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Updated: Oct 1, 2026

Instrumentation of Near-term Fetal Sheep for Multivariate Chronic Non-anesthetized Recordings
Published on: October 25, 2015
[Evaluation of fetal oxygen saturation (FSpO2) during the course of underwater labor]
1Kliniki Perinatologii, kierownik, Instytutu Ginekologii i Połoznictwa, Akademii Medycznej w łodzi.
During controlled, randomized prospective trials, fetal arterial hemoglobin saturation (FSpO2) was estimated during 25 underwater labors and compared to results obtained from 34 classical deliveries. Mean fetal hemoglobin saturation during the first stage of labor was similar in both groups while a gradual decreasing trend in fetal FSpO2 was noticed throughout the progress of labor. In the second stage of labor higher mean FSpO2 values were observed in the group of fetuses born underwater. The author emphasized in discussion that underwater labor constitutes delicate and mild procedure particularly for the fetus.
During controlled, randomized prospective trials, fetal arterial hemoglobin saturation (FSpO2) was estimated during 25 underwater labors and compared to results obtained from 34 classical deliveries. Mean fetal hemoglobin saturation during the first stage of labor was similar in both groups while a gradual decreasing trend in fetal FSpO2 was noticed throughout the progress of labor. In the second stage of labor higher mean FSpO2 values were observed in the group of fetuses born underwater. The author emphasized in discussion that underwater labor constitutes delicate and mild procedure particularly for the fetus.
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