What does amnioinfusion predominantly help reduce the incidence of?

Amnioinfusion predominantly helps reduce the incidence of variable decelerations. This is important because variable decelerations are often caused by umbilical cord compression, which can occur when the cord is compressed during contractions or when there is decreased amniotic fluid. By performing an amnioinfusion, additional fluid is introduced into the amniotic cavity, which can cushion the umbilical cord and alleviate compression. This intervention can lead to improved fetal oxygenation and stabilization of the fetal heart rate patterns.

In contrast, other potential responses, such as late decelerations or changes in baseline variability, are not directly addressed by amnioinfusion. Late decelerations are typically indicative of uteroplacental insufficiency, and while the overall condition of the fetus may improve, amnioinfusion is not primarily used to address this type of deceleration. Baseline variability refers to fluctuations in the fetal heart rate that indicate fetal well-being; however, amnioinfusion does not directly increase or otherwise alter this variability. Lastly, contraction frequency is related to the effect of uterine activity rather than the cushioning effect provided by increased amniotic fluid volume. Thus, amnioinfusion is most closely associated with reducing variable decelerations