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Hemoglobin F is found in fetal red blood cells, and is involved in transporting oxygen from the mother's bloodstream to organs and tissues in the fetus. It is produced at around 6 weeks of pregnancy [1] and the levels remain high after birth until the baby is roughly 2–4 months old. [2]
This culminates in a 20% decrease in functional residual capacity (FRC) during the course of the pregnancy. Oxygen consumption increases by 20% to 40% during pregnancy, as the oxygen demand of the growing fetus, placenta, and increased metabolic activity of the maternal organs all increase the pregnant woman's overall oxygen requirements.
Intrauterine hypoxia can be attributed to maternal, placental, or fetal conditions. [12] Kingdom and Kaufmann classifies three categories for the origin of fetal hypoxia: 1) pre-placental (both mother and fetus are hypoxic), 2) utero-placental (mother is normal but placenta and fetus is hypoxic), 3) post-placental (only fetus is hypoxic).
Blood will be oxygenated in the lungs and return to the left heart, which will pump oxygen-rich blood out through the aorta to supply the rest of the body via the systemic circulation. In certain cases, the transition from fetal to postnatal circulation may not occur as described above due to complications leading to persistently high pulmonary ...
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.
It has been demonstrated that high concentrations of oxygen lead to generation of oxygen free radicals, which have a role in reperfusion injury after asphyxia. [4] Research by Ola Didrik Saugstad and others led to new international guidelines on newborn resuscitation in 2010, recommending the use of normal air instead of 100% oxygen. [5] [6]
The human body requires and regulates a very precise and specific balance of oxygen in the blood. Normal arterial blood oxygen saturation levels in humans are 96–100 percent. [1] If the level is below 90 percent, it is considered low and called hypoxemia. [2] Arterial blood oxygen levels below 80 percent may compromise organ function, such as ...
Contractions that are stronger than normal and have a shortened relaxation time disallow for the placenta to receive adequate levels of blood flow which likely leads to the fetus receiving lower levels of oxygen through the placenta. [3] A contraction with 30 mmHg or more leads to reduced placental blood flow and a potentially hypoxic fetus. [3]