Oligohydramnios risk during labor?

Oligohydramnios risk during labor?

• A. Cord compression and fetal distress
• B. Fetal tachycardia
• C. Placental abruption
• D. Postpartum infection

Answer: (A)

Low amniotic fluid volume reduces the cushioning around the umbilical cord, so during contractions the cord is more easily compressed. This cord compression can cut off or lessen blood flow and oxygen to the fetus, leading to fetal distress that is often detected as variable decelerations on fetal heart rate monitoring. That connection—oligohydramnios increasing the likelihood of cord compression and subsequent fetal distress—explains why this option is the best match for risk during labor. The other scenarios aren’t as directly linked to low fluid during labor. Fetal tachycardia can occur for reasons like infection or hypoxia but isn’t a primary consequence of oligohydramnios. Placental abruption involves separation of the placenta with pain and bleeding, a different obstetric emergency not specifically caused by low fluid. Postpartum infection is an issue after delivery, not a labor-risk associated with oligohydramnios.

Low amniotic fluid volume reduces the cushioning around the umbilical cord, so during contractions the cord is more easily compressed. This cord compression can cut off or lessen blood flow and oxygen to the fetus, leading to fetal distress that is often detected as variable decelerations on fetal heart rate monitoring. That connection—oligohydramnios increasing the likelihood of cord compression and subsequent fetal distress—explains why this option is the best match for risk during labor.

The other scenarios aren’t as directly linked to low fluid during labor. Fetal tachycardia can occur for reasons like infection or hypoxia but isn’t a primary consequence of oligohydramnios. Placental abruption involves separation of the placenta with pain and bleeding, a different obstetric emergency not specifically caused by low fluid. Postpartum infection is an issue after delivery, not a labor-risk associated with oligohydramnios.