1. Assess differences in flow patterns in the fetal cerebral blood vessels within 24 hours before delivery between fetuses with a normal vs. adverse perinatal outcome. 2. Explore maternal and/or fetal characteristics that might influence technical feasibility of doppler sonography of the fetal cerebral blood vessels in early labor at term. 3. Assess reliability of the technique by measuring intra- and inter-observer variation in a subset of participants.
Singleton pregnancy.
Term gestation (37-42 weeks).
Fetus in cephalic presentation.
No known fetal chromosomal or (severe) congenital anomaly.
Advanced labor (> 4cm of cervical dilatation) at the time of admission on the labor ward.
Severe pre-existing chronic maternal medical condition or poor obstetric history/antenatal complications associated with increased risk of adverse perinatal outcome (non-exhaustive e.g.: uncontrolled chronic hypertension, severe pre-eclampsia, uncontrolled (gestational) diabetes, maternal sepsis, major antepartum haemorrhage, intra-uterine infection, prolonged rupture of membranes > 18 hours, etc.).
Intra-uterine fetal demise / death.
Prelabour rupture of membranes with meconium-stained amniotic fluid.