Fetal Distress Symptoms During Pregnancy
If fetal distress goes undetected and proper actions are not taken to help the baby the baby could suffer serious birth injury or be stillborn.
Fetal distress symptoms during pregnancy. Fetal distress is a group of symptoms and signs that develop during pregnancy or delivery and may suggest that fetus is not well and is dealing with certain problems. About a quarter of babies show signs of distress at some point nhs digital 2018. This condition is urgent and doctors are due to act promptly and help the baby deal with the specific problem. Fetal distress or what doctors prefer to call nonreassuring fetal status occurs when your baby s oxygen supply is compromised in utero usually during labor but occasionally in the third trimester of pregnancy oxygen deprivation can result in decreased fetal heart rate and can be serious for the baby.
Historically the term fetal distress has been used to describe when the fetus does not receive adequate amounts of oxygen during pregnancy or labor it is oftentimes detected through an abnormal fetal heart rate. Fetal stress during pregnancy and delivery fetal distress is a catch all term used to describe signs that a baby is unwell or in danger during pregnancy or in labor and delivery. Fetal distress also called nonreassuring fetal status is the term medical professionals use to describe when a fetus is not receiving adequate oxygen during pregnancy or labor 1. However while the term fetal distress is commonly used it is not well defined.
When your doctor or midwife sees signs that your baby is unwell during pregnancy or isn t coping well with the demands of labour they may call it fetal distress. Fetal distress during labour and birth is fairly common.