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Chapter 4 - Intrapartum Fetal Monitoring

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 October 2025

By
Sabaratnam Arulkumaran
Edited by
Sir Sabaratnam Arulkumaran
Sir Sabaratnam Arulkumaran
Affiliation:
St George's Hospital Medical School, University of London
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Summary

The fetus receives its oxygen and nutrition from the placenta through the umbilical cord that floats in the amniotic fluid. The placenta receives oxygen and nutrition from the maternal blood and excretes its waste products into the maternal side. Uterine contractions of labour reduce or intermittently cut off the blood perfusion into the retro-placental area, thus reducing the exchange of gases and essential nutrition to the fetus. Contractions may also compress the umbilical cord and prevent or reduce gas and nutrition exchange by reducing or obstructing the flow of blood from and to the placenta.

Keywords

fetal heart ratefetal monitoringcardiotocographyfetal surveillance

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Chapter
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Best Practice in Labour and Delivery , pp. 42 - 56
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2025

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References

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