Cord gases

6 replies

Museya15 · 06/04/2023 22:11

I was just looking through my birth notes and noticed my baby had these blood tests anyone know what they are or why they do cord gases?

OP posts:

Fluffyrug191 · 06/04/2023 22:12

For any baby where there is a potential of distress in labour (emergency section, instrumental, dodgy CTG etc) they do them to check the levels of hypoxia to enable them to plan any extra care that might be required

ToBeOrNotToBee · 06/04/2023 22:17

They detect the acidity of the blood.

When a baby is in distress the blood turns more acidic, cord gases indicate how distressed baby was at point of delivery and if necessary, how much baby was starved of oxygen.

Original poster

Museya15 · 06/04/2023 23:09

Thank you, that explains it, she was forcep delivery. Thankfully she seems to be okay. Thanks again to you both

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TulipsTwoLips · 08/04/2023 04:27

That’s interesting. I had a planned section, any idea why they would have measured cord gases? I can’t think of any reason that they would have suspected he was in distress, other than because I fainted from the spinal block?

ToBeOrNotToBee · 08/04/2023 09:00

TulipsTwoLips · 08/04/2023 04:27

Most likely, if your blood pressure dropped from the spinal, causing you to faint, this may have interfered with baby's blood supply. They would have done cord gases to see if baby was hypoxic as a result.

khaa2091 · 29/04/2023 23:08

Some hospitals routinely do cord gases on all Caesarean deliveries.

Flip