FHM Vignette #12: Clinical Management Problem I

Course overview

Training on reading FHR monitor strips is often not applied to specific clinical situations or to an understanding of why the FHR patterns look as they do in those situations. This activity reviews FHR patterns and highlights useful information for practitioners who interpret fetal tracings. The basic steps in FHR monitor strip interpretation include: 1) accurate assessment of the FHR pattern using the standardized NICHD terminology; 2) accurate assessment of maternal uterine activity; 3) consideration of maternal/fetal physiology as it relates to the current clinical situation; 4) determination of the appropriate FHR category; and 5) intervention and management appropriate to tracing interpretation. After completing this activity, practitioners should be able to: prioritize interventions and actions for 3 patient scenarios with interpretation of FHR tracings; review AWHONN appropriate perinatal staffing; and define prolonged decelerations, early decelerations, and variable decelerations.