Fetal surveillance in late pregnancy and during labor

Luis A Izquierdo; Nicole Yonke

doi:10.1016/j.ogc.2014.02.009

Fetal surveillance in late pregnancy and during labor

Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am. 2014 Jun;41(2):307-15. doi: 10.1016/j.ogc.2014.02.009. Epub 2014 Mar 29.

Authors

Luis A Izquierdo¹, Nicole Yonke²

Affiliations

¹ Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, MSC 105580, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA. Electronic address: lizquierdo@salud.unm.edu.
² Division of Maternal Child Health, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA.

PMID: 24845492
DOI: 10.1016/j.ogc.2014.02.009

Abstract

During early gestation, drugs have teratogenic effects and can be associated with structural anomalies in the fetus. Substance abuse can also have physiologic effects on the mother and fetus, including decreased uterine blood flow, increased vascular resistance, and an increase in fetal blood pressure. Women at increased risk for stillbirth should undergo antepartum fetal surveillance initiated at 32 weeks of gestation. Because of the high incidence of low birth weight, fetal anomalies, preterm delivery, and growth restriction in these patients, ultrasonography for appropriate pregnancy dating, a detailed anatomic survey, and cervical length should be performed at 20 weeks' gestation.

Keywords: Antepartum testing; Fetus; Illegal substance abuse; Mother.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Female
Fetal Monitoring*
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Labor, Obstetric*
Mothers / psychology*
Practice Guidelines as Topic
Pregnancy
Risk Factors
Substance Abuse Detection / methods*
Substance-Related Disorders / complications*