ABSTRACT
Pregnancy is a special state of the organism that requires adaptation to the new living conditions of the individual, which implies increased consumption of nutrients by the fetus as well as increased oxygenation. Perinatal asphyxia occurs at the moment of lack of oxygen (hypoxia) to the end organs due to a hypoxemic or ischemic insult that occurs before or during childbirth. The causes can be different and include the onset of a pregnant woman's illness, increased needs in many pregnant women, placental disorders, and changes at the level of the umbilical cord. Underlying the pathophysiology of asphyxia during pregnancy is reduced oxygen flow to the brain, which leads to aerobic metabolism to maintain the mitochondrial respiratory chain and adenosine triphosphate (ATPase) activity. When hypoxia lasts longer, a metabolic block occurs. Glucose needs are met through the glycolytic pathway, which results in the formation of lactate in the extracellular space, causing acidosis.
