Fetal suffering is a relatively rare situation that occurs when the baby does not receive the necessary amount of oxygen in the womb, during pregnancy or during childbirth, which eventually affects its growth and development.
One of the most easily identifiable signs of the obstetrician is the decrease or change in fetal heart rate, however, decreased baby movements in the uterus can also be a call for attention for a case of fetal suffering.
- In the most severe cases.
- Fetal suffering can even cause an abortion and therefore needs to be treated as quickly as possible.
- So it is very important to go to all prenatal appointments to do the necessary tests and make sure that the baby develops properly.
Some of the most common signs of lack of oxygen in a baby include
Baby movements in the womb are an important indicator of your health, so a decrease in the frequency or intensity of movement can be an important sign of lack of oxygen.
So, if there’s a decrease in your baby’s movements, it’s important to go to the obstetrician for an ultrasound and identify if there are any problems to treat.
A small bleeding during pregnancy is normal and does not mean that something is wrong with pregnancy, however, if there is heavy bleeding, it can mean that there is a change in the placenta and therefore a decrease in oxygen levels for the baby.
In these cases, you should go to the hospital right away, as bleeding can also be a sign of abortion, especially if it occurs within the first 20 weeks.
The presence of meconium in water when the bag bursts is a common sign of fetal suffering during childbirth. Amniotic fluid is usually clear in yellow or pink, but if it is brown or green, it may indicate that the baby is in fetal distress.
While cramps are a very common symptom during pregnancy, mainly because the uterus changes and muscles adapt, when a very strong cramp appears and also causes back pain, this may indicate that there is a problem with the placenta and, as a result, with the baby. you may receive less oxygen.
The amount of oxygen that reaches the fetus can be reduced due to causes such as:
In addition, the risk of fetal suffering is higher in pregnant women with preeclampsia, gestational diabetes or who have uterine growth problems during pregnancy.
In case of suspected fetal suffering, due to the presence of one or more signs, it is important to immediately go to the emergency room or obstetrician, to assess what problem may cause oxygen depletion and initiate appropriate treatment.
Most of the time, the pregnant woman may need to be hospitalized for a few hours or days to take the medication directly into the vein and continuously evaluate the baby’s health.
In more severe cases, where there is no improvement in fetal suffering, premature delivery may be necessary. If the delivery process has already begun, the baby may be born normally, but in many cases a C-section is required.
Lack of oxygen in babies must be treated quickly to avoid sequelae such as paralysis or heart disease, for example. Also, if the lack of oxygen persists for a long time, there is a risk of miscarriage.