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absent FHR variability
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lack of FHR baseline fluctuation
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accelerations
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abrupt increases in the FHR above the baseline 15 bpm or more lasting 15 seconds or more
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bradycardia
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FHR baseline less than 110 bpm lasting greater than 10 minutes
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contraction frequency
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how often the contractions are occurring, determined by measuring from the beginning of one contraction to the beginning of the next contraction
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contraction length
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how long the contraction lasts, determined by measuring the time between the beginning of the contraction to the end of the contraction
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contraction strength
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intensity of the contraction, determined externally by palpation or internally by the intrauterine pressure catheter
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early decelerations
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usually, symmetrical, gradual FHR declines that then return to baseline, mirroring the uterine contraction
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fetal heart rate (FHR)
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heart rate and rhythm of the fetus
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fetal reserve
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fetus’s capacity to tolerate the normal intermittent interruptions in oxygenation during labor and recover back to full oxygenation
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fetal scalp electrode (FSE)
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affixed to the scalp of the fetus and provides close monitoring of the fetal heart rate
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FHR baseline
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average beats per minute in a 10-minute segment, excluding periodic changes or marked variability
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FHR variability
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beat-to-beat fluctuations in the FHR baseline
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intermittent auscultation (IA)
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technique of assessing fetal well-being by listening to and counting the fetal heart rate for a specified amount of time and at specified intervals, depending upon the stage of labor
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intrauterine pressure catheter (IUPC)
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device placed between the uterus and fetus that measures the exact pressure inside the uterus at rest and during contractions
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intrauterine resuscitation
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specific interventions aimed at increasing oxygen to the placenta and to the umbilical cord to reverse fetal hypoxia
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late decelerations
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symmetrical, gradual decreases in FHR after the start of a uterine contraction, with return to baseline after the ending of the contraction
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marked FHR variability
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FHR baseline fluctuation greater than 25 bpm
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minimal FHR variability
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FHR fluctuations of 5 bpm or fewer
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mm Hg
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millimeters of mercury, abbreviated mm Hg; measurement unit of intrauterine pressure catheter
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moderate FHR variability
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FHR fluctuations between 6 and 25 bpm
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Montevideo unit
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unit of measurement of uterine contraction strength via IUPC
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periodic changes in the FHR
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accelerations and decelerations of the FHR, abrupt or gradual, in relation to the FHR baseline
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prolonged decelerations
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isolated, sporadic decelerations of at least 15 bpm from the FHR baseline that last 2 to 10 minutes from onset to return to baseline
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tachycardia
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FHR baseline greater than 160 bpm
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tocodynamometer
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device that detects the frequency of uterine contractions
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uterine contraction (UC)
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tightening and shortening of the uterine muscles
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uteroplacental insufficiency
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disruption of the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the fetus from the placenta
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variable decelerations
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abrupt decelerations of the FHR of at least 15 bpm below the baseline that last at least 15 seconds and less than 2 minutes, regardless of any uterine contraction