Introduction Description: Reduced variability is characterized by a reduction in the normal variation in heart rate from beat to beat that may signal fetal stress. Prevalence: Reduced variability is a common finding when the fetal status is compromised. It also…
Introduction Description: Periodic changes in the fetal heart rate in conjunction with uterine contractions may occur. These may indicate fetal stress when they are persistent or become progressively deeper or longer lasting. Recurrent decelerations are defined as occurring with 50%…
Introduction Description: Bradycardia is a decrease in the baseline heart rate, generally below 120 beats Moderate bradycardia is generally defined as 80–100 beats/min, and severe bradycardia as less than 80 beats/min, for more than 3 minutes. Prevalence: Mild fetal bradycardia…
The Challenge Description: Labor is the rhythmic contraction of the uterus that leads to progressive cervical effacement and dilatation. When effective, this leads to descent and eventual expulsion of the fetus. Labor may or may not culminate in the delivery…
The Challenge Fetal health may be assessed using the nonstress test (NST). This test is the simplest of the antenatal tests to perform and often represents the first line in managing an at-risk pregnancy. Scope of the Problem: Of pregnancies,…
The Challenge Doppler flow studies (also known as Doppler velocimetry) constitute a group of tests used to evaluate fetal health and reserve by assessing blood flow characteristics in the umbilical cord, middle cerebral artery, or other vascular structures. Of the…
The Challenge Fetal health may be assessed using the contraction stress test (also called “oxytocin challenge test”). This test is somewhat analogous to an exercise stress test for the evaluation of adult cardiac function as problems or weaknesses that are…
The Challenge The biophysical profile (BPP) is one of several tests used to evaluate fetal health and reserve. Of the tests used for fetal assessment, the BPP is the most technologically intensive and most expensive, but it carries the lowest…
The Challenge The challenge is to reduce the risk for fetal demise in women at a high risk through the use of noninvasive tests that have acceptably low false-positive and false-negative results. Scope of the Problem: There are approximately 5.7…
The Challenge During the third trimester (29–40 weeks or more) the fetus continues to grow and develop, with full maturation in organ function being established, maternal physiology continuing to change, and the cervix and uterus preparing for the processes of…