Signs of intrauterine fetal hypoxia. Intrauterine fetal hypoxia - causes, symptoms and consequences. Why is intrauterine hypoxia dangerous?

During pregnancy, any mother worries about the health of her unborn baby and wants him to be born on time and strong. It often happens that at a routine appointment with a doctor, a mother hears a word such as “hypoxia.” What is “fetal hypoxia”, how can it be avoided and how can it be cured?

Intrauterine fetal hypoxia– this is a lack of oxygen for the normal development of the fetus. Simply put, the baby inside the mother has nothing to breathe, or more precisely, its not yet formed organs have nowhere to get oxygen for formation, and if the organs are already formed, then there is no way for them to function normally.

Hypoxia can occur both in the early stages of pregnancy and in its last weeks. It can also become an obstacle to the successful course of labor during labor. If you ask the question of why fetal hypoxia is dangerous, it depends on the degree of hypoxia, its type: chronic or acute, the timing of diagnosis and compliance with the treatment prescribed by the doctor.

Sometimes, in the absence of monitoring of a pregnant woman (if she is not registered), in case of untimely diagnosis and treatment of this pathology, prolonged oxygen starvation occurs - chronic fetal hypoxia. The consequences of chronic fetal hypoxia are: violations of the formation of fetal organs and embryo development.

At later stages, this pathology causes damage to the central nervous system, a violation of physical development, which is characterized by growth retardation, poor adaptation of the child to existence outside the womb. Children born after chronic hypoxia inside the womb experience poor appetite, anxiety and disorders of the autonomic nervous system.

Acute fetal hypoxia

This type of hypoxia can occur at any stage of pregnancy and during labor. In this case, the diagnosis will be “acute fetal hypoxia.” This diagnosis does not predispose to any therapeutic intervention. With this diagnosis, the woman is immediately put under emergency surgery to remove the fetus in order to save his life. Every minute counts here. Prolonged lack of oxygen leads to the death of brain cells, consequently, to fetal asphyxia. The severity of the consequences of acute hypoxia is assessed using the Apgar scale immediately in the delivery room.

In general, fetal hypoxia can lead to consequences that will not greatly affect its life and development; it will be able to outgrow them by 5-6 years of age. Or, after fetal hypoxia during pregnancy, the born baby will struggle for life for a long time, since its organs did not receive proper development in the womb and will need treatment throughout life.

Causes of fetal hypoxia

There can be many reasons for hypoxia. Intrauterine chronic hypoxia can be caused by the following reasons:

maternal diseases (respiratory tract diseases, cardiovascular diseases, blood diseases);
diseases of the fetus itself (Rhesus conflict, infections, congenital defects, intracranial injury);
impaired blood flow due to prolapse of the umbilical cord, compression of the umbilical cord during breech presentation, entanglement of the umbilical cord around the limbs;
severe and prolonged toxicosis is unpleasant and difficult for the mother, and this can affect the baby by hypoxia;
with polyhydramnios or multiple pregnancies, babies may not have enough oxygen for normal existence and development, then additional measures should be taken to help them;
postmaturity can also cause oxygen starvation of the fetus;
In addition, all pregnant women are told every day not to get upset, think only about good things and avoid stressful situations. Firstly, the baby himself tenses up when the mother is upset, and, secondly, during stress, the mother breathes less often, which disrupts the flow of the required amount of oxygen to the fetus;
acute hypoxia occurs when the umbilical cord of the fetus is tightly and repeatedly entwined;
premature placental abruption, rapid labor or, on the contrary, prolonged labor, nodes on the umbilical cord that prevent the flow of blood to the fetus, uterine rupture and much more;
the use of painkillers during the birth process can also cause acute hypoxia; →
prolonged presence of the fetal head in the pelvic area leads to oxygen starvation.

