What is the normal fetal heart rate range and what patterns indicate distress?

The normal fetal heart rate baseline is 110 to 160 beats per minute. Reassuring patterns include moderate variability with fluctuations of 6 to 25 beats per minute and accelerations, which are temporary increases of 15 beats above baseline lasting at least 15 seconds. Concerning patterns include late decelerations that begin after the contraction peak and indicate uteroplacental insufficiency, variable decelerations that are abrupt drops indicating cord compression, minimal or absent variability suggesting fetal hypoxia or sedation, and prolonged decelerations lasting more than two minute ---