when is the cord blood gas drawn
Cord blood gases are typically drawn from the umbilicus during delivery to document oxygenation status of the newborn during delivery. Acidosis (pH less than 7.1 in an arterial cord blood gas) may indicate blood flow and hence oxygenation from mother to newborn may have been occluded during delivery. The Umbilical Artery is where the baby's venous circulation dumps unoxygenated blood. This is blood that was on its way back to the mom's heart and lungs to pick up oxygen.