CEFM Exam 1 Questions & Answers
2025/2026
what does a category I tracing predict? - ANSWERSa normal acid-base balance
what is the baseline for a category I strip? - ANSWERS110 to 160 BPM
what is the variability for a category I strip? - ANSWERSmoderate (6 to 25 bpm)
what decelerations can be present in a category I strip? - ANSWERSearly decelerations
late and variable decelerations must be absent
does a category I tracing have to have accelerations? - ANSWERSno; accelerations are not
required for a category I tracing
category I tracing example - ANSWERS
what does a category II tracing mean? - ANSWERSthe acid-base balance is indeterminate
includes anything that is not category I or III
what is the baseline rate of a category II tracing? - ANSWERS- bradycardia WITHOUT absent
variability
- tachycardia
what is the variability of a category II tracing? - ANSWERS- minimal baseline variability
- absent baseline variability WITHOUT recurrent decelerations
,- marked variability
minimal variability example - ANSWERSless than 5 BPM
marked variability example - ANSWERSgreater than 25 BPM
are accelerations present in category II tracings after fetal stimulations? -
ANSWERSaccelerations are not present after fetal stimulation to classify tracing as category II
what are the possible periodic or episodic decelerations present in category II tracings? -
ANSWERS- recurrent variable decelerations accompanied by minimal or moderate baseline
variability
- prolonged deceleration > 2 minutes but < 10 minutes
- recurrent late decelerations with moderate baseline variability
- variable decelerations with other characters (slow return to baseline or shoulders)
variable deceleration example - ANSWERSan abrupt decrease in FHR below baseline; greater
than 15 BPM lasting greater than 15 seconds, but less than 2 minutes from onset to return to
baseline
prolonged deceleration example - ANSWERSa decrease in FHR below the baseline of 15 bpm or
more, lasting at least 2 minutes but < 10 minutes from onset to return to baseline
late deceleration example - ANSWERSa gradual decrease and return to baseline of the fetal
heart rate associated with uterine contractions
what does a category III tracing predict? - ANSWERSpredicts abnormal acid-base status
, a category III tracing includes either of the following... - ANSWERS- absent baseline FHR
variability and ANY of the following:
- recurrent late decelerations
- recurrent variable decelerations
- bradycardia
- sinusoidal pattern
what does absent variability with recurrent late decelerations or variable deceleration indicate?
- ANSWERSpredictive of current or impending fetal asphyxia so severe that fetus is at risk for
neurologic damage and death
what is a sinusoidal pattern? - ANSWERSsmooth, wave-like baseline appears 3 to 6 time per
minute
can be documented if pattern lasts for > 20 minutes
what do indeterminate and abnormal (category II or III) tracings require? - ANSWERStracings
require evaluation of possible etiology
what are some initial assessments and interventions for category II or III tracings? - ANSWERS-
discontinuation of labor stimulating agents
- vaginal examination
- maternal repositioning
- correction of maternal hypotension
- IV fluid bolus of LR solution
- assessment of tachysystole (reduce uterine activity if noted)
- amnioinfusion
- modification of maternal pushing maternal efforts in 2nd stage
2025/2026
what does a category I tracing predict? - ANSWERSa normal acid-base balance
what is the baseline for a category I strip? - ANSWERS110 to 160 BPM
what is the variability for a category I strip? - ANSWERSmoderate (6 to 25 bpm)
what decelerations can be present in a category I strip? - ANSWERSearly decelerations
late and variable decelerations must be absent
does a category I tracing have to have accelerations? - ANSWERSno; accelerations are not
required for a category I tracing
category I tracing example - ANSWERS
what does a category II tracing mean? - ANSWERSthe acid-base balance is indeterminate
includes anything that is not category I or III
what is the baseline rate of a category II tracing? - ANSWERS- bradycardia WITHOUT absent
variability
- tachycardia
what is the variability of a category II tracing? - ANSWERS- minimal baseline variability
- absent baseline variability WITHOUT recurrent decelerations
,- marked variability
minimal variability example - ANSWERSless than 5 BPM
marked variability example - ANSWERSgreater than 25 BPM
are accelerations present in category II tracings after fetal stimulations? -
ANSWERSaccelerations are not present after fetal stimulation to classify tracing as category II
what are the possible periodic or episodic decelerations present in category II tracings? -
ANSWERS- recurrent variable decelerations accompanied by minimal or moderate baseline
variability
- prolonged deceleration > 2 minutes but < 10 minutes
- recurrent late decelerations with moderate baseline variability
- variable decelerations with other characters (slow return to baseline or shoulders)
variable deceleration example - ANSWERSan abrupt decrease in FHR below baseline; greater
than 15 BPM lasting greater than 15 seconds, but less than 2 minutes from onset to return to
baseline
prolonged deceleration example - ANSWERSa decrease in FHR below the baseline of 15 bpm or
more, lasting at least 2 minutes but < 10 minutes from onset to return to baseline
late deceleration example - ANSWERSa gradual decrease and return to baseline of the fetal
heart rate associated with uterine contractions
what does a category III tracing predict? - ANSWERSpredicts abnormal acid-base status
, a category III tracing includes either of the following... - ANSWERS- absent baseline FHR
variability and ANY of the following:
- recurrent late decelerations
- recurrent variable decelerations
- bradycardia
- sinusoidal pattern
what does absent variability with recurrent late decelerations or variable deceleration indicate?
- ANSWERSpredictive of current or impending fetal asphyxia so severe that fetus is at risk for
neurologic damage and death
what is a sinusoidal pattern? - ANSWERSsmooth, wave-like baseline appears 3 to 6 time per
minute
can be documented if pattern lasts for > 20 minutes
what do indeterminate and abnormal (category II or III) tracings require? - ANSWERStracings
require evaluation of possible etiology
what are some initial assessments and interventions for category II or III tracings? - ANSWERS-
discontinuation of labor stimulating agents
- vaginal examination
- maternal repositioning
- correction of maternal hypotension
- IV fluid bolus of LR solution
- assessment of tachysystole (reduce uterine activity if noted)
- amnioinfusion
- modification of maternal pushing maternal efforts in 2nd stage
