Question

The nurse provides care for a client in labor. The nurse is most concerned the fetus is experiencing distress if which heart rate pattern is observed?

A. Late decelerations
B. Early decelerations
C. Variable decelerations
D. Accelerations

Answer 1

The fetal heart rate pattern most concerning for distress is late decelerations which signal potential uteroplacental insufficiency and fetal hypoxia, requiring immediate medical attention.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse would be most concerned that the fetus is experiencing distress if late decelerations of the fetal heart rate are observed. These decelerations can be indicative of uteroplacental insufficiency where there is a compromise in the blood flow or oxygen exchange between the placenta and the fetus. This condition can occur due to several factors, including maternal hypotension, preeclampsia, or other complications that can lead to a reduction in placental blood flow. On the fetal heart rate monitor, late decelerations are characterized by a gradual decrease in the fetal heart rate that begins after the start of a contraction and returns to baseline only after the contraction has ended. Unlike early or variable decelerations, which can be normal, late decelerations are often a sign of fetal hypoxia and require prompt assessment and intervention to ensure the well-being of the fetus.