Hypoxia of the fetus and newborn

The above reasons are associated not only with fetal hypoxia, but also with asphyxia of the newborn. A baby is considered a newborn in the first week after birth. During this period, all organs begin to actively work and are reconfigured to work independently, without the help of the mother’s body. So, if a child has intrauterine hypoxia, then it is likely that the same problem may arise in the first days of life.

The fact is that, with a lack of oxygen in the womb, the child tried to compensate for it by breathing through an open glottis. Amniotic fluid, mucus, and blood could get there, which after birth will lead to blockage of the respiratory organs, and suffocation will occur - asphyxia of the newborn. That is why such children require every second supervision in the first days of life.

Hypoxia and fetal malnutrition

We have figured out what hypoxia is, and malnutrition is a lack of nutrition and underdevelopment of the fetus. This may be due to the same lack of oxygen, which is so necessary for the development of each organ, and the lack of proper nutrition. In most cases, malnutrition is a consequence of untreated or undetected hypoxia.

Fetal hypoxia: signs

In the first stages of pregnancy, it is impossible to determine fetal hypoxia without Doppler examination (intrauterine examination of the fetal heartbeat) and ultrasound, since the fetus is not yet fully formed and cannot “tell” you that something is not satisfied with your lifestyle and your condition.

This is where the diagnosis of fetal hypoxia comes to the rescue thanks to frequent and unscheduled examinations. Indicators of this may include your chronic diseases (diabetes mellitus, bronchitis, constant cough and others), your general condition if you work in a stuffy room, and no one will exempt you from working there unless there are certain contraindications.

In later stages of pregnancy, the mother should monitor. When you ask your doctor about fetal movements, you get an answer on how to determine fetal hypoxia yourself. " Method 10"- this is the name of an assistant for identifying signs of intrauterine fetal hypoxia.

Mom, waking up in the morning, having greeted the baby, begins to count his movements. There should be at least 10 episodes per day. That is, you felt a stirring for 2 minutes - the first series, then another minute - the second series, and so on.

Some doctors believe that increased fetal movements and hiccups are also symptoms of fetal hypoxia. But in reality, this may be a second indicator of anxiety: the mother lay down unsuccessfully (on her back, for example, which is unacceptable during pregnancy) or walked very quickly and now she also lacks air. If these phenomena pass quickly in the baby, then there is no reason to worry. But a decrease in the number of movements is already the most important symptom of intrauterine fetal hypoxia.

The development of acute fetal hypoxia is indicated by turbid amniotic fluid, which is determined by their analysis.

How to recognize fetal hypoxia

First method the detection of oxygen starvation was indicated above. The remaining methods are associated with the examination of a pregnant woman by a gynecologist during a scheduled or unscheduled examination.

The doctor, listening to the fetal heartbeat, pays attention to its frequency. If it is below normal, then there is a need to conduct additional examination. Listening to the fetal heartbeat using a statoscope through the mother’s abdominal cavity begins in the second half of pregnancy.

Heart rhythm can be more accurately monitored using CTG (cardiotocography). This is an ECG for the fetus.

Signs of fetal hypoxia according to CTG are:

absence or decrease in the number of heart beats;
the presence of increased heart rate with involuntary contractions of the uterus and with fetal movements. The absence of such an increase indicates fetal stress and exhausted adaptive reactions.

And the third way is a study using doppler ultrasound– intrauterine ultrasound, which allows you to examine blood flow in the uterine arteries.

Also, a routine ultrasound examination can tell the doctor about the development of hypoxia - these could be disturbances in the development of the placenta, its premature maturation, or too thick or thin walls.

Purpose of some blood tests: hormonal and biochemical ones make it possible to detect the presence of enzymes in higher concentrations, fat oxidation products and other microelements that indicate the development of a pathology such as fetal hypoxia.

Treatment of intrauterine fetal hypoxia

Having heard the diagnosis of “fetal hypoxia,” the mother becomes scared and the first thing that worries her is what she should do in case of fetal hypoxia. The main thing is to remain calm and follow the doctor’s recommendations. The mother’s peace of mind is the key to the health of the child, not only the one already born, but also the one in her tummy.

