What term describes a sudden increase in fetal heart rate?

The term that describes a sudden increase in fetal heart rate is acceleration. In the context of fetal monitoring, an acceleration is defined as a temporary increase in the fetal heart rate of 15 beats per minute or more above the baseline rate, lasting for at least 15 seconds. This increase is typically associated with fetal movement and is considered a reassuring sign of fetal well-being.

Understanding accelerations is crucial for interpreting fetal heart rate patterns. They indicate that the fetus is responding well to stimuli and often correlate with adequate oxygenation and a healthy autonomic nervous system. Recognizing these changes is part of effective fetal monitoring and helps healthcare providers assess fetal health during labor.

In contrast, bradycardia refers to a decrease in fetal heart rate, deceleration signifies a transient decrease, and variability reflects fluctuations in the heart rate that occur over time. Each of these patterns provides important information about the fetus's condition, but only acceleration indicates a sudden increase in heart rate.