Fetal Blood Testing
Alternate Names : Fetal Scalp Blood, Scalp pH Testing
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What do Abnormal Results Mean?
In general, low pH suggests that the baby is not tolerating labor very well. However, the results of a fetal scalp pH sample need to be interpreted in the context of each individual delivery. Ask your doctor to explain your results to you. Your doctor may find the results reassuring, and labor may continue as before. Alternatively, he or she may feel that the results indicate that the baby needs to be delivered in a hurry, either by forceps or by cesarean section.
The results may not really point in either direction, and the test may need to be repeated in 20-30 minutes. It may need to be repeated a few times during a complicated labor.
Low pH values in cord blood taken from an umbilical cord artery can also suggest that the fetus is not getting enough oxygen during labor. Because scalp pH testing is only one of many tests by which your doctor can evaluate your baby during labor, the results must be interpreted in context. Your doctor will explain any results to you.
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