What is Perinatal Asphyxia?
Perinatal asphyxia, or birth asphyxia, results from an inadequate intake of oxygen by the baby during the birth process - before, during, or just after birth. Decreased oxygen intake can result in chemical changes in the baby's body that include hypoxemia, or low levels of oxygen in the blood, and acidosis, in which too much acid builds up in the blood.
Perinatal asphyxia, or birth asphyxia, results from an inadequate intake of oxygen by the baby during the birth process - before, during, or just after birth. Decreased oxygen intake can result in chemical changes in the baby's body that include hypoxemia, or low levels of oxygen in the blood, and acidosis, in which too much acid builds up in the blood.
Symptoms
Symptoms of birth asphyxia may not be obvious, but the most common symptoms include:
Before birth, abnormal fetal heart rate and low pH levels, indicating too much acid
At birth, poor skin color, low heart rate, weak muscle tone, gasping or weak breathing, and meconium stained amniotic fluid
Symptoms of birth asphyxia may not be obvious, but the most common symptoms include:
Before birth, abnormal fetal heart rate and low pH levels, indicating too much acid
At birth, poor skin color, low heart rate, weak muscle tone, gasping or weak breathing, and meconium stained amniotic fluid
Diagnosis
Severe acid levels
Apgar score of 0 to 3 for longer than 5 minutes
Evidence of neurologic problems, including coma and seizure
Problems with one or more organ systems, including circulatory, digestive and respiratory
Severe acid levels
Apgar score of 0 to 3 for longer than 5 minutes
Evidence of neurologic problems, including coma and seizure
Problems with one or more organ systems, including circulatory, digestive and respiratory
Treatment
Treatment may include:
giving the mother extra amounts of oxygen before delivery
emergency delivery or cesarean section
mechanical breathing machine
medication
Treatment may include:
giving the mother extra amounts of oxygen before delivery
emergency delivery or cesarean section
mechanical breathing machine
medication
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