Fetal asphyxia as a cause of brain damage has been a concern since the 19th century when the association of asphyxia during labour and asphyxia before the onset of labour to deficits in children was proposed. The significance of fetal asphyxia as a cause of brain damage remained obscure until the middle of the 20th century when the systematic examination of the effect of asphyxia and ischaemia on the fetus began in the research laboratory.

The results of these laboratory studies have provided the foundation of our current understanding of the role of fetal asphyxia as a cause of brain damage. Clinical studies have provided an opportunity to determine if these concepts are equally relevent to the human fetus.