If fetal hypoxia is diagnosed in time, and there are no indications for immediate surgery, then fetal hypoxia is treated. First of all, when treating fetal hypoxia during pregnancy, they try to get rid of as much as possible the illness of the mother that led to oxygen starvation (if it is revealed that it is the cause of this).

Depending on the severity, treatment can take place in a hospital or outpatient setting. Rest and bed rest, taking medications prescribed by a doctor that help improve oxygen supply to the fetus, and drinking oxygen-rich water are the main areas of treatment for intrauterine fetal hypoxia.

Fetal hypoxia during childbirth

During labor, the obstetrician-gynecologist who delivers the baby periodically listens to the baby’s heartbeat. So here the symptoms of hypoxia are tachycardia, fetal bradycardia, as well as the appearance of dull tones and arrhythmias in the fetal heartbeat.

The degree of bradycardia and tachycardia during different periods of labor may vary. In the first period, hypoxia is indicated by bradycardia up to 100 beats per minute, and in the second it is already 98 beats.

In response to a contraction with the development of hypoxia during labor, a decrease in heart beats to 50 per minute can be observed using a radiotocograph.

Consequences of hypoxia during labor The child may swallow amniotic fluid, which further leads to disruption of the respiratory organs of the newborn.

Fetal hypoxia, how to avoid

To avoid hypoxia and the consequences of intrauterine hypoxia, you should lead a healthy lifestyle for two. First of all, you should get rid of all bad habits, especially smoking, and walk more in the fresh air away from highways and highways.

No one cancels visiting a doctor during pregnancy; he will always be able to diagnose this pathology on time.

The diet should be balanced. Products containing iron should definitely be on your menu.

During the first examination, when you first register, talk about all chronic diseases (this is, in principle, in the questionnaire when filling out a pregnant woman’s card), and on subsequent visits, talk about respiratory tract diseases, if they appear.

In consultation with the doctor, breathing exercises can be performed to prevent fetal hypoxia.

You should remember to get proper rest and sleep. Tips on how to avoid fetal hypoxia during pregnancy will help you easily endure a happy period of pregnancy, carry and give birth to a strong baby.

During pregnancy, a mother should think not only about the baby, but also about herself, because the well-being of her unborn child depends on the state of her health. Improper lifestyle and habits become the causes of fetal hypoxia during pregnancy.

Remember, everything that happens to you, one way or another, is reflected in the baby. Take care of yourself and keep a close eye on the little miracle pushing around in your tummy.

I like!

During the gestation period, the child is not able to breathe on his own. The lungs are not yet fully formed and filled with fluid, so oxygen, like nutrition, comes through the placenta.

What is fetal hypoxia during pregnancy?

Fetal hypoxia during pregnancy is a lack of oxygen that occurs due to various pathological processes.

Hypoxia in the fetus during pregnancy occurs as a result of prolonged lack of oxygen. In the early stages, pathology can cause slow development, since it is during this period that all the main internal organs are formed. In the later stages, it negatively affects the central nervous system of the embryo.

As a result of oxygen starvation, the baby’s body begins to compensate for the deficiency using its own resources; its heart rate rises to 160 beats/min to improve blood flow. If the process is not diagnosed in a timely manner, developmental delays, both physical and mental, are formed.

In medical practice, a distinction is made between chronic and acute types of pathology, which differ in the duration of exposure and the period of occurrence.

Chronic fetal hypoxia during pregnancy is caused by consequences expressed in the underdevelopment of internal organs and poor adaptation in the postpartum period.

Acute pathology occurs during labor and threatens the life of the baby. Prolonged labor, with infection or bleeding, practically causes suffocation (asphyxia) and requires emergency medical intervention.

Fetal hypoxia during pregnancy: signs, symptoms and consequences

It is quite difficult to find out about the formation of hypoxia in the early stages. Only a doctor will be able to identify and suspect a blood test, where the results will show signs of anemia (lack of hemoglobin).

