Under what circumstances is absent variability considered a Category 2 tracing?

Absent variability is classified as Category 2 when there are no accompanying decelerations. In the context of fetal heart monitoring, variability refers to the fluctuations in the fetal heart rate around the baseline. When variability is absent but not accompanied by any decelerations, it indicates that while the fetal heart rate is not showing normal fluctuations, it is not currently exhibiting more concerning patterns that would warrant a higher risk classification, such as recurrent late decelerations.

In practice, if there are no decelerations present, the tracing can still be classified as Category 2, signaling a need for close monitoring rather than immediate intervention. This allows healthcare providers to focus on the absence of variability while recognizing that the lack of decelerations provides a more favorable context.

In contrast, categories involving recurrent late decelerations or how decelerations are defined—as seen in the other choices—indicate a greater risk and would generally not allow for absent variability to be categorized as Category 2 without increasing concern for potential fetal distress.