Fetus

Fetal Bradycardia

search

Fetal Bradycardia, FHR Bradycardia

  • See Also
  1. Fetal Assessment
  2. Fetal Testing Indications
  3. Fetal Heart Tracing
  • Definitions
  1. Fetal Bradycardia
    1. Fetal Heart Rate under 110 bpm
  1. Maternal Causes
    1. Excessive Vagal Stimulation
    2. Maternal Hypoglycemia
    3. Maternal Hypotension
    4. Maternal Hypothermia
  2. Fetal Causes
    1. Fetal Congenital Heart Disease
    2. Fetal cord compression
    3. Fetal Hypoxia
    4. Post-term infant >42 weeks
    5. Occiput PosteriorFetal Position
  • Causes
  • By Severity
  1. Mild Fetal Bradycardia (Fetal Heart Rate 100-110 bpm)
    1. Benign if adequate variability and no decelerations
  2. Transient Fetal Bradycardia (FHR < 100 bpm)
    1. Fetal Heart Block or other conduction defects
    2. Maternal Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
    3. Congenital Heart Disease
  3. Prolonged Fetal Bradycardia (FHR < 100 bpm)
    1. Severe Fetal Hypoxia
  • References
  1. Bailey (2000) ALSO, E:1-13
  2. Gabbe (2002) Obstetrics, p. 395
  3. Arnold (2020) Am Fam Physician 102(3): 158-67 [PubMed]
  4. Rylander (2001) Clin Fam Pract 3(2):287-305 [PubMed]