Question
What is retinopathy of prematurity? I had a fetal heart monitoring session one day before 37 weeks, and there were several peaks in the fetal heart rate, exceeding 160, with the rest being normal. What should I do?
Answer
Fetal heart rate (FHR) is an important indicator of fetal health. Normally, the fetal heart rate should be between 120 to 160 beats per minute. A fetal heart rate exceeding 160 beats per minute or persistently below 120 beats per minute may indicate that the fetus is experiencing oxygen deficiency in the uterus. Fetal heart monitoring can help understand changes in fetal heart rate, thereby assessing its health status. In your case, there were several peaks in the fetal heart rate exceeding 160 beats per minute, which may be a temporary response due to stimulation or uterine contractions. However, if this condition persists for more than 10 minutes, it is advisable to contact a doctor immediately for further examination and treatment to ensure the safety and health of the fetus.