Name two common causes of nonreassuring fetal status during labor.

• A. Cord compression and placental insufficiency
• B. Maternal dehydration and infection
• C. Fetal tachycardia and tachypnea
• D. Postterm pregnancy and obesity

Answer: (A)

Nonreassuring fetal status during labor reflects the fetus not receiving enough oxygen. The two most common causes are cord compression and placental insufficiency. Cord compression intermittently shuts down blood flow through the umbilical vessels, often during contractions, leading to variable decelerations on the fetal heart rate tracing. Placental insufficiency means the placenta isn’t delivering enough oxygen to the fetus, producing late decelerations and reduced variability that signal a more sustained hypoxic state. Maternal dehydration or infection can contribute to fetal stress but they’re not the typical acute causes seen most often during labor. Fetal tachycardia is a sign of distress rather than a primary cause, and while postterm pregnancy or obesity increase risk, they don’t directly cause the immediate nonreassuring patterns as reliably as cord compression and placental insufficiency.