Is a fetal heart rate of 166 normal?

The so-called fetal heart rate actually refers to the heart rate of the fetus. There are many factors that affect the fetal heart rate, such as the size of the fetus. If the fetal heart rate is abnormal, pregnant women and their families must pay special attention to it. Some reasons may be more serious. For example, fetal hypoxia can cause serious abnormalities in the fetal heart rate. Pregnant women need to regularly monitor whether the fetal heart rate is normal. Is the monitoring result of a fetal heart rate of 166 normal?

Is a fetal heart rate of 166 normal?

Fetal heart rate is an important indicator of the baby's health. Especially during pregnancy checkups, special attention should be paid to the fetal heart rate. If the fetal heart rate is abnormal, it is very likely that there is a problem with the baby. It is best to seek medical attention in time to check what the problem is. In addition, the fetal heart rate is also helpful in determining the gender of the fetus. Let’s take a look at this question: Is a fetal heart rate of 166 beats normal?

Is fetal heart rate 166 normal?

1. The normal fetal heart rate is 120-160 beats/minute. The child's fetal heart rate of 166 beats/minute is too high. In this case, the child may be suffering from hypoxia, and oxygen inhalation can be considered. If the fetal heart rate returns to normal, you can continue to observe and have prenatal check-ups on schedule.

2. The fetal heart rate is within the normal range of 120-160. If it exceeds the normal range, fetal hypoxia and distress should be considered. Regular prenatal examinations are recommended to detect any abnormalities in the fetus as early as possible. Pay attention to counting fetal movements at ordinary times, and go to the hospital in time if there are any abnormalities.

What causes a fetal heartbeat to be too fast?

1. Fever

The condition of the pregnant woman herself also affects the changes in the fetal heart rate. For example, if the pregnant woman has a fever, the fetal heart rate will often exceed 160 beats/minute.

2. Hyperthyroidism

If a pregnant woman has hyperthyroidism, her heart rate will be very fast and the fetal heart rate will often exceed 160 beats per minute.

3. Taking medication

If pregnant women take certain medications, such as salbutamol, which is used to protect the fetus during premature birth, or atropine, it can cause the mother and baby's heart rate to accelerate.

4. Umbilical cord entanglement

In addition, in the case of umbilical cord entanglement, the entanglement may sometimes be aggravated due to fetal movement, and the fetal heart rate may continue to accelerate. If this happens before 36 weeks, the fetus is small and can move freely in the uterus, so the entanglement may be transient. If it happens after 36 weeks, the fetus is in a relatively fixed position and the entanglement may cause fetal distress or even death.

The fetal heartbeat is a reflection of the fetal health level and must be paid special attention to. There is not just one factor that affects the fetal heartbeat, it depends on the specific situation. However, it should be noted that the fetal heart rate may be very difficult for pregnant women to capture, so pregnant women need to observe more on their own and go to the hospital for relevant examinations when necessary.