1.Second stage fetal heart rate patterns and neonatal acid-base status
Faridah Hanim Zam Zam ; Nazimah Idris ; Tham Seng Woh
International e-Journal of Science, Medicine and Education 2012;6(2):18-23
Background: Fetal surveillance in labour is performed
mostly to identify fetuses at risk of hypoxia in order to
reduce neonatal morbidity and mortality by initiating
timely intervention. While normal and abnormal fetal
heart rate (FHR) patterns have been well recognised
and characterized for the first stage of labour, FHR
patterns during the second stage of labour commonly
showed some forms of abnormalities leading to problems
in interpretation, particularly in predicting fetal hypoxia
and acidosis. This study aims to identify patterns of FHR
tracing during the second stage of labour associated with
neonatal acidosis.
Methods: A prospective cross sectional study was
conducted in the Labour Ward of a state referral hospital.
The study population were patients with low-risk
singleton pregnancies between 37 to 42 weeks gestation
who had normal cardiotocograph (CTG) tracing in the
first stage of labour. CTG was recorded during the second
stage of labour and neonatal umbilical cord blood was
obtained for acid-base analysis immediately after birth
prior to the delivery of placenta. FHR patterns were
grouped according to modified Melchior and Barnard’s
classification and matched with neonatal acid-base
status. Patients with normal FHR pattern in the second
stage acted as control.
Results: A total of 111 matched pairs were analysed.
Ninety nine (89.2%) second stage FHR tracings showed
abnormal features when compared to control. There were
significantly more neonatal acidosis and hypercapnia
in type 1b, type 2a, type 2b and type 3 CTG patterns
compared to control, in increasing order of severity. In
addition, types 2b and 3 showed significant difference in
the base excess.
Conclusion: Certain second stage fetal heart rate
patterns were found to be associated with neonatal
acidosis.