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Maternal oxygen supplementation significantly impacts fetal oxygenation, particularly in situations where the fetus is exhibiting symptoms of hypoxia. When a mother receives supplemental oxygen, it elevates the maternal oxygen levels in the blood. This increase can enhance the amount of oxygen delivered to the placenta and, consequently, to the fetus.

A key factor at play is the oxygen-hemoglobin dissociation curve, which illustrates how hemoglobin's affinity for oxygen changes with varying levels of oxygen concentration. In the presence of higher maternal oxygen levels, the curve becomes steeper, indicating that at a given partial pressure of oxygen, there is a greater saturation of hemoglobin with oxygen. This change promotes effective oxygen transfer from the mother to the fetus, thereby improving fetal oxygenation and potentially alleviating hypoxia symptoms.

This concept underscores the importance of maternal oxygen supplementation in managing fetal distress and hypoxic events, demonstrating a direct benefit to the fetus's oxygen supply in critical situations.