FHR Monitoring V2 Practice Test

A Category III fetal heart rate (FHR) tracing is characterized by abnormal findings that are considered concerning for fetal well-being. This includes patterns that indicate severe fetal compromise. The key components of a Category III tracing are generally absent variability, recurrent late decelerations, recurrent variable decelerations, or bradycardia.

Bradycardia with absent variability fits this definition perfectly. In this case, the heart rate is lower than the normal range, and the lack of variability indicates that the fetal heart is not responding normally to stimuli, suggesting significant fetal stress or hypoxia. This situation raises a high level of concern and necessitates close monitoring and possibly intervention.

In contrast, while prolonged decelerations with absent variability can be concerning, the bradycardia aspect carries a higher risk factor for immediate fetal distress. Other options, such as intermittent prolonged decelerations, may still allow for some degree of variability or recovery and do not necessarily indicate immediate compromise as starkly as bradycardia does. Tachycardia with absent variability, while abnormal, is not classified as Category III.