A nurse is caring for a client who is in active labor and notes the FHR baseline has been 100/min for the past 15 min. The nurse should identify which of the following conditions as a possible cause of fetal bradycardia?
Explanation & Rationale
A) Fetal anemia: Fetal anemia typically causes tachycardia (increased heart rate) rather than bradycardia (decreased heart rate). It is not a common cause of fetal bradycardia. B) Maternal hypoglycemia: Maternal hypoglycemia can lead to decreased glucose availability for the fetus, resulting in fetal bradycardia. It is important to monitor and manage maternal blood glucose levels to ensure adequate fetal oxygenation and prevent bradycardia. C) Chorioamnionitis: Chorioamnionitis, an infection of the amniotic fluid and membranes, usually causes fetal tachycardia rather than bradycardia. It is associated with an increased fetal heart rate due to the inflammatory response. D) Maternal fever: Maternal fever is more likely to cause fetal tachycardia due to the increased metabolic rate and oxygen demand. It is not typically associated with fetal bradycardia.