You are looking at a fetal monitor strip that shows decreased variability. What additional information is most significant in interpreting these findings?

Question

a. Is this an internal or an external monitor?
b. Is this fetus term or post date?
c. Maternal blood pressure
d. What is the dilation of the cervix?

Answer 1

A
The most significant additional information is to determine if the results are from internal or external fetal monitoring. External fetal monitoring does not provide as close a correlation between fetal movement and fetal heart activity as internal scalp electrode monitoring. While fetus term or post date can affect fetal heart activity, it is more important first to determine the type of monitoring that produced the results in the scenario. Maternal blood pressure can also affect fetal heart activity, but it is more important first to determine the type of monitoring that is being used. Knowing the dilation of the cervix is an indicator of the progression of labor and the consistency of the uterine contractions that can affect fetal heart activity, it is more important first to determine the type of monitoring.