Mild hypoxia in newborns. How dangerous is hypoxia in newborns? What is called hypoxia of newborns

05.05.2019

Pregnancy is such a long-awaited and happy event in a woman's life. At the same time, this is a very crucial period. The health and well-being of both the mother and the unborn baby depends on how these 9 months pass.

In some cases, there is the likelihood of unpleasant circumstances that can darken the bright feelings and the first joys of motherhood. Basically, such situations are associated with health problems of the child.

What is hypoxia

Hypoxia is one of the most common pathologies that parents of a baby can learn about even before his birth or within the walls of the hospital. This condition is characterized lack of oxygen during gestation or directly during childbirth.

Tissues, internal organs, the central nervous system and the brain, against the background of poor oxygen supply, are damaged and cannot function fully, irreversible processes occur in some cells. This situation poses a serious threat to the normal development of the fetus. Severe cases can lead to disability and even a threat to the child's life.

Causes of hypoxia

Hypoxia can occur as a consequence of the pathology of the intrauterine and postpartum periods, as well as directly during childbirth.

Depending on the root cause of this condition, chronic and acute forms of hypoxia are distinguished. The chronic form develops throughout pregnancy. The main reasons for its occurrence are:

Various severe pathologies and diseases of a woman in labor... Such as:

Leukemia.
Disruption of the heart muscle.
Intoxication.
Asthma.
Anemia.
Infections of the genitourinary system.
Diseases of the endocrine system.

A serious risk of impaired child development occurs in women who smoke, abuse alcohol and drugs. Expectant mothers under 18 and over 27 years old also fall into the risk group.

Pregnancy pathologies:

in cases of serious trophic disorders in the placenta (abruption, presentation, premature aging and thinning),
Gestosis.
Low water / polyhydramnios.
Rhesus conflict.
Pathologies and genetic diseases of the fetus.
Multiple pregnancy.
Infection of intrauterine waters.

An acute form of hypoxia develops in the case of:

Rapid childbirth.
Prolonged labor.
Premature birth.
When entwined with an umbilical cord.
When removing the fetus by applying forceps.

Hypoxia of the postpartum period may occur due to:

Anemia of the newborn.
Congenital malformation of the lungs or heart.
As a result of extensive blood loss.
In case of an overdose with anesthesia or drugs.
With birth trauma.

Signs and symptoms

Most often, there are no difficulties in determining the presence or absence of hypoxia in a newborn, since this condition has a clear and pronounced symptomatology.

The main signs of hypoxia include: tachycardia, bradycardia, arrhythmia, heart murmurs, hypovolemia, blood clots, tissue hemorrhages, the presence of meconium in the analysis of amniotic fluid.

Depending on how fully the child's body is functioning, using the Apgar scale, experts distinguish 4 degrees of severity of oxygen starvation:

8-10 points - a condition without signs of impaired body functions.
7-6 points - 1st degree of hypoxia, mild form. In this case, the restoration of the normal functioning of the body occurs without outside interference within a few minutes after birth.
5-4 points - 2nd degree, medium form (moderate). Full recovery will take from several days to several weeks.
3-0 points - 3rd degree, severe form (). To improve the child's condition, it is necessary to resuscitate him. Subsequently, the recovery of such a baby requires full treatment and serious care.

To determine that chronic intrauterine oxygen starvation has led to the development of a disease such as encephalopathy, caring parents can even with the naked eye.

In this case, the baby may experience a violation of thermoregulation. He behaves restlessly, often and (during crying, his chin trembles, it is difficult to calm him down). There is constant weakness and drowsiness. The child shudders during sleep (). With any sound or tactile effect, the baby shudders and is frightened.

Hypoxia can lead to the development of such serious diseases as: delayed psychomotor development, hyperactivity, vegetative-vascular dystonia, epilepsy, damage to the cranial nerves, mental development disorders, hydroencephalopathy.

Treatment and recovery methods for hypoxia

In case of acute hypoxia, first of all are freed from mucus and meconium from the baby's airways... Then, with the help of mask breathing or artificial ventilation of the lungs, the proper level of oxygen supply to the body is ensured. After that, it is necessary to stabilize the baby's body temperature and blood pressure.

In case of blood loss, a blood or plasma transfusion is performed. After carrying out all the necessary procedures, the child is under constant supervision (pulse, pressure, body temperature, heart rate are monitored). If necessary, drugs are introduced to improve the condition of the newborn.

In the case of serious violations, drug therapy is prescribed, which may include drugs that improve the blood supply to the brain, remove excess fluid from it, vasoconstrictor drugs, and corrective concomitant conditions.

Do not forget that a child whose body has suffered to one degree or another from oxygen starvation, requires increased attention... To improve his condition, first of all, it is necessary to provide and care. Good nutrition plays an important role.

Classes with specialists from rehabilitation centers, regular massages and developmental physical exercises give a positive result.

All procedures must be performed strictly in accordance with the doctor's recommendations. The earlier the rehabilitation process begins and the more regularly the classes take place, the more chances for the child's full recovery and recovery.

Hypoxia in children can occur during intrauterine development or at birth. Lack of oxygen can lead to health problems in the child. If cerebral hypoxia is diagnosed in newborns, the consequences are of interest to all parents.

Much will depend on how long the baby lacked oxygen, as well as on the timeliness and correctness of the decision. The pathology is quite common, and it is found in 6% of newborns. Parents need to understand what they have to deal with so that the right action can be taken.

Cerebral hypoxia in newborns is a pathology in which the baby lacks oxygen from the mother to the fetus. Often this problem occurs during pregnancy, so a woman needs to closely monitor her health and the condition of her baby.

Hypoxia is acute and chronic. The first type often occurs due to difficult childbirth, which significantly affected the health of the child. In the chronic form, the child experiences oxygen deprivation for a long time.

It is important to know the features of this condition so as not to aggravate the situation and prevent a significant deterioration in the baby's health.

Lack of oxygen cannot be called a safe pathology, because it has many complications. The disorder affects the internal organs, especially the lungs, heart and liver. In some cases, a toddler may even get disabled status. Only timely treatment will prevent the appearance of dangerous complications.

Varieties

Cerebral hypoxia in children can develop due to both external and internal factors. There are several types of pathology that are important to determine for further treatment.

Types of hypoxia:

Respiratory hypoxia... It appears due to the fact that a person's respiratory system is disrupted. The disease is often a side effect of asthma, brain damage, and muscle paralysis.
The disease is hypoxic in nature a. It is determined when the head does not receive enough oxygen from the outside world. A similar situation occurs, for example, when climbing to a height.
Circulatory pathology... It is isolated if a person has diseases of the cardiovascular system. Against their background, there may be a violation of blood flow, due to which oxygen does not enter the central nervous system in sufficient quantities. As a result, the person is in a state of shock. Because of this condition, it often arises.
Tissue pathology... It appears when there are problems with the absorption of oxygen by cells. Fasting occurs due to an enzyme blockade. Often, pathology can appear if a person is constantly in contact with poisons or drugs that are dangerous to health.
Hemic hypoxia... This disease occurs when there is a problem with oxygen transportation. Vessels lack this element, as well as hemoglobin. The problem appears when poisoning with poisonous elements, as well as gases.

Regardless of the type of disease, it is important to start treatment in a timely manner in order to prevent serious complications. To begin with, you will have to undergo diagnostics so that you can be sure of the presence of a specific disease.

Causes

There are many reasons why hypoxic changes in the brain appear in newborns. Moreover, many negative factors can be prevented, which is especially important for pregnant women. The reasons can be conditionally divided into 3 groups, depending on the circumstances under which the violation occurred.

Abnormalities during pregnancy:

The likelihood of miscarriage.
Placental disorders.
Umbilical cord entwined around the neck.
Premature birth, or carrying a baby longer than the due date.
Multiple pregnancy.
Histosis.

If a woman's pregnancy does not go smoothly, it is important to be constantly monitored by a doctor and make sure that the fetus is in good condition... For a newborn child to be healthy, it is extremely important to avoid hypoxic disorders.

Abnormalities in the mother:

The presence of anemia, or anemia.
Problems with the cardiovascular system.
Diseases of the bronchopulmonary type.
The occurrence of pregnancy in a woman who is less than 18 years old or more than 35 years old.
Pathology of the urinary organs.
Bad habits such as the use of drugs, alcohol or nicotine.
Constant stress, poor nutrition, lack of sleep.

For this reason, it is important for a pregnant woman to monitor her health. You should also definitely give up bad habits and reconsider your lifestyle. This will determine how correctly the fetus will develop.

Problematic childbirth:

Umbilical cord entanglement of the fetus. This is one of the most common reasons why a child has a lack of air.
Birth trauma.
Difficult childbirth, both for the mother and the baby.
The use of medicines that can affect the condition of the baby.
Large fruit size.

If possible, negative factors should be eliminated so that you do not have to face negative consequences later. Each young person should take care to reduce the likelihood of developing hypoxic changes in the baby. If it was not possible to prevent this condition, then it is worthwhile to notice the characteristic symptoms in a timely manner.

Signs

With hypoxia of the brain, a newborn has various manifestations that can be noticed by both parents and doctors. It is impossible to diagnose pathology on your own, therefore it is important to immediately consult a doctor... After conducting the surveys, it will be possible to unequivocally say what problem you had to face.

The main symptoms are:

Faults in the work of the heart. Noises, increased heart rate, arrhythmia, bradycardia may be present.
The child has a small blood volume.
The born child does not cry at the moment of birth.
There are vascular thrombi.

These deviations in most cases are detected even in the maternity hospital. It is up to doctors, not parents, to find them. At the same time, the mother can independently notice violations in the child, which can speak of hypoxia. You should definitely pay attention to them in order to diagnose hypoxia in a timely manner.

Signs:

The presence of seizures.
Restless sleep in a newborn.
Constant crying for no reason.
The child flinches when touched.
Trembling of arms, legs and chin while crying.
Violation of muscle tone.
The kid is constantly freezing.

In this case, you should definitely consult with doctors in order to take timely measures. Wherein it is important to determine the degree of hypoxia in order to understand how serious the disorders are. If in a severe form, then the most adverse consequences are possible.

Apgar degrees

A baby is assessed at birth based on how well all the systems in the body are functioning. For this, the Apgar scale is used, according to which doctors are guided. First, the state is assessed in the first minute of life, and then after 5 minutes.

What points can be:

From 0 to 3 - severe hypoxia.
From 4 to 5 - the average severity of oxygen starvation.
6 to 7 - mild violation.
From 8 to 10 - everything is fine with the child.

Respiration rate, presence of reflex activity, skin color, muscle tone will be assessed... Also, attention is paid to the frequency of heart contractions. Depending on whether the child has a violation, a specific point will be given. Mild hypoxia resolves on its own within 5 minutes, but other degrees require treatment.

Diagnostics and treatment

In order to make an accurate diagnosis, it is important to undergo an examination. Even during pregnancy, a woman will need to perform an ultrasound of the fetus, a movement test, and also listen to the heartbeat. Based on the results of the research, it will be possible to understand whether there is a threat to the baby.

After birth, the baby is also tested for neurological examination. If deviations are noticed, then the presence of hypoxia can be suspected.

During treatment, first, breathing is restored with aspiration, then artificial ventilation of the lungs can be applied. A glucose solution and cocorboxylase are injected into the umbilical cord. With bardicardia, cardiac massage is performed, as well as adrenaline and other medications are injected into the vein. After that, the child will need to be given vitamins, infusion treatment, and oxygen therapy.

Consequences - video

The most dangerous is the acute form of cerebral hypoxia. It is this type that can lead to various deviations that affect the quality of human life. It is imperative to undergo a course of treatment in a timely manner if you want to keep your child's health.

Various consequences arise when the correct assistance has not been provided to the baby. In such a situation, pathology can negatively affect the quality of life. Complications can be mild or serious.

Possible consequences:

Accelerated contraction of the heart. In this case, there is an increased blood pressure. With hypoxia, the blood flow is redistributed, due to which trophic disorders are possible. The danger is that internal organs can stop functioning normally.
The respiration rate becomes different. The person develops shortness of breath.
The brain produces a large number of red blood cells. Because of this, there is a risk of blood clots.
Convulsions are common in childhood.
Visual function deteriorates.

Cerebral hypoxia or another type of pathology should not be allowed to take its course. Therapy should be completed, and the child should be monitored by a doctor to monitor changes. If you do not start treatment in a timely manner, developmental delays can often be observed. Children gain weight worse, do not speak for a long time, and also have neurological disorders. To prevent this, it is enough to visit a doctor on time and undergo a course of treatment.

Hypoxia in a newborn is a lack of oxygen in the child's body, which occurs during intrauterine development (chronic form) or in the process after childbirth (acute form). In this condition, the functions of the most important organs are disrupted: the heart, central nervous system (CNS), liver, lungs and kidneys, which threatens the health and life of the baby. Along with other pathologies of newborns, hypoxia occurs most often.

Causes

Various reasons can lead to a condition such as hypoxia: existing diseases of the mother, fetal pathologies, problems that have arisen during childbirth.

Factors that can lead to chronic brain hypoxia:

pathology in a pregnant woman from the respiratory system, blood vessels and heart, thyroid gland, pancreas;
anemia, urinary tract infections in the expectant mother;
a woman's age before 18 and after 35 years;
stress, poor sleep and nutrition, lack of walks in the fresh air, bad habits of a pregnant woman;
abruption or aging of the placenta;
entanglement of the fetus with the umbilical cord;
toxicosis in the later stages;
multiple pregnancy;
a lot or lack of water;
risk of miscarriage;
fetal malformations.

Complications during childbirth that lead to acute hypoxia:

premature / late labor;
taking painkillers;
rupture of the uterus;
rapid childbirth;
protracted labor;
using medical instruments to retrieve the newborn;
discrepancy between the lumen of the birth canal of the mother and the size of the child;
blockage of the newborn's airways with amniotic fluid or mucus.

Signs

The main signs of hypoxia in a newborn are a bluish skin tone, shortness of breath or lack of it, heart rhythm disturbances, and heart murmurs. At birth, the cry or the cry of the newborn will usually be very weak. Often, during hypoxia, meconium (original feces) is present in the amniotic fluid.

One of the main symptoms of hypoxia is the bluish tint of the baby's skin.

In the first and fifth minutes of life, doctors. To do this, you need to set from 0 to 2 points for each of the indicators:

skin color;
breath;
palpitations;
the presence of reflexes;
muscle tone.

When general indicators gain 8-10 points - this is the norm, 6-7 points - mild, 4-5 points - medium and 0-3 points - severe hypoxia. With a mild degree, the condition of the newborn improves within a few minutes. With an average degree, the functionality of the organs is restored in a few days. Severe degree requires resuscitation measures, complex treatment and monitoring of the child's condition in the future.

In children with a chronic form, convulsive muscle contractions, tremors, muscle hypotension, and arterial pressure disturbances are observed. This can cause the appearance of various types of hematomas, impaired functioning of the liver, kidneys, heart and other organs.

With a short-term or weakly manifested lack of oxygen, doctors may not immediately determine the dangerous condition. Such hypoxia is called latent, it is considered more dangerous, because therapeutic measures begin to be taken much later. Latent hypoxia has similar manifestations:

trembling of the newborn while crying;
the baby's sleep is unimportant, very sensitive;
the baby is restless, capricious, often freezes;
while bathing, the child is constantly crying;
the newborn has muscle tension, especially on the face.

Finding any of these symptoms requires urgent medical examination and treatment.

If brain hypoxia has been going on for a long time, this will become noticeable by the delay in the mental and physical development of the child.

Treatment

With manifestations of a moderate or severe degree of hypoxic damage to the central nervous system, doctors first suck mucus from the oral and nasal cavities, cleanse the airways from foreign bodies. If it is not possible to normalize breathing, an oxygen mask is used. The newborn is placed on a heated table or heating pads are applied.

In severe cases, special equipment is used to supply oxygen, warm up the baby, and also prescribe a number of effective drugs to save life, and in the future to avoid the adverse consequences of this condition as much as possible

According to indications, drugs are administered that stimulate respiratory activity and blood circulation (camphor, morphine), and the child is placed in a pressure chamber. Discharge from the hospital is carried out only when all the symptoms that are observed in oxygen deficiency disappear in the newborn.

The local doctor is engaged in further treatment of the baby. Systematic examinations by a neurologist are required. Your doctor may prescribe medications to help you calm down and stimulate your heart and brain.

both mother and child need to avoid stress;
the baby's sleep and nutrition should be complete;
frequent walks in the fresh air, preferably away from the roadway;
therapeutic and prophylactic massages (therapeutic massage should be performed only by a specialist);
bathing the baby in a bath with the addition of soothing herbs (needles, mint, lavender, valerian);
carry out aromatherapy with essential oils of lavender, ylang-ylang, chamomile, tea tree. You need to light the aroma lamp a few hours before bedtime or apply a little oil on your baby's pillow.

Effects

As mentioned above, hypoxia in newborns can be of varying severity. Almost always, hypoxia leaves consequences, but how much it will affect the health of the baby depends on the correct and timely treatment, as well as on the body of the child himself.

A mild degree goes away almost immediately and does not threaten the health of the baby. With a moderate degree, inhibition of innate reflexes can be observed, but after treatment, the body returns to normal.

Mild hypoxia will soon pass without harming the baby's health

A severe degree is dangerous with a violation of the functions of the brain. A child may experience delays in psycho-emotional and physical development, increased muscle tone, anxiety, poor sleep, and convulsions. An acute lack of oxygen can even lead to the death of a baby, but now it is a rarity, since doctors have in their arsenal quite strong drugs and modern equipment that will help stabilize the baby and remove the harmful effects of this ailment as much as possible.

Lack of oxygen in children during the first days of life can be avoided in most cases. To do this, you need to know the reasons that lead to this pathological condition.

A healthy lifestyle during pregnancy, walking in the fresh air, taking vitamins, meditation - these are the fundamental factors in the birth of a healthy baby and the best prevention of hypoxia.

Before and during pregnancy, you must give up all bad habits (especially alcohol and smoking). It must be remembered that it is nicotine that prevents the flow of oxygen to organs and tissues, and alcohol poisons the child's body as a whole.

To avoid anemia during pregnancy, you need to eat foods rich in iron (liver, meat), folic acid (herbs, green vegetables), as well as vitamin C (cabbage, pepper, rose hips, lemon).

Hypoxia in a newborn is a dangerous condition, so you need to take it seriously. Timely diagnostics, careful monitoring of the child and following all the recommendations of doctors - all this gives a guarantee for recovery.

Cerebral hypoxia in newborns is oxygen starvation of cells that occurs at the stage of pregnancy or after childbirth, but already in an acute form of manifestation. With this pathology, a malfunction of the internal organs occurs.

Based on the studies carried out, various reasons can lead to such a disease.

Some factors leading to brain hypoxia in newborns:

diseases such as pulmonary or heart failure, thyroid or pancreas problems;
viral diseases of the urinary tract;
anemia;
minors of the expectant mother;
the woman is over 35 years old;
smoking, alcohol;
depression and stress;
poor nutrition and lack of sleep;
lack of walks;
late toxicosis;
placental abruption;
if the number of fruits is from 2 or more;
if the fetus is entwined with an umbilical cord;
the threat of miscarriage;
a lot or lack of water;
defects at the developmental stage of the baby.

With complications during the period of birth of a child, signs of pathology may also appear:

late childbirth;
premature birth;
taking analgesics;
very fast delivery;
too long contractions;
rupture of the uterus;
the use of medical instruments to extract the newborn from the placenta;
large fruit;
filling of the respiratory tract with waters.

The causes of the disease can also be genetic predispositions: different rhesus of the blood, congenital pathologies of the heart muscle and intracranial injuries. In this case, it is necessary to plan a pregnancy and consult a specialist.

Signs of the disease

Externally, the presence of a disease in infants can be determined by:

bluish tint of the skin;
difficulty breathing;
lack of breathing;
failure of the heart rate;
noise in the heart muscle;
weak cry after birth.

Often in the amniotic fluid, the original feces, called meconium, are observed.

From the first to the fifth minute of life, starting from birth, experts assess the child's condition using a specialized Apgar scale. To do this, you need to build on from 0 to 2 points for each of the above indicators:

the color of the epidermis;
the presence and strength of respiratory functions;
the frequency of contraction of the heart muscle;
response to external factors or the presence of a reflex;
muscle tone.

The norm is considered if the total amount of indicators was from 8 to 10 points. A mild degree of pathology is observed from 6 to 7, an average - from 4 to 5. A severe condition is noted if the points are not recorded at all or their sum is no more than 3.

A severe degree of pathology requires close attention of doctors, resuscitation measures are possible.

When a diagnosis of chronic hypoxia is made in children, muscle tremors, weakness, and blood pressure disorders are observed. These manifestations contribute to the formation of hematomas and disruption of the work of internal organs.

If the pathology has a short-term manifestation or specialists cannot immediately determine the insufficient oxygen level in the child after birth, then therapeutic measures are taken later, which leads to a risk to the life of the baby. This is called latent hypoxia, which manifests itself as follows:

body shaking when the baby cries;
poor sleep, reaction to the slightest rustle;
the child is naughty and often freezes;
while taking a bath, the little one is capricious;
the muscles of the face are in constant tension.

If at least one of these symptoms is found, there is no need to postpone the examination in order to start treatment as soon as possible.

If the disease has been going on for a long time, then this, as a rule, affects the mental and physical development of the baby.

How to treat a disease

If the degree of pathology is severe or moderate, then it makes no sense to postpone treatment for a long time, since the occurrence of cerebral hypoxia in newborns leads to different consequences. As a rule, to eliminate this manifestation, artificial suction of fluid from the mouth and nose is performed and the airways are cleared. If, using this method, it was not possible to completely normalize the vital functions of the body, then a specialized oxygen mask is used. In this case, the child is placed on a table with a warming effect and heating pads are applied.

If the degree of the disease is very severe, then doctors use special equipment to supply oxygen. To preserve vital functions, drugs with a high effect are used.

Morphine or camphor is prescribed to stimulate the respiratory system. In this case, the newborn must be inside the pressure chamber. Together with his mother, he is discharged from the hospital only if all unfavorable symptoms have completely disappeared. So that the disease does not further manifest itself, the treatment is performed by the district pediatrician. The doctor prescribes sedatives and medications to stimulate organs such as the heart and brain.

neither the baby nor the mother should be nervous;
sleep should be complete;
the diet should include all nutrients, trace elements and vitamins;
daily walks in the fresh air in any weather;
specialized massages carried out only by a specialist;
taking baths with decoctions of soothing herbs such as mint, lemon balm, lavender and valerian;
carrying out aromatherapy procedures at home.

Only if all of the above conditions are met, as well as the recommendations of specialists, you can achieve success. It should be remembered that it is always necessary to deal with the described manipulations, even regardless of whether the disease has completely passed or not.

The consequences of pathology

Changes in the brain structure entail rather unfavorable prognosis. In all cases, the hypoxic-ischemic state with brain damage in newborns leaves its consequences, which later affect the life of the baby.

With a mild degree of the disease, the pathology passes quickly, although in this case, specialists make certain efforts. If the degree of the disease is average, then there is a lack of some reflex functions, but after a long recovery, the body quickly normalizes.

Severe pathology is considered the most dangerous, since the child may experience developmental delays, restlessness and poor sleep. With an acute shortage of oxygen, a lethal outcome is possible, but at present this is unlikely, because modern clinics are equipped with specialized equipment that helps restore vital functions.

The consequences of a lack of oxygen in children can be avoided in almost all cases. To do this, you must have knowledge of the reasons for this manifestation. In order to prevent hypoxia at the stage of pregnancy, you should eat right, spend more time in the fresh air, not be nervous and have a good rest, as well as take in the missing vitamins and regularly consult with a specialist. This is the best thing that can save you from negative consequences.

While waiting for the baby, you should also stop smoking and drinking alcohol. Nicotine creates an obstacle to the flow of oxygen, which further develops ischemia, and alcohol completely poisons the body of the unborn baby.

To avoid anemia, during pregnancy it is necessary to eat foods enriched with trace elements, iron. It is liver or meat. Greens and green vegetables are rich in folic acid, which is no less necessary for the expectant mother. Lemon, cabbage, peppers and other foods fortified with vitamins C will be nutritious for a baby and a woman during pregnancy.

The revealed pathology of hypoxia in a child is a dangerous disease that requires careful research and treatment. In order to prevent negative consequences, you should consult a doctor as often as possible and take all preventive measures.

