Abstract

NAPOLES MENDEZ, Danilo. Current controversies to define changes in the fetal wellbeing. MEDISAN [online]. 2013, vol.17, n.3, pp. 521-534. ISSN 1029-3019.

As a proposal of different scientific societies the term non reassuring fetal status was coined, substituting it by fetal distress which was considered nonspecific. This literature review was carried out in order to show to the medical community the different terms with which the changes of the fetal wellbeing are defined and the influence that the use of the expressions non reassuring fetal status and the risk of loss of the fetal well-being generate in Obstetrics. Likewise, the necessity of looking for a more unified technical language was emphasized and it was concluded that these terms do not determine the existent correspondence between the prenatal evaluation of the fetus and its status at birth.

Keywords : fetus; changes of the fetal well-being; non reassuring fetal status; fetal distress; terminology in Obstetrics.