Neonatal complications in newborns with an umbilical artery pH less than 7.00

Newborns who have an umbilical cord blood pH level of 7.00 or less may experience multiorgan complications. Low blood pH may indicate the newborn did not receive enough oxygen during labor and delivery. Researchers identified 84 newborns without developmental defects whose cord blood pH measured less than 7.00, and compared their outcomes to those of 84 newborns whose cord blood pH was over 7.24. Newborns with low blood pH levels were more likely to be resuscitated and intubated, and to have respiratory, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and neurologic complications than were newborns with pH levels over 7.24.