ABSTRACT
PROPHYLACTIC INTERVENTIONS Maternal Oxygen Prophylactic intrapartum maternal oxygen in the second stage of normal labor is associated with more frequent low (<7.20) cord blood pH values than the control group (1). There are no other statistically significant differences between the groups. There is a tendency toward reduced cord arterial blood oxygen content and oxygen saturation in mothers treated with oxygen compared with controls. Therefore, routine maternal oxygenation throughout the second stage should not be performed. Short-term oxygenation may be beneficial and long-term oxygenation harmful.
