Acidaemia at Birth: Risk factors, diagnosis and prognosis, with special reference to maternal fever in labour
Acidaemia at birth is a result of an impaired intrauterine gas exchange. Between 1988 and 1996, acid-base balance in cord artery blood pH was assessed in 23 016 of 27 064 newborns (85%). Obstetric risk factors for acidaemia (cord artery pH < 7.05) were identified in a case-control study. Independent risk factors were breech delivery, administration of oxytocin or pethidine, cord entanglement and m