Continuous intrapartum pH, pO(2), pCO(2), and SpO(2) monitoring

Experimental continuous methods of measurement of intrapartum fetal biochem ical status have included continuous fetal pH, continuous fetal pO(2), and the development of continuous fetal SpO(2) using pulse oximetry. The main l imitation of the continuous pH studies was the lack of a user-friendly elec trode, whereas continuous tcpO(2) and tcpCO(2) studies had problems with di ffusion and the unpredictable effects of caput formation. Continuous fetal noninvasive SpO(2) has long been developed to the point where it is unaffec ted by caput formation, offering a continuous measurement of fetal oxygenat ion during labor.