NCC Certified Electronic Fetal Monitoring (C-EFM) Practice Exam

What is the recommended frequency for intermittent auscultation in low-risk pregnancies during labor?

1. Every 15 minutes

2. Every 30 minutes

3. Every hour

4. Every 5 minutes

The correct answer is: Every 15 minutes

In low-risk pregnancies during labor, the recommended frequency for intermittent auscultation is every 15 minutes during the first stage of labor and at least every 5 minutes during the second stage. This practice allows for close monitoring of the fetal heart rate and ensures that any potential issues can be identified promptly. Choosing to auscultate every 15 minutes strikes a balance between patient comfort and the necessity for adequate monitoring. It provides a sufficient window of time to observe and assess fetal well-being while minimizing unnecessary interventions. Continuous monitoring, while useful in certain scenarios, can lead to increased interventions and anxiety in low-risk cases, where the likelihood of complications is lower. In contrast, auscultating every 30 minutes or every hour would not provide enough frequent assessment to promptly detect any changes in fetal heart rate patterns that may indicate distress, which is why those options would not be appropriate for ensuring the safety and health of both the mother and the fetus during labor.