Normal Values:

Normal values indicate that the fetus is not in distress by showing a fetal heart rate between 120 and 160 beats per minute. A variability of 5 - 25 beats per minute from the baseline (normal) fetal heart rate may occur.

The fetal heart rate may drop slightly during a contraction, since placental blood supply is diminished under the compression of a uterine contraction. This is normal as long as the fetal heart rate recovers quickly once the contraction has stopped.

What abnormal results mean:

Fetal heart monitoring tests can detect the following abnormal situations or conditions:

• Cord compression (there is no free blood flow to the fetus)
• Fetal heart block (where there is a block of electrical flow within the heart muscle causing an altered heart rhythm)
• Fetal malposition
• Fetal hypoxia (insufficient oxygen supply to the fetus)
• Infection (monitoring cannot diagnose an infection, but can suggest the presence of an infection)
• Uteroplacental insufficiency (insufficient oxygen exchange between the uterus and the placenta)
• Fetal distress
• Abruptio placenta