If the baby has been experiencing a lack of oxygen for a long time while in the womb, or hypoxia was observed at birth, then in the future the person may have serious health problems. While the fetus is in the mother's abdomen, it receives oxygen from the placenta. However, sometimes the amount of oxygen in the blood of a pregnant woman decreases for some reason. Then the child experiences oxygen starvation. If hypoxic changes are observed in the fetus for a long time and proceed in a severe form, then the development of the baby slows down.

Oxygen starvation during pregnancy and childbirth badly affects the brain of the child

What is called cerebral hypoxia?

One of the most common pathologies of fetal development is cerebral hypoxia in newborns. It is expressed in a lack of oxygen from mother to child.

There are several forms of hypoxia. A child may experience a lack of oxygen during the period of gestation. This condition is defined as chronic hypoxia. The acute form is the result of difficult childbirth. Lack of oxygen affects the brain and other vital organs: heart, liver, lungs. It is not uncommon for a child to receive a disability.

Varieties of hypoxia

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There are many types of hypoxia. More often it is classified according to the reasons leading to the pathological condition. Allocate:

respiratory, caused by bronchospasm, suffocation or pulmonary edema;
circular, arising from problems in the cardiovascular system;
hemic, as a result of a low content of hemoglobin and red blood cells in the blood, destruction of red blood cells or inhalation of carbon monoxide (we recommend reading:);
tissue, formed due to disturbances in the processes of oxygen assimilation by tissues;
overload caused by increased physical exertion;
exogenous, resulting from being in special conditions (in the highlands, in a submarine, working in a mine, etc.);
mixed, arising from the influence of several reasons at once.

Causes and consequences of oxygen starvation

The fetus experiences a lack of oxygen while in the womb suffering from:

severe intoxication against the background of toxicosis;
chronic diseases (heart disease, lung disease, endocrine system pathology, etc.);
drug, nicotine or alcohol addiction;
frequent stress;
improper nutrition.

Most often, hypoxia occurs in children of young mothers and women over 35 years old. Often, the baby experiences a lack of oxygen due to the Rh-conflict. Sometimes acquired hypoxia occurs, caused by an entanglement of the umbilical cord, difficult childbirth, immaturity of the respiratory system, multiple pregnancies, or as a result of the birth of a baby earlier or later than the due date.

How is this violation determined?

A woman does not always know why her baby begins to be active and becomes restless. By kicking and rolling over, the fetus signals that it lacks oxygen. After active actions, the baby calms down, the tremors become weak, barely perceptible.

A perturbation test will help a woman to understand what is happening with the child. If the fetus has made less than 3 active thrusts within an hour, this is a serious reason for contacting a gynecologist.

If, after a visit to the doctor, doubts remain, additional research is carried out:

cardiotocography;
fetal electrocardiogram;
extended blood test, etc.

What is the risk of fetal hypoxia for a child in the future?

Due to intrauterine hypoxia, the brain receives less oxygen. Encephalopathy often develops, sometimes the child cannot be saved (see also :). In an infant who has undergone hypoxia during pregnancy and childbirth, the consequences of a lack of oxygen can appear within several months.

Severe oxygen deficiency does not go unnoticed. Changes in the functioning of the brain can lead to serious pathologies of the nervous system, including cerebral palsy.

Chronic fetal hypoxia

The chronic form develops less frequently than the acute one. The fetus suffers from a prolonged lack of oxygen due to the fault of the mother, who is irresponsible to her health.

Chronic hypoxia often occurs due to the fault of a pregnant woman who is negligent about her health

Sometimes, in the presence of health problems in the mother, proper drug therapy can improve blood circulation in the placenta and increase the rate of metabolic processes in tissues.

Symptoms

Thanks to modern examination methods, hypoxia can be detected already at an early stage of pregnancy. The health of the baby in the future will depend on how soon it will be possible to determine the cause of the ailment and prescribe the appropriate treatment.

The first trimeter is considered the most dangerous period for a baby. Many vital systems and organs may not form properly. A baby suffering from hypoxia develops more slowly and gains weight poorly (for more details, see the article :). Lacking oxygen, the fetus tries to restore the necessary level of blood flow. His heart starts to beat faster - this is one of the symptoms to watch out for.

When hypoxia is especially severe, the body, trying to maintain vital organs, restricts the blood supply to the intestines. The anus relaxes, the amniotic fluid becomes contaminated with meconium (original feces). At the time of delivery, doctors assess the color of the amniotic fluid - normally it should be transparent.

How to diagnose pathology?

It will be possible to achieve an effect in the treatment of hypoxia only if its cause has been correctly identified.

If hypoxia of the brain can be detected even in the uterine state, the treatment promises to be quick and effective.

A woman registered with a antenatal clinic will have to undergo a thorough diagnosis, including:

Fetal ultrasound;
listening to the heartbeat with a stethoscope;
baby movement test.

With the help of ultrasound, specialists monitor the state of the embryo, assess the amount and consistency of amniotic fluid. An ultrasound scan allows you to see all the organs of the fetus. Thanks to this method, the doctor understands whether the child is in danger or there is no intrauterine hypoxia.

CT scan and listening with a stethoscope can detect abnormalities in the baby's heart rhythm in the mother's abdomen. If the heart rate exceeds the norm (160-170 beats per minute), these are signs of hypoxia.

Treatment methods

If the fetus is diagnosed with chronic hypoxia, the woman may be advised to take vitamin E. It improves metabolic processes and increases cell permeability. If hypoxia persists, doctors decide to perform a caesarean section at a gestational age of 7 months.

Sometimes it is enough for a woman to balance her diet, use special vitamins and microelements, walk more in the fresh air

If the analyzes of the patient indicate problems with plasma coagulation, she is prescribed anticoagulants. The lowered level of hemoglobin is restored with the help of iron-containing preparations. The drug Curantil promotes blood thinning.

Hypertension is sometimes diagnosed in pregnant women. In this case, droppers with magnesia are prescribed. The drug has a beneficial effect on the fetus and reduces the risk of hypoxia.

Preventive measures

To avoid the negative consequences of oxygen starvation in a child, a pregnant woman needs to register with an antenatal clinic. You need to regularly visit your doctor and follow all his recommendations.

The expectant mother needs to lead a healthy lifestyle. You need to give up bad habits, go outside more often, monitor your diet and sleep at least 8 hours a day. During this period, it is better to limit coffee consumption and try to avoid stressful situations.

Implications for children

Hypoxia can be fatal. Oxygen starvation affects the development of the brain. In addition, there are violations in the work of the child's organs and systems:

as soon as the baby is born, he may be diagnosed with increased intracranial pressure, hemorrhage, arrhythmia or bradycardia;
often children have seizures (we recommend that you read:);
sometimes the retina of the eye suffers from hypoxia, vision deteriorates;
a 3-month-old child may have decreased muscle tone.

Acute hypoxia in newborns

This form of oxygen starvation occurs in children at the time of birth. As a rule, the mother cannot prevent the development of acute hypoxia in any way. Sometimes the child begins to suffocate due to the fault of unqualified medical personnel. When preparing for childbirth, a pregnant woman should choose a maternity hospital in advance, in which the birth process will take place under the supervision of highly qualified specialists.

Causes of the pathological condition

Sometimes acute hypoxia occurs against the background of the use of rhodostimulating drugs. Stimulating contractions helps your baby swallow amniotic fluid. Rapid childbirth does not allow preparing for the birth of either the child or the mother's body. Aggressive childbirth often leads to injury.

There are several main causes of acute oxygen starvation in newborns:

multiple pregnancy;
polyhydramnios;
weak labor activity;
entanglement with an umbilical cord;
placental abruption.

An acute form of hypoxia can develop due to difficult childbirth.

The course of treatment for the baby

The consequences of hypoxia in a newborn should be treated immediately. At birth, the baby can swallow amniotic fluid. To clear the airways of the child, the medical staff must use special equipment to remove the remaining mucus and fluid from the nose and mouth. Until the newborn has regained breathing, he is put on an oxygen mask.

The mild form does not require serious treatment - massage, physiotherapy and therapeutic exercises are enough (for more details, see the article :).
Moderate severity involves taking drugs that improve cerebral circulation and increase metabolic processes in the child's body.
If a severe form of pathology is observed, the child is placed in intensive care. For cerebral edema, diuretics are prescribed. Anticonvulsant medications relieve cramps and muscle tension.