8 Fetal Considerations in the Critically Ill Gravida
123 8 Fetal Considerations in the Critically Ill Gravida Jeffrey P. Phelan Childbirth Injury Prevention Foundation, Glendora, CA, USA San Gabriel Valley Perinatal Medical Group, Inc., West Covina, CA Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Citrus Valley Medical Center, West Covina, CA, USA Introduction well‐being during labor [2,3] with the goal of permitting the clinician to identify those fetuses at a greater likeli- Unlike any other medical or surgical specialty, obstetrics hood of intrapartum fetal death [4] and to intervene deals with the simultaneous management of two – and when certain FHR abnormalities are present. sometimes more – individuals. Under all circumstances, In addition to the intrapartum assessment of fetal the obstetrician must delicately balance the impact of well‐being, the fetal monitor has been used to assess each treatment decision on the pregnant woman and her fetal health before labor [5] and to attempt to identify fetus, seeking, when possible, to minimize the risks of those fetuses at risk for intrauterine death. Once that harm to each person. Throughout this text, the primary fetus is identified, the maternal‐fetal unit is moved from focus has been on the critically ill obstetric patient and, outpatient to inpatient care. Once in labor and delivery, secondarily, her fetus. Although the fetal effects of those continuous fetal monitoring is used to determine illnesses were reviewed in part, the goal of this chapter is whether continued expectant management or delivery to highlight, especially for the non‐obstetric clinician, by induction of labor or cesarean is the next form of the important clinical fetal considerations encountered intervention.
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