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'Fetal distress' is the medical term given to when a baby displays signs that it may not be coping when in the uterus. Fetal distress can occur during pregnancy, or more commonly during labour. Fetal Distress can be due to a wide range of reasons. Some of the more common causes include:
Not enough oxygen
Blood chemical imbalances
The baby is unwell
Not enough oxygen
The most common reason for fetal distress is the baby is not receiving enough oxygen when inside the uterus. This is usually because there is not an adequate blood flow through the placenta and cord. When the uterus contracts in labour, it momentarily reduces blood flow to the baby, as the uterus relaxes, the blood flow increases. This is a normal, natural process that healthy babies, with a healthy placenta, are not concerned with. In fact, it actually stimulates the baby (usually shown as an increase in their heart rate).
There are some situations when the blood flow (and hence the oxygen supply), are lessened, causing the baby to become either slowly distressed over time, or suddenly distressed if the incident is severe.
Some causes of fetal distress can include: