Fetal Distress

Fetal distress refers to signs that a baby may not be coping well during pregnancy or labor.

Healthcare professionals assess fetal well-being using heart rate monitoring and other clinical findings. Persistent abnormalities may indicate that the baby is not receiving enough oxygen and may require urgent delivery.

Because the term “fetal distress” is broad, clinicians increasingly use more specific descriptions such as non-reassuring fetal status.

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