title: Acid-base characteristics of fetuses with intrauterine growth retardation during labor and delivery.
abstract: The maternal and fetal cord blood from 37 infants with intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and 108 normal growth (AGA) infants were compared for lactate, pH, and blood gas values in an attempt to find whether there is any difference in stressed response in IUGR fetuses during labor and delivery. Both maternal and fetal blood lactate levels increased with progression of labor, fetal lactate being higher than the maternal lactate. Without intrapartum fetal heart rate decelerations, IUGR fetuses did not show a difference in umbilical arterial lactate, pH, and blood gases, compared to AGA fetuses. With intrapartum fetal heart rate decelerations, IUGR fetuses demonstrated a significantly higher lactate level than that of AGA fetuses. We conclude that IUGR fetuses tolerate labor less well than do AGA fetuses. In the presence of late decelerations, earlier intervention is preferable because of the increased likelihood of metabolic acidosis.
mesh_terms: D000136:Acid-Base Equilibrium; D000138:Acidosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000032:analysis; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000097:blood*; D005318:Fetal Heart; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D007773:Lactates / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D007773:Lactates