Fetus

Fetal Heart Rate Baseline

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Fetal Heart Rate Baseline, Fetal Heart Tone Change in Baseline, FHR Baseline

  • See Also
  1. Fetal Assessment
  2. Fetal Testing Indications
  3. Fetal Heart Tracing
  • Technique
  • Determining Fetal Heart Rate Baseline
  1. Auscultate and count FHR for 60 seconds
  2. Perform between contractions
  • Interpretation
  1. Normal baseline: 110 to 160 beats per minute
  2. Change in baseline occurs if persists >10 minutes
  • Causes
  • Change in baseline
  1. Premature fetus
  2. Maternal Fever
  3. Maternal position
  4. Medications
  5. Fetal Hypoxia
    1. Baseline gradually increases and
    2. Decreased variability and
    3. FHR decelerations
  • References
  1. Bailey (2000) ALSO, E:1-13
  2. Gabbe (2002) Obstetrics, p. 395
  3. Rylander (2001) Clin Fam Pract 3(2):287-305 [PubMed]