You can independently recognize the symptoms only after 16–18 weeks of intrauterine development, when the baby begins to move. In later stages, the lack of oxygen is determined by decreased physical activity. Sensations of almost imperceptible movement and rare kicks of the baby are formed.

The pathological process can be diagnosed more accurately using special studies:

An ultrasound examination helps determine developmental delays by measuring the child’s height, weight, and size. To understand the functioning of the placenta, measurements of the walls of the embryonic organ are taken.
Doppler testing allows you to notice circulatory disorders in the uterine arteries and placenta, which indicates insufficient oxygen delivery. Bradycardia (slow heartbeat) is often observed, so the heart rate makes the diagnosis clear.

After 30 weeks, cardiotocography is used for diagnostic purposes. Laboratory examinations include amnioscopy, as well as hormonal and biochemical tests.

Symptoms and consequences depend on the severity. With prolonged hypoxia, tissue respiration is disrupted and vital organs are unable to develop normally. There is a risk of intrauterine death of the embryo, suffocation and serious birth injuries.

Reasons for formation

The reasons can be very diverse. The main factor that causes the pathology is anemia - a decrease in hemoglobin in the blood and the inability to deliver the required amount of oxygen to the child.

Other reasons include:

respiratory, cardiovascular or blood diseases in the mother;
Rh blood conflict;
infections and viruses in a woman’s body;
heredity;
umbilical cord compression or entanglement;
long-term toxicosis;
conceiving more than one fetus;
premature detachment and aging of the placenta.

Polyhydramnios also causes problems with metabolism and requires timely treatment.

How to avoid fetal hypoxia during pregnancy?

In order to avoid the disease, it is necessary to prepare in advance for future conception. Eliminate bad habits, adjust your diet and get tested for infectious diseases.

Timely monitoring and competent management of intrauterine development will help prevent the formation of pathology. Prevention consists of early diagnosis and complex therapy, which is aimed at normalizing placental blood circulation.

Bed rest, positive emotions and medications that improve blood circulation will help to avoid the disease. Special gymnastics with breathing exercises may be recommended to reduce the tone of the uterus and increase metabolism.

How and how to treat fetal hypoxia during pregnancy

Before starting treatment, doctors find out the underlying factor that led to the disease, and based on the causes and diagnosis, complex therapy is prescribed.

Treatment of fetal hypoxia during pregnancy involves the use of medications that help:

dilate blood vessels - aminophylline, no-spa;
reduce the tone of the uterus - ginipral, magne B6;
increase the functionality of blood circulation - trental, actovegin;
normalization of metabolism – amino acids and proteins;
stabilization of cellular permeability – Essentiale, Chofitol;
increasing protective functions - antihypoxants, neuroprotectors.

To prevent the formation of blood clots and normalize a woman’s immune system, chimes is often prescribed. The drugs are used only taking into account individual characteristics, which have no contraindications or negative consequences.

There is no point in fighting the disease in the third trimester, after the 28th week, when the baby’s condition is rapidly deteriorating. In such a situation, doctors are faced with the question of whether to perform a caesarean section? Since only this method, urgent delivery, can save the child’s life.

During labor, CTG is used if hypoxia was observed during pregnancy for a long period. Thus, constant control over the condition of the fetus is ensured, and the newborn is born under the supervision of specialists.

Intrauterine fetal hypoxia is an extremely dangerous condition in which oxygen starvation occurs in the baby while still in the mother’s womb. In most cases, this pathology occurs as a result of other abnormal processes that are associated with the health of the mother or child, as well as during the pathological course of pregnancy. Hypoxia threatens the development of dangerous complications, the severity of which depends on the duration and frequency of oxygen starvation.

