In lieu of obtaining a scalp blood gas sample,what can the therapist do to conduct intrapartum assessment of the fetus?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

On many obstetric services,when persistent severe variable or late decelerations of the FHR are diagnosed,fetal scalp blood is obtained via transvaginal fetal scalp puncture,allowing blood gas measurements to be obtained.Scalp blood pH greater than 7.25 is considered reassuring;values of 7.15 or less signal high risk of fetal acidemia.Many clinicians believe that scalp blood gas assessment in the face of an abnormal FHR pattern more precisely defines the fetus at risk and can thus prevent unnecessary forceps and cesarean deliveries.An alternative to scalp blood gas assessment is fetal scalp stimulation.Using the underlying rationale of the NST,transvaginal stimulation of the fetal scalp to induce fetal movement causes the fetal heart rate to accelerate and reassures the clinician that the fetus is not hypoxemic or acidemic.

In Lieu of Obtaining a Scalp Blood Gas Sample,what Can