible that it occurs since pregnancy. Therefore, we would be talking about two types of fetal distress: acute and chronic .
Acute fetal distress is considered a medical emergency, since it occurs suddenly and during labor, when the lack of oxygenation of the baby occurs abruptly. In these cases, the baby must be delivered as soon as possible, either by emergency cesarean section or vaginally, under constant medical supervision.
On the other hand, chronic fetal distress occurs gradually during pregnancy, which is not considered an emergency or emergency, since by occurring progressively, the baby adapts to the conditions in which it is found. In these cases, an attempt will be made to correct the situation that is causing it, to allow the baby to continue maturing until it reaches a healthy development and size for its birth.
Causes and risk factors
Fetal distress can occur for a number of reasons :
- Injuries or alterations in the placenta , such as placental abruption.
- Some circulatory problem in the mother that alters the quality or quantity of blood exchanged with the future baby, such as high blood pressure.
- Delayed intrauterine growth.
- Umbilical cord problems , such as a knot, a loop of the cord around the baby’s neck, short cord, or prolapsed cord.
- Fetal problems: fetal anemia and heart abnormalities (such as arrhythmias).
- Maternal fever during childbirth.
- Compression of the vena cava due to the mother’s birthing posture.
- Infections
In addition, there are some factors that could increase the possibility of fetal distress . Among them are the following:
- The mother’s age : be under 20 and over 35.
- Being the first childbirth or having had many previous deliveries.
- That the mother suffers from hypertension or diabetes .
- Having a history of fetal death, prematurity, or malformations.
- That the delivery occurs in the weeks after the expected due date.
- Uterine malformations.
Prevention
Because fetal distress usually occurs suddenly, it is not something that can really be avoided. However, if we comply with some of the causes (such as circulatory problems or problems with the umbilical cord) or risk factors (such as having diabetes or having a uterine malformation), we must be more aware of the evolution of our pregnancy , to detect it in time.
After birth, like all babies, the Apgar test will be done, which is the first assessment of the newborn and one of the two tests that can guide us about the severity of fetal distress . The second test is the cord pH, which is more objective, since it measures the acidity of the baby’s umbilical cord blood.
Although thanks to technology today it is more likely that the baby did not get to present a serious case of fetal distress , if so, the sequelae may be immediate or manifest in the first years of life, and these will depend on the area of the brain that has been damaged.
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