Table 1.

Criteria for Interpretation of Fetal Heart Rate

Fetal heart rate	Definition
Variability
Absent	Undetectable
Minimal	5 BPM
Moderate	6-25 BPM
Marked	>25 BPM
Accelerations	15 BPM above baseline lasting 15 s
Decelerations
Early	Gradual decrease and return to baseline with nadir at the same time as peak of the contraction
Late	Gradual decrease and return to baseline with nadir after the peak of the contraction
Variable	Abrupt decrease below the baseline 15 BPM lasting 15 s, and <2 minutes in duration
Prolonged	Decrease from baseline 15 BPM, lasting 2 minutes

BPM, Beat per minute.