It is the goal of every obstetrician to ensure that mother and fetus
tolerate labor well. Assessing the fetal response to labor is challenge.
Fetal surveillance during labor helps in recognizing the fetus that
is not tolerating labor well and is hypoxic. Recognition of fetal
compromise guides decision about appropriate intervention so that
short and long-term neurological damage may be avoided. Fetal
scalp blood sampling carried out if there is an abnormality in FHR.
It is done to confirm the presence of fetal hypoxia and or acidemia.
Two constituents that are commonly tested by this method are pH and
lactate. Low pH indicates acidosis. Increased lactate is associated with
hypoxia. EFM is associated with increased intervention rates which
can be reduced with FBS.
Keywords: Fetus, Scalp Blood pH; Scalp Blood Lactate; Asphyxia;
Acidosis.