Final answer:
Late decelerations are a sign of uteroplacental insufficiency and denote a compromised oxygen supply to the fetus, often necessitating immediate medical intervention. Oxytocin or Pitocin is administered to augment labor if it has stalled, to promote cervical dilation and fetal descent for delivery. Option c is the answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The decelerations described in the question are indicative of c) Late decelerations, which are due to uteroplacental insufficiency. These occur when there is a lag between the peak of the contraction and the onset of fetal heart rate deceleration. It is a sign that the fetus is not getting enough oxygen due to a potential compromise in blood flow from the placenta. The appropriate response to late decelerations includes changing the patient's position, stopping any oxytocin infusion, administering oxygen, and preparing for delivery if these interventions do not improve the fetal heart rate and overall fetal condition.
Synthetically administered oxytocin, commonly known as Pitocin, is used to induce or augment labor when the process of labor has stalled, specifically if the cervix is not dilating adequately and the fetus is not descending as expected. As labor progresses naturally, increasingly forceful contractions continue until the baby is born, driven in part by the hormone oxytocin released due to the stretching of the cervix. However, if labor stalls, additional oxytocin may be needed to support the continuation of regular contractions and advance labor towards delivery.