A client arrives at OB triage with complaints of decreased fetal movement for the past 24 hours.
The client states, "I see the high-risk clinic because I have chronic hypertension and gestational diabetes.”. The nurse applies the external fetal monitors and identifies a fetal heart rate baseline of 120 bpm, absent variability, no accelerations, and recurrent late decelerations.
What fetal heart rate category would the nurse communicate to the provider?

Choice A rationale

Precipitous labor is a rapid labor that typically lasts less than 3 hours. While it can result in trauma and complications, it does not inherently increase the risk for an operative delivery, which is more often related to other factors like fetal distress or failure to progress.

Choice B rationale

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is a significant concern with precipitous labor due to the rapid and forceful contractions that can cause uterine atony, leading to increased bleeding after birth.

Choice C rationale

In a precipitous labor, the rapid delivery can cause vaginal lacerations, not a decreased risk. The swift passage of the baby through the birth canal increases the risk of tears and trauma.

Choice D rationale

Neonatal sepsis is related to infections acquired during delivery but is not specifically linked to the speed of labor. The primary concern in precipitous labor is maternal trauma and hemorrhage, not infection.

Choice A rationale

Uteroplacental insufficiency leads to late decelerations, which are characterized by a gradual decrease in fetal heart rate after the peak of a contraction. This indicates compromised blood flow between the uterus and placenta, affecting the fetus.

Choice B rationale

Umbilical cord compression usually causes variable decelerations, not late decelerations.

Choice C rationale

Maternal bradycardia does not cause changes in fetal heart rate patterns like late decelerations.

Choice D rationale

Fetal head compression causes early decelerations, which coincide with contractions, not late decelerations.