Baseline fetal heart rate range is between which of the following?

Baseline fetal heart rate range is between which of the following?

• A. 90-120 beats per minute
• B. 100-140 beats per minute
• C. 110-160 beats per minute
• D. 130-170 beats per minute

Answer: (C)

Baseline fetal heart rate is the average rate of the fetus’s heart over about a 10-minute period when the fetus is at rest and not showing accelerations or decelerations. The normal baseline sits roughly between 110 and 160 beats per minute. This range reflects typical autonomic regulation and occasional sleep cycles that can cause modest fluctuations. Values persistently below 110 indicate bradycardia, while values persistently above 160 indicate tachycardia. In practice, when interpreting fetal monitoring, distinguish this steady baseline from brief accelerations (temporary increases above baseline) and decelerations (temporary decreases from baseline).

Baseline fetal heart rate is the average rate of the fetus’s heart over about a 10-minute period when the fetus is at rest and not showing accelerations or decelerations. The normal baseline sits roughly between 110 and 160 beats per minute. This range reflects typical autonomic regulation and occasional sleep cycles that can cause modest fluctuations. Values persistently below 110 indicate bradycardia, while values persistently above 160 indicate tachycardia. In practice, when interpreting fetal monitoring, distinguish this steady baseline from brief accelerations (temporary increases above baseline) and decelerations (temporary decreases from baseline).