What Is Fetal Distress?

Fetal distress is a rather poorly defined medical term that refers to what happens when an unborn baby starts to have problems while the mother is in labor. In most cases, fetal distress involves a lack of air flow to the fetus which is called fetal hypoxia. While most babies are delivered without any complications from fetal distress, there are instances when it results in such conditions as cerebral palsy, seizures and mental retardation.

Function

• There are a number of situations that can result in fetal distress. One that is common is when the mother begins to experience contractions during labor and the blood flow to the placenta is suddenly cut off. The placenta envelopes the fetus and the baby derives nutrients from it. During contractions sometimes the tightening of muscles pushes against the umbilical cord through which nutrients and blood pass, causing fetal distress.

Types

• Fetal distress can be caused in other ways. Infections can result in this condition as can what is known as a placental abruption, where the fetus separates from the placenta too early in the labor. If the umbilical cord is displaced during the labor, known as a prolapsed umbilical cord, the fetus will lack nutrients until the problem is corrected or it is born. Low blood pressure during the birthing process on the part of the mother will affect the fetus as well, with fetal distress a possibility.

Size

• Some of the signs of fetal distress are a slow heart rate of less than 100 beats per minute which is termed brachycardia. The opposite, tachycardia, is a heartbeat of more than 180 beats in a minute, usually the result of the mother having a fever. Doctors will pay attention to this number, knowing that the average fetal heart rate is between 120 and 160 beats per minute. Fetal acidosis is looked for to detect fetal distress, which means that there is a buildup of too much acid in the baby's bloodstream.

Prevention/Solution

• When signs of fetal distress are seen, the baby needs to be delivered as quickly as possible. One solution to this is a surgical procedure known as a Cesarean-section, which removes the baby through an incision in the mother's abdomen. In other instances, inducing labor with medications quickens the delivery. An episiotomy is performed by making an incision in the region from the anus to the vagina to allow the delivery to occur faster; this is another option. Sometimes the doctor will employ a suction cup that he can place on the baby's head when it appears. It can help pull the baby down the birth canal in a vacuum extraction delivery.

Considerations

• The fetus's heart rate can be closely watched by use of electronic fetal heart monitoring. The heart monitor uses ultrasound to detect the motion of the fetal heart. The baby's heart rate can then be determined and it will be watched by a nurse during the delivery. The nurse will be able to take into account any deviations of the heart rate from reactions to contractions and let the doctors know if there is cause for alarm.