Question
What is considered a normal fetal heart rate?
Answer
Generally, the fetal heart rate ranges from 120 to 160 beats per minute, and it may sometimes be faster or less regular. As pregnancy progresses into the later stages, the fetal heart rate becomes more regular. Occasionally, there may be brief pauses or an increase in fetal heart rate to 180 beats per minute, which are normal occurrences. However, if the fetal heart rate frequently exceeds 160 beats per minute or falls below 120 beats per minute, it may be a sign of fetal intrauterine hypoxia. If accompanied by irregular fetal heart rate, the situation may be more serious, and immediate medical attention is required. During examination, if the fast fetal heart rate is only occasional, it should be rechecked. If multiple checks show an abnormal fetal heart rate, further fetal heart rate monitoring may be needed, and oxygen therapy should be conducted under physician guidance to observe changes in fetal heart rate and ensure the health of the fetus. Wishing you a healthy pregnancy!