Reversible antepartum fetal distress.

Information generated from the various tests of fetal well-being must be interpreted correctly to avoid unnecessary intervention for assumed fetal distress. This applies to both the intrapartum and antenatal period. The presence of normal data (e.g., reassuring fetal heart rate tracing) allows the woman to continue confidently with the pregnancy or labor course. When the information is nonreassuring, the cause of the abnormal data should be identified and corrected. Position change and discontinuation of pitocin are examples of common intrapartum actions. In the antepartum period, a compromised maternal condition is often associated with abnormalities in fetal heart rate testing. Rather than respond with immediate delivery for a potentially compromised fetus, the physician should treat and correct the maternal condition. As demonstrated by these case reports, this often allows for the continuation of pregnancy or labor with improvement of maternal and fetal status as well as avoidance of unnecessary and perhaps dangerous risk of untimely and premature intervention.