In many cases, pregnancy and nascency are long and uncomfortable, but ultimately uneventful processes (that is, upwards until your baby'southward large debut). Merely sometimes, pregnancy or labor complications tin cause an unborn baby to become into fetal distress, which can be dangerous and may require immediate delivery.

Here's what yous need to know about this relatively rare complexity, including tips to reduce your risk.

What is fetal distress?

Fetal distress (what doctors prefer to call "nonreassuring fetal condition") is when your practitioner is concerned that your babe's oxygen supply may exist compromised in utero before or during labor. Oxygen deprivation can result in decreased fetal heart rate and requires immediate action to protect your baby.

What causes fetal distress?

Fetal distress may exist acquired past a number of factors, including:

  • Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR)
  • Preeclampsia
  • Placental abruption
  • Uncontrolled diabetes
  • Too much amniotic fluid
  • Depression levels of amniotic fluid
  • A pregnancy lasting longer than twoscore weeks
  • Labor complications, including labor going as well speedily or lasting too long
  • Umbilical cord prolapse, compression or entanglement
  • Staying in a position (usually flat on your back during labor) for a long period of time, which somewhen puts pressure level on your major claret vessels and cuts off oxygen to your babe

What are the signs of fetal distress?

Y'all may be experiencing signs of fetal distress if you lot or your doc notes that:

  • Your baby has a decreased heart charge per unit
  • Your baby has a different (on nonexistent) blueprint of fetal movement later on week 28
  • Your water breaks and is dark-green-brown (that's baby'southward kickoff poop; some babies who laissez passer this meconium while still in the uterus may exist in distress)

The only way to know for sure that your baby's in fetal distress is with a continuous fetal monitor, performing a nonstress test or with an ultrasound and performing a biophysical profile.

Continue Reading Below

Who is virtually at risk for fetal distress?

Several conditions may put your baby at increased adventure for fetal distress, including:

  • IUGR
  • Too much or besides little amniotic fluid
  • Preeclampsia
  • Uncontrolled diabetes
  • Placental abruption
  • Umbilical cord problems
  • A long or complicated labor
  • An overdue pregnancy

What can you do if your baby is in distress?

If yous've noticed a change in fetal activeness or your boot count is off and you're concerned, telephone call your practitioner right away. Also reach out immediately if your water has cleaved and is greenish-brownish, which means it's stained with meconium.

When you arrive at your practitioner's office or the hospital, y'all'll get placed on a fetal monitor to check whether your baby is actually showing signs of distress. You may also receive supplemental oxygen to help oxygenate your blood, every bit well as Iv fluids, which should help regulate your baby'due south heart charge per unit. (These same steps will exist taken if your doctor notices your babe's in distress during a routine checkup or nonstress test.)

If you're already in labor, you may exist told to switch positions. Yous may as well be taken off of contraction-inducing drugs (oxytocin) or given a medication to deadening contractions.

If these techniques don't work, the all-time treatment is a quick delivery, often by C-section.

Is there anything y'all can do to prevent fetal distress?

While yous tin't foreclose fetal distress, you lot tin can lower the odds information technology'll happen to yous by going to all of your prenatal appointments and post-obit your doctor's recommendations for a healthy pregnancy. These tips are especially important if y'all've been diagnosed with a condition that increases your take a chance of fetal distress, similar preeclampsia or gestational diabetes.

Many people don't necessarily notice a baby is in fetal distress, and so an increasing number of prenatal appointments during the last few weeks of pregnancy allows your dr. to monitor your baby's center rate, measure your abdomen and inquire you about your baby's movements to ensure everything'southward going as expected. A baby with a strong, stable heartbeat with appropriate movements is doing well.