The effect of uterine contractions on fetal oxygen saturation
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To find out what happens to fetal arteriolar oxygen saturation during a uterine contraction. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: Labour ward, St James's University Hospital, Leeds. SUBJECTS: Eighteen women in normal labour monitored with a fetal scalp surface pulse oximetry sensor, an intrauterine pressure catheter, and a head to cervix force transducer. METHODS: The effect of intrauterine pressure and head to cervix force on fetal arteriolar oxygen saturation was examined using time series analysis and a regression model of 159 contractions. OUTCOME MEASURE: Fetal oxygen saturation during a contraction. RESULTS: The average oxygen saturation drops after a contraction. The greatest drop in oxygen saturation is reached 92 s after the peak of a contraction and takes approximately 1 min 30 s to recover (P = 0.036). CONCLUSION: Uterine contractions during normal labour affect fetal oxygen saturation.
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During labor the fetus is intermittently deprived of O2, with a fall of 5% to 10% in SaO2 below baseline when the intrauterine pressure exceeds approximately 30 mm Hg during myometrial contractions.
“During labor the fetus is intermittently deprived of O 2 , with a fall of 5% to 10% in SaO 2 below baseline 10 when the intrauterine pressure exceeds approximately 30 mm Hg during myometrial contractions.”
From Umbilical cord pH, blood gases, and lactate at birth: normal values, interpretation, and clinical utility. (2023) · cites this paper as [10]
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Maternal position during labor: effects on fetal oxygen saturation measured by pulse oximetry
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- Authors
- McNamara, H., & Johnson, N.
- Affiliations
- Leeds General Infirmary (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Johnson, Nicholas
- ORCID
- Johnson, Nicholas
- Venue
- BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 1995-08
- Volume
- 102
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 644-647
- ISSN
- 0306-5456 (ISSN-L)
- 1470-0328
- 1471-0528
- OpenAlex
- W2085642469
- Cited by
- 112
- References
- 26
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 1 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 3.17
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- BJOG An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Medical Research Council
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Maternal and Perinatal Health Interventions
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Pregnancy and preeclampsia studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Neonatal and fetal brain pathology
- Keywords
- uterine contraction, fetal oxygen saturation, intrapartum fetal monitoring, normal labor, fetal hypoxia, intrauterine pressure, fetal well-being
- MeSH terms
- Female, Fetal Blood, Humans, Oximetry, Oxygen, Pregnancy, Pressure, Prospective Studies, Uterine Contraction
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