Umbilical artery blood ph in meconium stained amniotic fluid

Meconium stained amniotic fluid is a common occurrence in many deliveries. It was considered physiological as well as pathological. It is difficult to know when this meconium causes distress in the newborn. In this study we have attempted to correlate umbilical artery blood pH at birth and neonatal status in Meconium Stained Liquor (MSL). In the present study it was observed that 90.9% of babies in Grade 1 MSL group had a pH of >7.2, 68% of babies in grade 2 MSL group had pH >7.2 and 40% of babies with Grade 3 MSL had normal pH at birth. Out of the 62 patients studied, only 5% of babies born through grade 1 MSL required Neonatal intensive care unit(NICU) admission while 50% of babies born through grade 3 MSL required NICU admission,45% of babies with grade 2 MSL required NICU admission and this is statistically significant. The cord blood pH is a sensitive parameter to diagnose birth asphyxia and can be used in high risk cases as this may help to provide appropriate care to the newborn thus preventing neonatal mortality as well as morbidity.