Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring

Paul G. Tomich, M.D.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
University of Nebraska College of Medicine
 Learning Objectives
 Evolution
 Examples
 Descriptions
– Reassuring patterns
– Concerning patterns
 Definitions of Category I, II, and III tracings
– Discuss action needed
 Non-stress Test (NST)
 Biophysical Profile (BPP)
 “Evolution” of FHR Monitoring
 Monitoring fetus in labor
 FHR patterns
– Good outcomes
– Poor outcomes
 Contraction Stress Test (CST)
 Non Stress Test (NST)
 Biophysical profile (BPP)
 Categorization of FHR Tracing into Category I, II, and III
 Categorization of FHR Tracings

 Recommendation of three-tiered system

– April 2008
– More standardized interpretation
 Concept: Interpretation of a FHR monitor strip is a
dynamic process, with determination of whether a
particular strip is reassuring and what action plans
should be taken… and then to evaluate at a later time
 Ways to Monitor

 Uterine contractions
 Fetal heart rate (FHR)
 Ways to Monitor

 Uterine contractions
 Fetal heart rate (FHR)
 Features to Describe
 Fetal heart rate (FHR)
– Top line on monitor strip
 Uterine contractions
– Bottom line on
monitor strip
 Features to Describe
 Baseline
 Variability
 Accelerations
 Decelerations
 Trends over time
 Interpret into 1 of 3 categories
 Baseline

 Mean fetal heart rate

– Rounded to increments of 5
– During a 10 minute period
– Excluding accelerations and decelerations
 Normal baseline
– 100-160 BPM
Baseline is RED LINE
 Baseline
 Bradycardia
<100 BPM
 Tachycardia
>160 BPM
 Indeterminate
– less than 2 minutes of baseline is present
 Fetal Tachycardia
 Normal variant
– prematurity
 Intra-amniotic infection
 Fetal anemia
 Fetal cardiac arrhythmia (SVT)
 Fetal hypoxia
 Features to Describe
 Baseline
 Variability
 Accelerations
 Decelerations
 Trends over time
 Interpret into 1 of 3 categories
 Variability
 Fluctuations in FHR
– Over 10 minutes
 Descriptors are:
– Absent: undetectable amplitude range
– Minimal: undetectable up to 5 BPM
– Moderate: amplitude range 6 to 25 BPM
– Marked: amplitude range greater than 25 BPM
Variability
 Features to Describe
 Baseline
 Variability
 Accelerations
 Decelerations
 Trends over time
 Interpret into 1 of 3 categories
 Accelerations
 Abrupt increase in FHR
– At least 15 BPM above baseline
 Duration
– Must last 15 seconds to 2 minutes

 Prolonged accelerations
– Last 2 minutes to 10 minutes
 Baseline change
– Acceleration lasting 10 mins or longer
>15 beats above baseline
15 seconds to 2 minutes in length
 Features to Describe
 Baseline
 Variability
 Accelerations
 Decelerations
 Trends over time
 Interpret into 1 of 3 categories
 Decelerations

 Decrease in baseline
 3 Types
– Early
– Variable
– Late
 Deceleration

 Decrease in FHR
 Early Deceleration
 Symmetrical to
contraction
 Mirror image of
contraction
 Gradual decrease in
FHR
– 30 secs or more from
onset to nadir
 EARLY DECELERATION
 Gradual FHR decrease
 Onset to nadir 30 seconds or more
 Nadir of deceleration occurs with peak of contraction
 Mirror contraction
 Late Decelerations

 Deceleration is delayed in timing

– Occurs after the contraction
 A gradual FHR decrease
– Onset to nadir > 30 second
Late Decelerations
 Variable Decelerations

 Abrupt decrease in fetal

heart rate
– Onset to nadir less than
30 seconds
 Decrease in FHR
– 15 BPM or more
– Lasting 15 seconds to 2
mins
 Variable Declerations

 Pathophysiology
– umbilical cord
compression
 Decelerations
 Prolonged deceleration
– Decrease of 15 BPM
– Lasts 2-10 minutes
 Baseline change
– Deceleration lasting at least 10 mins
 Description
– Intermittent
 Less than 50% of contractions in 20 minutes

– Recurrent
 More than 50 % of contractions in 20 minutes
 Sinusoidal Pattern

 Smooth sin-wave pattern

 Cycle frequency 3-5 mins
 Persists for 20 minutes or
longer
Sinusoidal Pattern
 Uterine Contractions

 Number of contractions in 10 minutes

– averaged over thirty minutes
 Document
– Frequency
– Intensity
– Duration
– Relaxation
 time between contractions
Monitoring of Contractions
 Tachysystole

 >5 contractions in 10 mins

– Averaged over 30 mins
 Categorization of FHR Patterns

 An evaluation of the fetus at a particular point in

time
 Categories I, II, and III
3 Categories
 Category I

 Normal baseline
– 110-160 BPM
 FHR Variability
– moderate
 Late or Variable decelerations
– none
 Category II

 Not enough evidence to place into

either Category I or III
 Category III

 Abnormal tracing
 Predictive of abnormal fetal acid-base status
 Requires prompt intervention
The ABCD’s of Fetal Monitoring
Examples of Tracings
 Non-Stress Test

•Reactive
•2 or more accelerations in 20 mins
•Acceleration
•At least 15 beats above baseline
•Lasting for at least 15 seconds

•Non-reactive
Reactive NST
 Biophysical Profile (BPP)
 NST + ultrasound markers
 Score linearly correlated with fetal pH
 Risk of fetal death within one week of normal
BPP is 1:1300
 Biophysical Profile

•Zero or 2 points for each

•Fetal heart beat monitor
•Fetal breathing
•Fetal movements
•Amniotic Fluid Volume
•Flexion/Extension
 Modified Biophysical Profile

•Combination of NST and AFI only

•If less than 4/4
•more evaluation is done
Guidelines for Reviewing FHR Monitoring

 normal patient
– reviewed every 30 min in the first stage of labor
– every 15 minutes in the second stage
 complicated patients
– every 15 minutes in first stage
– Every 5 mins in second stage