Pregnancy events and brain damage.

A national standard of perinatal care has been established for the early detection and appropriate management of the fetus-neonate who is at risk for distress, brain damage, or death. While perinatal and infant mortality has significantly decreased during the past 10 years, a similar reduction in conditions of severe handicap has not been observed. Undetected antenatal umbilical cord compression is suggested as a possible cause of unexplained brain damage. Basic animal experimentation and clinical experience is reviewed to support the hypothesis.