If decelerations occur with less than 50% of contractions over 20 minutes, they are categorized as what?

If decelerations occur with less than 50% of contractions over 20 minutes, they are categorized as what?

• A. Intermittent decelerations
• B. Recurrent decelerations
• C. Episodic decelerations
• D. Periodic decelerations

Answer: (A)

Fetal heart rate decelerations are categorized by how often they occur in relation to contractions within a 20-minute tracing. When decelerations happen with fewer than half of the contractions, they are called intermittent decelerations. This means they’re not consistently tied to most contractions. If decelerations occur with 50% or more of contractions, they’re labeled recurrent. Periodic decelerations describe a pattern that reliably tracks with contractions, while episodic decelerations occur without a consistent relationship to contractions. So, decelerations occurring in less than half of contractions over 20 minutes are intermittent decelerations.

Fetal heart rate decelerations are categorized by how often they occur in relation to contractions within a 20-minute tracing. When decelerations happen with fewer than half of the contractions, they are called intermittent decelerations. This means they’re not consistently tied to most contractions. If decelerations occur with 50% or more of contractions, they’re labeled recurrent. Periodic decelerations describe a pattern that reliably tracks with contractions, while episodic decelerations occur without a consistent relationship to contractions. So, decelerations occurring in less than half of contractions over 20 minutes are intermittent decelerations.