Worksheet to accompany FHR review video
FHR= Fetal heart rate monitoring
FHR is the most common means of assessing the health (viability) of the fetus throughout
labor.
Maternal uterine artery branches through the uterine wall into the placenta.
All fetal organs and tissues receive oxygen rich blood from the uterine artery through the
placenta and umbilical cord to all fetal organs and tissues.
The brain regulates fetal cardiac activity.
Hypoxemia is lower than normal levels of oxygen. Significant or prolonged hypoxemia will
result in FHR changes, decreased heart rate and loss of FHR variability.
Hypovolemia= loss of blood volume resulting in hypoxemia
Acidemia= acid/base imbalance resulting most commonly from hypoxemia
Uterine contractions appear as wave like forms on the FHR monitoring tracing.
Normal fetal heart rate is 110-170 beats/minute (bpm).
VARIABLILITY
Variability is a 6-25 beats/minute which indicates a healthy nervous system and appears like
“squiggly” line showing random variations in the FHR.
Loss of variability is an ominous sign.
Internal scalp electrode may cause a scalp hematoma.
DECELERATIONS
Early decelerations-FHR nadir corresponds with the peak of the uterine contraction.
Early decelerations represent compression of the fetal head. The presence of early
decelerations are considered a reassuring FHR pattern.
FHR= Fetal heart rate monitoring
FHR is the most common means of assessing the health (viability) of the fetus throughout
labor.
Maternal uterine artery branches through the uterine wall into the placenta.
All fetal organs and tissues receive oxygen rich blood from the uterine artery through the
placenta and umbilical cord to all fetal organs and tissues.
The brain regulates fetal cardiac activity.
Hypoxemia is lower than normal levels of oxygen. Significant or prolonged hypoxemia will
result in FHR changes, decreased heart rate and loss of FHR variability.
Hypovolemia= loss of blood volume resulting in hypoxemia
Acidemia= acid/base imbalance resulting most commonly from hypoxemia
Uterine contractions appear as wave like forms on the FHR monitoring tracing.
Normal fetal heart rate is 110-170 beats/minute (bpm).
VARIABLILITY
Variability is a 6-25 beats/minute which indicates a healthy nervous system and appears like
“squiggly” line showing random variations in the FHR.
Loss of variability is an ominous sign.
Internal scalp electrode may cause a scalp hematoma.
DECELERATIONS
Early decelerations-FHR nadir corresponds with the peak of the uterine contraction.
Early decelerations represent compression of the fetal head. The presence of early
decelerations are considered a reassuring FHR pattern.
