Objective: Recent developments permit the use of pulse oximetry to evaluate fetal
oxygenation in labor. We tested the hypothesis that the addition of fetal pulse oximetry in the
evaluation of abnormal fetal heart rate patterns in labor improves the accuracy of fetal
assessment and allows safe reduction of cesarean deliveries performed because of
nonreassuring fetal status. Study Design: A randomized, controlled trial was conducted
concurrently in 9 centers. The patients had term pregnancies and were in active labor when …