Every pregnant woman attaches great importance to her fetus, so pregnant mothers also attach great importance to examinations. Every examination hopes to be normal, but many pregnant women can still detect various conditions of the fetus, such as fetal distress. I believe many people have not heard of this term. Today, the editor will introduce the early manifestations of fetal distress.
Early manifestations of fetal distress
1. Abnormal fetal heart rate
The normal fetal heart rate is between 110 and 160 beats per minute. When the fetus has hypoxemia, it can stimulate the fetal adrenal gland to produce catecholamines, manifested as an increase in fetal heart rate. The fetal heart rate is 160 beats per minute, and if it persists above 180 beats per minute, it indicates that the fetus is experiencing intrauterine distress. If acidosis continues to worsen, myocardial contractility decreases and fetal heart rate slows down, which can be below 110 beats per minute.
2. Abnormal fetal movement
Fetal movement is an indirect method for monitoring the integrity and functional status of the fetal central nervous system, but it is related to the cognitive abilities of pregnant women themselves. Under normal circumstances, fetal movements should be counted 3-5 times per hour in late pregnancy. Due to the lack of unified standards for low fetal movement and the absence of clear boundaries for excessive fetal movement, it is difficult to accurately count pregnant women. Single abnormal fetal movement cannot yet be used as a diagnostic criterion for fetal distress, but it should be taken seriously.
3. Decreased pH value of fetal scalp blood
A normal fetal scalp blood pH value is above 7.25. If the pH value is below 7.2, it indicates acidosis. But this examination is invasive, the cervix must be dilated, the membranes have ruptured, and cannot be repeated. There is also a risk of infection, which limits its clinical application.
What is fetal distress?
Fetal distress refers to the phenomenon of hypoxia in the uterus, which endangers the health and life of the fetus. It mainly occurs during labor and can also occur in the later stages of pregnancy. Fetal intrauterine distress is a common cause of perinatal death and neurological sequelae in newborns, accounting for the leading cause of perinatal death.
Fetal distress can be divided into acute fetal distress and chronic fetal distress.
Acute fetal distress is mainly manifested by changes in fetal heart rate. The normal fetal heart rate is between 120-160 beats per minute, but in fetal distress, the fetal heart rate starts at 160 beats per minute, or even 180 beats per minute, and then slows down to less than 120 beats per minute, or even less than 100 beats per minute. In the early stages of distress, fetal movements are frequent, then weaken and decrease in frequency, and eventually disappear. Pregnant women can determine the condition of their fetus in the uterus by monitoring fetal heart rate and counting fetal movements. If there is excessive or insufficient fetal movement, attention should be paid and timely medical treatment should be sought.
The above is an introduction to the early manifestations of fetal distress. I believe everyone has understood that as parents, we all hope our children are healthy. Therefore, women need to protect their bodies more during pregnancy. Only when the mother is healthy can the child develop normally. Moreover, we need to pay attention to our diet and avoid foods that affect the fetus.