Every woman planning a pregnancy or who is in an excellent position should know what factors can provoke pathology, why it is dangerous and how to recognize it. This will save the life and health of yourself and your unborn baby. The pathology occurs in 15% of pregnant women and can be diagnosed at any stage of pregnancy. There are several forms of hypoxia depending on the speed of development of the pathology:

Causes of fetal hypoxia

Various factors can provoke intrauterine fetal hypoxia. The most common cause is placental insufficiency, which disrupts the blood circulation between the mother, placenta and baby. Insufficient supply of oxygen and nutrients provokes the development of hypoxia.

Other causes of fetal hypoxia include:

Symptoms of fetal hypoxia

In order to determine the development of intrauterine fetal hypoxia, it is necessary to carefully monitor the “behavior” of the baby. At the initial stage of oxygen starvation, the child shows increased activity and anxiety, frequent and sudden movements are felt. Any mother who listens to her feelings and her baby will immediately notice changes.

In the absence of help and prolonged persistence of hypoxia, the fetus does not receive the required amount of oxygen, as a result of which its activity decreases, the tremors become rare and weak. In some cases, the baby’s movement in the womb is not felt at all.

You should immediately contact the doctor if motor activity has decreased to 3 kicks per hour or the baby’s movements are not felt for several hours.

How to determine fetal hypoxia

In order to promptly detect fetal hypoxia, it is necessary to monitor its motor activity. For this purpose, it is recommended to keep a “movement diary”, noting how many tremors the pregnant woman felt over a certain period of time. During a visit to the gynecologist, the doctor regularly listens to the heartbeat, determining its rhythm and clarity of tones.

If symptoms indicating intrauterine oxygen deprivation appear, you should immediately consult a doctor. After a visual examination and listening to the heartbeat, the gynecologist will prescribe additional diagnostic procedures:

Treatment of fetal hypoxia

Treatment of oxygen starvation depends on its form and duration. So, in case of acute hypoxia, emergency delivery is performed by caesarean section.

The following methods are used to treat chronic oxygen starvation:

If there is no positive dynamics in treatment, an emergency caesarean section is performed if the gestational age is more than 28 weeks.

Intrauterine fetal hypoxia can provoke the development of a number of complications:

Delayed physical development of the fetus.
Anomalies and pathologies of child development.
The emergence of neurological pathologies.
Death of the fetus.

Prevention of fetal hypoxia

In order to prevent the development of intrauterine fetal hypoxia and avoid possible complications, it is necessary to follow the simple recommendations of obstetricians and gynecologists:

Following simple preventive measures will help avoid fetal hypoxia. Paying close attention to yourself and listening to your feelings will allow you to give birth to a healthy baby.

Although this condition has been well studied, and treatment methods have long been developed, fetal hypoxia remains the cause of many diseases in a newborn baby. Parents need to understand what this process is and what actions should be taken to protect the baby from trouble.

While in the womb, the baby is unable to breathe on its own. The baby’s organs and systems are just developing, their functions are becoming established. The baby's lungs are immature, and the airways are filled with fluid. The fetus receives the necessary oxygen through the placenta. It is this organ that ensures the supply of invaluable gas to the baby’s body. If there is not enough oxygen supplied, then they speak of fetal hypoxia.

Although essential gas and nutrients are transferred from mother to fetus through the circulatory system, their blood is not mixed. The placenta protects the baby from harmful substances entering the body. But, unfortunately, medications, alcohol, drugs and viruses easily overcome the obstacle.

Intrauterine fetal hypoxia is not identified as a separate disease, but indicates a state of oxygen deficiency in the baby. This problem can be caused by changes in the placenta, the body of the mother or child, which lead to adverse consequences.

