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Review
. 2023 Aug 21;10(8):1420.
doi: 10.3390/children10081420.

Maternal Oxygen Administration during Labor: A Controversial Practice

Isabella Abati  1 , Massimo Micaglio  2 , Dario Giugni  2 , Viola Seravalli  1 , Giulia Vannucci  1 , Mariarosaria Di Tommaso  1
Affiliations
Review

Maternal Oxygen Administration during Labor: A Controversial Practice

Isabella Abati et al. Children (Basel). .

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; obstetric labor; oxygen inhalation therapy; placental circulation; umbilical cord blood.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Effects of exogenous oxygen administration to normoxic pregnant women during labor (O2: oxygen; CO2: carbon dioxide).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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