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Normal values indicate that the fetus is not in distress by showing a fetal heart rate between 120 and 160 beats per minute. A variability of 5 - 25 beats per minute from the baseline (normal) fetal heart rate may occur.
The fetal heart rate may drop slightly during a contraction, since placental blood supply is diminished under the compression of a uterine contraction. This is normal as long as the fetal heart rate recovers quickly once the contraction has stopped.
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