Reasons for the development of intrauterine fetal hypoxia:

Mother's diseases. In some situations, a woman’s body does not allow her to give her baby the necessary oxygen. With anemia, heart and vascular diseases, pathology of the kidneys and respiratory system, the risk of developing oxygen starvation of the embryo increases. Toxicosis in a pregnant woman, diabetes mellitus, and bad habits of the mother have an adverse effect on the health of the baby.
Disturbances in the placenta-fetus system. Pathologies of the placenta and umbilical cord, circulatory disorders in the event of a threatened miscarriage or post-term pregnancy, anomalies in labor inevitably affect the health of the child.
Causes related to the fetus. When a baby is infected in utero, the risk of developing hypoxic conditions increases. Unfavorable factors also include congenital anomalies, hemolytic disease of the fetus, multiple, tight entanglement of the umbilical cord around the child’s neck, and multiple pregnancies. Complications that arise during childbirth also often lead to oxygen starvation of the fetus.

The manifestations and severity of symptoms of hypoxia largely depend on the course and time of occurrence of the pathological condition. Therefore, clinicians distinguish 2 forms of hypoxia:

Acute fetal hypoxia. This disorder develops quickly, usually during labor, as the baby passes through the birth canal. For example, during rapid or protracted labor, when the umbilical cord loops fall out or the head is retained in the woman’s birth canal, an acute disruption of the flow of blood through the umbilical artery occurs. The baby does not receive gas and experiences severe oxygen starvation. During pregnancy, acute hypoxia often occurs against the background of placental abruption and can lead to premature birth or require emergency surgery - caesarean section.
Chronic fetal hypoxia. Oxygen starvation can develop gradually; the baby does not receive enough gas for a long time. The cause of chronic intrauterine hypoxia is most often pathologies of pregnancy, lack of proper treatment, and chronic diseases of the mother. Often this condition develops in women who ignore visiting antenatal clinics.

During an ultrasound examination of a pregnant woman, the doctor may notice that the fetus lags behind its “peers” in physical parameters and looks younger than its gestational age. If hypoxia develops in the second half of pregnancy, then the weight of these children does not correspond to their height, and it occurs. Newborns are more prone to developing diseases and autonomic disorders.

Nervous tissue is very sensitive to oxygen deficiency; it is the tissue that suffers first during hypoxia. Already at 6–11 weeks, oxygen starvation of the child’s nerve cells leads to a delay in brain development. The next organs suffering from hypoxia are the kidneys, heart, and intestines of the unborn child.

The first sign of hypoxia is a change in fetal motor activity. The baby becomes low on oxygen; in response to the low gas concentration, the motor centers in the brain are excited, and the baby actively moves.

A woman should be alerted to the increased frequency of movements of the baby, which does not go away even at rest, in the absence of loads. During the examination, the doctor detects an increase in the fetal heart rate of more than 160 beats per minute.

Although the unborn child makes its first movements already at 7–8 weeks of pregnancy, the woman notices movements at 16–18 weeks of obstetrics. Starting from the 24th week of gestation, babies actively “communicate with their mothers,” making about 10 pushes per hour.

If the disease is not detected in the early stages, the child’s condition worsens. There is a serious lack of oxygen, which leads to a decrease in the baby’s activity. The baby's strength is depleted, and movements are reduced. During the examination, the doctor notices a decrease in the fetal heart rate.

A woman must consult a doctor if she notices a weakening or lack of physical activity for 12 hours. A terrible sign is the child’s sudden calming down after prolonged excessive movements.

Assessment of the fetal condition should be comprehensive and include several methods that complement each other:

The study is carried out every time a woman visits a antenatal clinic, starting from 18 to 20 weeks of pregnancy, when drying of the fetal heart becomes possible. To do this, an obstetrician-gynecologist uses a stethoscope - a device that is a tube with funnel-shaped extensions at both ends. The doctor places the wide part of the device on the mother’s abdomen in the area of best listening to the fetal heart.

Using an obstetric stethoscope, you can evaluate the heart rate, rhythm and sonority of tones. Manipulation is also used during childbirth to assess the fetal response to uterine contractions - contractions.

Due to its simplicity and low cost, the method is widely used and has no contraindications, but the accuracy of the study is inferior to instrumental ones. In addition, the baby’s heartbeat cannot be heard during a contraction, and the error in counting heart contractions reaches 10–15 beats.

