Assessment of risk factors for fetal distress in childbirth

Abstract

Fetal distress is a combination of clinical and/or laboratory-instrumental indicators suggestive of an abnormal fetal state, often attributed to either temporary or permanent oxygen deficiency, potentially resulting in hypoxia [1]. Fetal hypoxia occurs in 5–10 % of all pregnancies, which confirms the significance of the research. The objective: Of this study is to identify risk factors associated with the occurrence of fetal distress in women depending on the method of surgical delivery. Throughout the research, we carried out a prospective analysis of 90 birth records featuring the clinical diagnosis of “Labor and delivery complicated by fetal stress [distress],” all obtained from the maternity ward No. 21 of the Samara City Clinical Hospital №1 named after. N.I. Pirogov. In all cases, indications for emergency delivery were signs of fetal distress based on cardiotocography data. Patients in the primary group were categorized based on their delivery method. Group I consisted of 30 women who underwent retrovesical C-section, while group II comprised 30 women who had vacuum extraction of the fetus, and group III encompassed 30 women whose second stage of labor was expedited through episiotomy. Conclusion. The main risk factors for intrapartum fetal distress are: late gestational age with a tendency toward post-term pregnancy, short stature with a high body mass index (BMI), complicated somatic and obstetric-gynecological history, duration of labor more than 8 hours, premature rupture of amniotic fluid mixed with meconium, increased anhydrous period, changes in motor activity and fetal heart rate.