1. Assess differences in flow patterns in the fetal cerebral blood vessels within 24 hours before delivery between fetuses with a normal vs. adverse perinatal outcome. 2. Explore maternal and/or fetal characteristics that might influence technical feasibility of doppler sonography of the fetal cerebral blood vessels in early labor at term. 3. Assess reliability of the technique by measuring intra- and inter-observer variation in a subset of participants.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
120
Combined trans-abdominal and trans-perineal ultrasound examination
University Hospitals Leuven, department of obstetrics and gynaecology
Leuven, Belgium
RECRUITINGDifferences in VPR (Vertebro-Placental Ratio) between fetuses/neonates with a composite perinatal outcome score < 3 / => 3
Time frame: VPR measured in early labor (=< 4cm of cervical dilatation) - perinatal outcome score assessed at delivery - timespan between both observations variable, expected <12 hours.
Differences in other doppler parameters (PI VA, PI MCA, CPR) between fetuses/neonates with a composite perinatal outcome score < 3 / => 3.
Time frame: VPR measured in early labor (=< 4cm of cervical dilatation) - perinatal outcome score assessed at delivery - timespan between both observations variable, expected <12 hours.
Differences in maternal and fetal characteristics between successful and unsuccessful doppler examinations (observations) of the fetal VA and MCA respectively.
Time frame: Assessed in early labor (=< 4cm of cervical dilatation)
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