Final answer:
Percutaneous umbilical cord blood samplings (PUBS) can be used to test for genetic abnormalities, fetal blood type, and maternal antibodies during pregnancy. It does not directly measure fetal heart rate. This process allows for early detection and treatment of potential issues affecting the fetus's health.
Step-by-step explanation:
Percutaneous umbilical cord blood samplings (PUBS) is a diagnostic procedure that can be performed during pregnancy to test for a variety of conditions. This method is used to assess the health of the fetus by examining genetic abnormalities, fetal blood type, and maternal antibodies. PUBS involves taking a blood sample from the umbilical cord under ultrasound guidance and analyzing it for chromosomal or genetic disorders, blood incompatibilities, and infections.
The role of the placenta and the umbilical vein is crucial to fetal circulation, as it carries oxygen-rich blood from the mother to the fetus. In contrast, the umbilical arteries carry oxygen-depleted blood and waste from the fetus to the placenta. Fetal hemoglobin differs from adult hemoglobin in its ability to bind oxygen at lower pressures, facilitating oxygen transfer from the mother's blood. Fetal viability and growth are significant aspects of prenatal care, with viability increasing and growth being a linear process until the final stages of pregnancy, just before birth.