Amnioscopy and foetal blood sampling: observations on foetal acidosis.

Amnioscopy and foetal blood sampling: observations on foetal acidosis.

Amnioscopy is available as an out-patient procedure, whenever hazards threaten the life of the foetus during late pregnancy. An endoscope-the amnioscope-is passed into the cervical canal so that the amniotic fluid can be inspected through the intact forewaters. Amniotic fluid which is clear, or milky from emulsification of vernix, indicates that conditions within the uterus are normal. Green or...

Observations on foetal haemoglobin.

Foetal haemoglobin exhibits a much greater resistance towards alkaline denaturation than does adult haemoglobin, thus constituting an important distinction between the two types of haemoglobin. The phenomenon was first described by Korber (1866), observed again by Kruger (1887-88), and subsequently studied in more detail by Bischoff (1926), Haurowitz (1929, 1930), and Brinkman, Wildschut and Wi...

Foetal blood sampling in the regional hospital.

Several difficulties arise in the introduction of foetal blood sampling in a regional hospital. Ideally there should be a unit sufficient to provide continuous registrar cover (anaesthetic cover and medical cover) of the labour suite. In our hospital duties have been reallocated in an attempt to attain this standard. Both consultant and registrar staff must take adequate study leave to understa...

Adverse Effects of Alcohol Consumption, on Foetal and Postnatal Mice

Observations on the change from foetal to adult erythropoiesis.

The replacement of foetal haemoglobin (Hb F) by the adult form (Hb A) in the circulating blood of an infant is a striking event, but its mechanism is incompletely understood. The dramatic cessation of haemopoiesis in the liver at about the time of birth coincides roughly with the time when Hb F begins to disappear most rapidly from the peripheral blood; and it is not surprising that some writer...