Maternal Oxygen Administration during Labor: A Controversial Practice

Abati, Isabella; Micaglio, Massimo; Giugni, Dario; Seravalli, Viola; Vannucci, Giulia; Di Tommaso, Mariarosaria

doi:10.3390/children10081420

Open AccessReview

Maternal Oxygen Administration during Labor: A Controversial Practice

by

Isabella Abati

¹

,

Massimo Micaglio

²

,

Dario Giugni

²,

Viola Seravalli

¹,

Giulia Vannucci

¹ and

Mariarosaria Di Tommaso

^1,*

¹

Department of Health Sciences, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Careggi Hospital, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy

²

Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Careggi Hospital, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Florence, Italy

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Children 2023, 10(8), 1420; https://doi.org/10.3390/children10081420

Submission received: 29 July 2023 / Revised: 11 August 2023 / Accepted: 16 August 2023 / Published: 21 August 2023

(This article belongs to the Section Pediatric Neonatology)

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Abstract

Oxygen administration to the mother is commonly performed during labor, especially in the case of a non-reassuring fetal heart rate, aiming to increase oxygen diffusion through the placenta to fetal tissues. The benefits and potential risks are controversial, especially when the mother is not hypoxemic. Its impact on placental gas exchange and the fetal acid–base equilibrium is not fully understood and it probably affects the sensible placental oxygen equilibrium causing a time-dependent vasoconstriction of umbilical and placental vessels. Hyperoxia might also cause the generation of radical oxygen species, raising concerns for the developing fetal cells. Moreover, this practice affects the maternal cardiovascular system, causing alterations of the cardiac index, heart rate and vascular resistance, and unclear effects on uterine blood flow. In conclusion, there is no evidence that maternal oxygen administration can provide any benefit in the case of a non-reassuring fetal heart rate pattern, while possible collateral effects warn of its utilization. Oxygen administration during labor should be reserved for cases of maternal hypoxia.

Keywords: fetal heart rate; oxygen inhalation therapy; obstetric labor; placental circulation; umbilical cord blood

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MDPI and ACS Style

Abati, I.; Micaglio, M.; Giugni, D.; Seravalli, V.; Vannucci, G.; Di Tommaso, M. Maternal Oxygen Administration during Labor: A Controversial Practice. Children 2023, 10, 1420. https://doi.org/10.3390/children10081420

AMA Style

Abati I, Micaglio M, Giugni D, Seravalli V, Vannucci G, Di Tommaso M. Maternal Oxygen Administration during Labor: A Controversial Practice. Children. 2023; 10(8):1420. https://doi.org/10.3390/children10081420

Chicago/Turabian Style

Abati, Isabella, Massimo Micaglio, Dario Giugni, Viola Seravalli, Giulia Vannucci, and Mariarosaria Di Tommaso. 2023. "Maternal Oxygen Administration during Labor: A Controversial Practice" Children 10, no. 8: 1420. https://doi.org/10.3390/children10081420

APA Style

Abati, I., Micaglio, M., Giugni, D., Seravalli, V., Vannucci, G., & Di Tommaso, M. (2023). Maternal Oxygen Administration during Labor: A Controversial Practice. Children, 10(8), 1420. https://doi.org/10.3390/children10081420

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

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Maternal Oxygen Administration during Labor: A Controversial Practice

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