Welcome to the second edition of 5F³! This time, we’re back with more Paramedic facts 2 about: Complications of Pregnancy
- Fetal heart rate should typically be between 120-160 bpm. It’s okay if the rate varies by 15 bpm in either direction.
- Fetal heart rate < 120 bpm is considered bradycardia if sustained for longer than 5 minutes. This is most commonly caused by fetal hypoxia. If the patient is in active labor, look for signs of umbilical cord prolapse!
- Fetal heart rate > 160 bpm is considered tachycardia if sustained for longer than 10 minutes. Often this is caused by maternal fever or sepsis.
- Maternal infection is the most prevalent cause of pre-term labor.
- Decreased fetal movement often indicates fetal hypoxia.
Stay tuned this week for a post all about tocolytics and their use in the prehospital setting!
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References
Pittman CS. FP-C Exam Prep Course Student Guide. 2015.
