In terms of fetal heart rate patterns, what could an absence of variability indicate?

An absence of variability in fetal heart rate patterns is significant because it often indicates potential fetal distress, particularly fetal hypoxia. Variability reflects the interaction between the fetal autonomic nervous system and the heart rate, which is essential for fetal well-being. When there is a lack of variability, it suggests that the fetus may not be responding appropriately to stimuli, which could be associated with a decreased oxygen supply.

Normal fetal well-being is typically characterized by a certain degree of baseline variability in heart rate patterns, indicating that the fetus is healthy and responding to environmental changes appropriately. Increased fetal movements generally correlate with increased heart rate variability as well, which is a sign of good health. Healthy uterine contractions, while important during labor, can also be expected to show some degree of variability in the context of fetal heart rate patterns.