Umbilical cord blood gases for term healthy newborns

Examination of paired umbilical arterial and umbilical venous blood gases for 147 term, healthy newborns revealed a strong correlation of pH, bicarbonate, and base excess with the 1-minute Apgar score. Although significantly different from each other, a strong correlation existed between the gas measurements of the two vessels. The lower limit of pH for the umbilical artery was 7.12 and for the vein, 7.25. The arterial-venous difference for bicarbonate but not pH, oxygen or carbon dioxide tension, or base excess was correlated with the 1-minute Apgar score.