Signs and Symptoms
Generally it is preferable to describe specific signs in lieu of declaring fetal distress that include:
- Decreased movement felt by the mother
- Meconium in the amniotic fluid ("meconium stained liquor")
- Non-reassuring patterns seen on cardiotocography:
- increased or decreased fetal heart rate (tachycardia and bradycardia), especially during and after a contraction
- decreased variability in the fetal heart rate
- late decelerations
- Biochemical signs, assessed by collecting a small sample of baby's blood from a scalp prick through the open cervix in labor
- fetal metabolic acidosis
- elevated fetal blood lactate levels (from fetal scalp blood testing) indicating the baby has a lactic acidosis
Some of these signs are more reliable predictors of fetal compromise than others. For example, cardiotocography can give high false positive rates, even when interpreted by highly experienced medical personnel. Metabolic acidosis is a more reliable predictor, but is not always available.
Read more about this topic: Fetal Distress
Famous quotes containing the words signs and, signs and/or symptoms:
“The LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with a terrifying display of power, and with signs and wonders; and he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey.”
—Bible: Hebrew, Deuteronomy 26:8.
“What a devil hast thou to do with the time of the day? Unless hours were cups of sack, and minutes capons, and clocks the
tongues of bawds, and dials the signs of leaping-houses, and the blessed sun himself a fair hot wench in flame-colored
taffeta, I see no reason why thou shouldst be so superfluous
to demand the time of the day.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“Protest, evasion, merry distrust, and a delight in mockery are symptoms of health: everything unconditional belongs in pathology.”
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)