Fetal Heart Rate
Full Form of FHR
What is FHR?
Fetal Heart Rate (FHR) refers to the number of heartbeats per minute of an unborn baby, typically monitored during pregnancy and labour to assess fetal well-being. In India, FHR monitoring is a standard part of antenatal care, especially in hospitals and clinics equipped with Doppler ultrasound devices or cardiotocography (CTG) machines. It is used by obstetricians and midwives to detect signs of fetal distress, hypoxia, or other complications, particularly during the third trimester and active labour. The normal FHR ranges between 110 and 160 beats per minute, and variations outside this range may indicate the need for intervention. FHR is also a key parameter in non-stress tests (NST) and biophysical profiles, which are commonly performed in high-risk pregnancies in Indian urban and rural healthcare settings. For medical students and nursing professionals in India, understanding FHR interpretation is essential for clearing postgraduate exams like NEET PG and AIIMS PG, as well as for clinical practice in obstetrics and gynaecology. Regular FHR monitoring has contributed to reducing perinatal mortality rates in the country, making it a critical tool in maternal and child health programs such as Janani Suraksha Yojana.
FHR का फुल फॉर्म
भ्रूण हृदय गति
Example
During the third trimester check-up at a government hospital in Delhi, the doctor used a handheld Doppler to record the fetal heart rate and noted it was 145 bpm, which is within the normal range.