While evaluating an external monitor tracing of a woman in active labor,the nurse notes that the FHR for five sequential contractions begins to decelerate late in the contraction,with the nadir of the decelerations occurring after the peak of the contraction.What is the nurse's first priority?

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Late FHR decelerations may be caused by maternal supine hypotension syndrome.These decelerations are usually corrected when the woman turns onto her side to displace the weight of the gravid uterus from the vena cava.If the fetus does not respond to primary nursing interventions for late decelerations,then the nurse should continue with subsequent intrauterine resuscitation measures and notify the health care provider.An amnioinfusion may be used to relieve pressure on an umbilical cord that has not prolapsed.The FHR pattern associated with this situation most likely will reveal variable decelerations.Although a fetal scalp electrode will provide accurate data for evaluating the well-being of the fetus,it is not a nursing intervention that will alleviate late decelerations nor is it the nurse's first priority.

While Evaluating an External Monitor Tracing of a Woman in Active