Hypoxia - changes in the body of a developing fetus due to lack of oxygen. This happens in 10.5% of all cases of pregnancy and childbirth.
A lack of oxygen leads to a change in metabolic processes and a violation of certain body functions. Hypoxia that occurred at different stages of pregnancy has different consequences for the development of the baby. In early pregnancy, hypoxia leads to developmental defects and slowed fetal growth. At later dates, it leads to a slowdown in fetal growth, imperfection of the central nervous system, complicates the adaptive capabilities of the newborn.
By themselves, hypoxia and green waters do not occur during childbirth. They are the result of chronic and infectious diseases of the mother, diseases of the fetus (congenital malformations, anemia, hemolytic disease, compression of the head during childbirth) and disturbances in placental metabolism.
What is the manifestation of hypoxia?
If green water appears during childbirth, then this is considered the first sign of hypoxia. The water turns green because the child is very uncomfortable. Its intestines are emptied, the water mixes with the original feces, which is called meconium, and therefore have a green color.
If the fetal bladder does not open for a long time, and childbirth is already in use, then green water may also appear during childbirth. After all, the uterus is already opened and pushes the baby, the baby is trying to go further along the birth canal, and a whole bladder interferes with it. He tries his best, again isolating meconium, so the waters turn green. In this case, the bladder is opened with a special tool or an episiotomy (perineal incision) is made to the woman, because the child has already suffered from intrauterine hypoxia.
How to detect hypoxia?
A change in the motor activity of the baby indicates the presence of hypoxia. The initial stage is characterized by increased tremors and restlessness of the baby, and severe - on the contrary, a decrease in the number of movements and a decrease in their strength. It is urgent to consult an obstetrician-gynecologist if the frequency of movements has fallen to 3 movements per hour! This suggests that the fetus is seriously affected.
You should be alert for green color during pregnancy. This always indicates an inflammatory process that appears as a result of infection. And the infection leads to insufficient oxygen supply to the fetus. Therefore, you urgently need to see a doctor after seeing green on your underwear during pregnancy. Too active or, conversely, rare fetal movements are also a dangerous sign. So do not delay the visit to the doctor.
The effects of hypoxia
Severe hypoxia and green water during childbirth does not pass for a born baby without a trace . Compensating for the lack of oxygen, the baby’s body speeds up the heartbeat, all the baby’s organs work with greater force. Vital organs (heart, kidneys, brain) receive, first of all, more oxygen, and the intestines, for example, suffer from hypoxia and therefore meconium is released. But this process has a limit. And sooner or later, such protection will weaken and begin to suffer, first of all, the child’s nervous system.
Green waters during childbirth consequences: ischemia and irreversible consequences are noted - necrosis in different organs of the body. Rarely, green waters during childbirth cause the death of the newborn.
Severe and prolonged hypoxia is a direct indication for cesarean section. Remember that any hypoxia has its beginning in the bearing of the baby, so try to lead the right lifestyle and carefully monitor your condition and the condition of the baby, go through all the research in time, for example, such as ultrasound and dopplerometry.