Symptoms of chronic fetal hypoxia

Many pregnant mothers know that they should always pay attention to the condition of their children. Many expectant mothers sometimes feel that they are normal and healthy, but in fact the fetus in the womb may not be as healthy as the mother. One of the more common ones is fetal hypoxia. Fetal hypoxia is not as obvious as adult hypoxia, but the mother will also have some reactions. Next, we will introduce in detail some symptoms of chronic fetal hypoxia.

Symptoms of fetal hypoxia

If a pregnant woman finds changes in fetal movement, or an examination reveals abnormal fetal heart rate or fetal growth retardation, it may be a manifestation of fetal hypoxia. Symptoms of fetal hypoxia include:

1. Changes in fetal movement. Fetal movement is a normal physiological activity of the fetus. Pregnant women can usually feel the movement of the fetus at 18-20 weeks of pregnancy. The fetal movements of different fetuses are also different. Generally speaking, the amplitude of fetal movement of quiet fetuses is smaller and the number of fetal movements is also less. The movements of an excited fetus are large and frequent.

In order to reduce oxygen consumption or hypoxia affecting the central nervous system, the fetus will cause abnormal activities. If a originally active fetus suddenly becomes quiet, or a originally quiet fetus suddenly becomes restless, and the frequency of fetal movement is less than 10 times/12 hours or more than 40 times/12 hours, it indicates that the fetus may be suffering from intrauterine hypoxia. Pregnant women should closely observe the fetal movements. If abnormal fetal movements are found, it may be that the fetus is suffering from hypoxia and needs timely treatment.

2. Abnormal fetal heart rate. Under normal circumstances, the fetal heart rate is regular, about 120-160 beats per minute. Pregnant women can use a fetal heart rate monitor to observe the fetal heart rate. If the fetal heart rate is abnormal, you should listen to it again after 20 minutes. If the fetal heart rate is too fast, you should listen to it again when there is no fetal movement. If the fetal heart rate exceeds 160 beats/minute, it is a sign of early fetal hypoxia; if the fetal heart rate is less than 120 beats/minute or even stops, it is a sign of late fetal hypoxia.

3. Fetal growth stagnation. The growth of the fetus can be known by measuring the height of the uterus. Under normal circumstances, after 28 weeks of pregnancy, the height of the uterus should increase by about 1 cm per week. If the fetus is deprived of oxygen, its growth will also be slowed. Pregnant women can measure their uterine height regularly at home or in the hospital. If there is no increase for two weeks, further examination should be conducted.

Causes of fetal hypoxia

1. Maternal factors

The oxygen needed by the fetus comes from the mother and is exchanged through the intervillous spaces of the placenta. Insufficient oxygen content in the mother's blood can cause fetal hypoxia. Acute blood loss and severe anemia in the mother, fever caused by acute infection, excessive use of anesthetics and sedatives in pregnant women that suppresses breathing, improper use of oxytocin that causes excessive uterine contractions, prolonged labor, premature rupture of membranes, smoking and passive smoking. Excessive mental stress in pregnant women can lead to sympathetic nerve excitement, vasoconstriction, insufficient blood supply to the placenta, and lying in the supine position for a long time, all of which can easily lead to insufficient oxygen in the mother's blood.

2. Obstruction of blood oxygen transport and exchange between mother and fetus

Placental dysfunction, such as placenta previa, placenta that is too large or too small, membrane placenta, circumflex placenta, etc.; umbilical cord abnormalities, such as umbilical cord around the neck, umbilical cord knotting, umbilical cord torsion, umbilical cord prolapse, umbilical cord hematoma, umbilical cord that is too long or too short, umbilical cord attachment to the fetal membrane; excessive expansion and contraction of the uterus, etc. can easily lead to fetal hypoxia.

From the above content, we can know that it is very necessary for pregnant women to understand the actual situation of the fetus in time through regular prenatal examinations, especially for fetal chronic hypoxia. Fetal chronic hypoxia is always silent, which requires pregnant women to pay more attention. At the same time, pregnant women should pay attention to relaxing their mood during pregnancy, avoid bad habits, and balance work and rest.