Periodic decelerations are decelerations that are associated with contractions.

Periodic decelerations are decelerations that are associated with contractions.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. They occur only with hypertonic uterus
• D. They are accelerations

Answer: (A)

Periodic decelerations are fetal heart rate drops that track with contractions. In fetal monitoring, decelerations are categorized by their relationship to contractions: if the drop begins, reaches its nadir, and recovers in sync with a contraction, it’s considered periodic. Early decelerations happen as head compression during a contraction causes a vagal response that mirrors the contraction, and late decelerations begin after the contraction peak, reflecting placental insufficiency; both are tied to contractions, hence periodic. Decelerations that occur without any connection to contractions are episodic, and variable decelerations, while they can occur with contractions, are due to cord compression and don’t have a consistent contraction-associated pattern. Therefore, the statement is true.

Periodic decelerations are fetal heart rate drops that track with contractions. In fetal monitoring, decelerations are categorized by their relationship to contractions: if the drop begins, reaches its nadir, and recovers in sync with a contraction, it’s considered periodic. Early decelerations happen as head compression during a contraction causes a vagal response that mirrors the contraction, and late decelerations begin after the contraction peak, reflecting placental insufficiency; both are tied to contractions, hence periodic. Decelerations that occur without any connection to contractions are episodic, and variable decelerations, while they can occur with contractions, are due to cord compression and don’t have a consistent contraction-associated pattern. Therefore, the statement is true.