Cardiotocography (CTG).

The method has proven itself in the diagnosis of hypoxic conditions of the fetus. The essence of the study is to record the electronic activity of the heartbeats of the unborn child. To do this, a special sensor is attached to the bare belly of a pregnant woman, which records the fetal heartbeat and uterine contractions. The data obtained during the examination is recorded on a sheet of paper in the form of curves.

An experienced specialist then interprets the cardiotocography results. Modern devices have an automatic decoding function, which helps the doctor make an accurate diagnosis.

The following CTG parameters are subject to evaluation:

basal rhythm - average heart rate, normally 110 - 160 beats per minute;
amplitude - a violation of the regularity of contraction of the heart muscles, normally ranging from 5 to 30 beats/min;
decelerations – periods of decreased fetal heartbeat, repeated episodes of which may indicate serious oxygen starvation in the child;
acceleration - episodes of increased heart rate that occur when the uterus contracts or increases the motor activity of the fetus, and does not exceed 3 in a quarter of an hour.

Ultrasound examination.

The method is absolutely safe and highly informative, therefore it should be carried out as a screening examination for all women. Typically, ultrasound is performed three times: at 11–13 weeks, 20–21 and 30–34 weeks.

In addition, the doctor may order an unscheduled study if indicated. The essence of the method is to reflect the ultrasonic waves sent by the sensor from the organ being examined. These signals are recorded and reproduced on the device monitor.

Using an ultrasound, the doctor determines the baby’s health status, the proper development of organs, and the baby’s motor activity. Assessing the condition of the placenta, its size, location, thickness and degree of maturation is of great importance.

To determine fetal hypoxia, ultrasound is complemented by Doppler measurements, which record the movement of blood in the vessels. Modern ultrasound machines are equipped with a Doppler function.

For each stage of pregnancy, a certain method for diagnosing hypoxia is suitable. In the first trimester, ultrasound is most informative; Doppler ultrasound is indicative in 18–26 weeks of pregnancy, and determination of the fetal bioprofile from the 26th week. The cardiotocography method is most informative after the fetus reaches 30 weeks of gestation.

Assessing the biophysical profile of the fetus allows you to comprehensively assess the health of the baby and identify hypoxia. For this purpose, ultrasound data and the results of a non-stress CTG test and assessment of the frequency of accelerations are used.

During the study, 6 parameters are determined:

fetal breathing movements;
physical activity of the baby;
number of accelerations;
volume of amniotic fluid;
muscle tone of the fetus;
maturity of the placenta.

Each indicator is scored from 0 to 2 points, which are then summed up. A result of more than 8 points is considered normal, and less than 4 indicates severe hypoxia.

How the lack of oxygen will affect the health and extrauterine life of the baby depends on the severity of hypoxia and the duration of pregnancy. Oxygen starvation in the first third of pregnancy leads to developmental abnormalities. Possible delay in growth and physical development, damage to the nervous system and a decrease in the baby’s ability to adapt after birth.

Under the influence of a lack of oxygen, metabolic processes in the embryo change. Blood circulation in the brain increases by reducing blood flow in the lungs, intestines, and kidneys. The resulting intestinal hypoxia leads to relaxation of the sphincter and the entry of original feces into the amniotic fluid. Dirty, meconium water can enter the child's respiratory tract, leading to respiratory failure and pneumonia.

Although the fetus is quite sensitive to hypoxia, nature has endowed the unborn child with adaptation mechanisms that help the baby cope with oxygen starvation. Contained in red blood cells, fetal hemoglobin is different from adult hemoglobin and is more efficient at capturing and holding oxygen. And a high heart rate promotes more efficient distribution of precious gas.

Minor hypoxia does not cause negative consequences in the further development of the child. While severe oxygen deficiency is more dangerous, it leads to deep damage to organs with the development of necrosis in them. Therefore, the consequences of hypoxia vary from minor functional disorders to profound somatic disorders.

