Correlations between obstetric clinical events and umbilical cord blood acid-base and blood gas values.

Umbilical cord blood acid-base analysis may be used to assess the condition of fetus and newborn more objectively. Newborn acid-base status is an important criterion when we attempt to define perinatal asphyxia. It also has medicolegal ramifications because it enables the documentation of the presence of a biochemical milieu that is not related to the later development of cerebral palsy. We anticipate future research will focus on the redefinition of acidemia and its relationship to fetal and new-born outcomes.