Question

a client who is having her labor induced with oxytocin has internal fetal monitoring in place. her contractions are occurring every 2 minutes, are lasting 70 seconds, and are reaching 65 mm hg on an intrauterine pressure catheter. the baseline fetal heart rate is 130 to 140 beats/min with variability of about 15 beats/min. the nurse notices that with the past two contractions the fetal heart rate began to drop during the peak of the contraction to 110 beats/min, where it remained for about 40 seconds before returning to baseline. which type of pattern is this?

Answer 1

The pattern described is known as a late deceleration, which is related to uteroplacental insufficiency and can indicate fetal distress.

Step-by-step explanation:

The fetal heart rate pattern described indicates a late deceleration. Late decelerations are characterized by a gradual decrease in fetal heart rate that begins after the start of the contraction, reaching its lowest point after the peak of the contraction, and then returning to baseline. They are typically symmetrical, meaning they look similar from one contraction to the next and are associated with uteroplacental insufficiency, where the placenta is not delivering enough oxygen to the fetus during contractions. This can be a sign of fetal distress due to the reduced oxygen supply during powerful or lengthy contractions, potentially requiring intervention.