Possible consequences of acute fetal hypoxia:

premature birth;
damage to the child's nervous system;
antenatal fetal death;
asphyxia, respiratory distress syndrome, pneumonia;
intestinal necrosis.

Consequences of chronic intrauterine fetal hypoxia:

developmental delay, low birth weight and height;
anemia of the newborn;
high susceptibility to infections;
the baby’s inability to maintain normal temperature;
neurological disorders.

If a lack of oxygen is detected, the woman is hospitalized in an obstetrics and gynecology hospital, where examination and treatment are carried out. An important link in the treatment of hypoxia is identifying the cause of the pathology.

If chronic hypoxia is detected, the following are prescribed:

Bed rest. A woman in a hospital must strictly adhere to the regimen prescribed by the doctor. This will help improve blood circulation and reduce increased uterine tone.
Oxygen therapy. Inhalation of oxygen or an oxygen-air mixture in the form of inhalations is effective in treating hypoxia.
Drugs that reduce uterine contractility. To prevent miscarriage and prevent premature birth, a woman is prescribed medications with antispasmodic activity: “Papaverine”, “No-shpa”, “Ginipral”, “Bricanil”.
Drugs that affect the rheological properties of blood. To improve blood delivery through the placenta by dilating blood vessels, as well as reducing its viscosity, the doctor may prescribe “Reopoliglyukin”, “Curantil”, “Trental”.
Means to improve metabolic processes in the fetus. This group of substances includes glucose, vitamins C, E, group B, Calcium gluconate, Glutamic acid.
Combating metabolic acidosis. Under the control of acid-base balance, it is possible to carry out infusions of “Sodium bicarbonate” of various concentrations.

The volume and duration of treatment for fetal hypoxia are determined individually in each case by a gynecologist.

Severe hypoxia is an indication for emergency delivery without waiting for the due date of birth. In this case, a caesarean section is performed. A child who has suffered acute hypoxia during childbirth may require resuscitation care to restore vital functions.

It is impossible to completely eliminate the risk of developing hypoxia, but the expectant mother should know what activities are most likely to help maintain the health of the child:

Pregnancy planning. A family should approach the decision to have a child responsibly. Parents should undergo preconception preparation, undergo a comprehensive examination, and treat chronic diseases and infections. This will protect the baby from intrauterine infection and keep the baby healthy.
Quitting bad habits. It has been proven that children from mothers suffering from various types of addiction are susceptible to chronic hypoxia throughout pregnancy. Babies are at risk for developing diseases in newborns and have developmental delays. Even passive inhalation of tobacco smoke leads to spasm of placental vessels and the development of hypoxia in the fetus.
Daily walks. During a normal pregnancy, a woman should receive moderate physical activity every day. Quiet walks, which are best done in a park or in nature, have a beneficial effect on the health of mother and child.
Proper nutrition. A pregnant woman should pay attention to her daily diet. It is during this period that it is very important to eat healthy foods rich in all essential nutrients.
Medical assistance. A woman is required to register for pregnancy and undergo examinations on time. Modern diagnostic methods are absolutely harmless to the child and help to identify the disease in the early stages. Timely and adequate treatment of diseases in a pregnant woman will help avoid the development of hypoxia. At the first signs of a change in the condition of the fetus, a woman should seek help from a specialist.

Conclusion

Pregnancy is a wonderful and happy period in the life of an expectant mother. It is at this time that a woman should pay increased attention to her well-being and take care of the baby’s health.

Every year, more and more women hear the diagnosis of “intrauterine fetal hypoxia”, since the causes of the pathological condition are varied and include both the health of the pregnant woman and environmental conditions.

The expectant mother must be aware of the full degree of responsibility for the health of the baby. A woman should reconsider her lifestyle, get more rest and seek specialized help in a timely manner. Proper management of pregnancy and childbirth, adequate treatment of somatic diseases, significantly increase the chances of avoiding fetal hypoxia and its consequences.