Fetal Heart Tones interpretation

Question 1

4 features of reassuring heart tones

Answer 1

Baseline 120-160bpm

Accelerations in early labor

Absense of late, variable or prolonged decelerations

Cycling variation (moderate most of the time)

Question 2

Alarming FHT patterns

Answer 2

Recurring late or variable decelerations
Substantial bradycardia (60-80’s)
Consistent lack of variation
Progressively decerasing variation with lates or tachycarida and bradycardia
Marked tachycardia followed by marked bradycardia
Sinusoidal pattern

Question 3

Why is a non-reassuring pattern not always correlated with a bad outcome?

Answer 3

Because healthy term babies with normal placental reserve are prepared to withstand a substantial amount of intermittent hypoxia before profound acidosis of the fetus occurs

Question 4

If mom is dehydrated, you’re more likey to see…

Answer 4

Tachycardia

Question 5

If mom or baby have infections, you’re more likely to see…

Answer 5

Tachycardia followed by late decels and bradycardia

Question 6

If mom or baby have hypoglycemia, you’re more likely to see…

Answer 6

Tachycardia followed by bradycardia

Question 7

With uterine rupture or placental abruption, you are most likely to see…

Answer 7

late decelerations (may be very deep) followed by prolonged late decels

Question 8

With maternal drug use (recreational and some OB drugs), youre most likely to see…

Answer 8

Tachycarida possibly followed by bradycardia

Question 9

If baby has a fetal heart defect youre most likely to see…

Answer 9

Bradycardia (and likely no variation)