Tachycardia in a fetus can be an early sign of which condition?

• A. Hypoxia
• B. Hyperglycemia
• C. Polyhydramnios
• D. Postmaturity

Answer: (A)

When oxygen delivery to the fetus drops, the body responds quickly by increasing the heart rate to boost cardiac output and push more blood—and thus more oxygen—to vital organs. This sympathetic surge leads to fetal tachycardia, making it an early sign that the fetus may be experiencing hypoxia. As hypoxia worsens, the heart rate pattern can change—variability may decrease and bradycardia can develop—so tachycardia is viewed as an initial distress signal. Other conditions like maternal hyperglycemia, polyhydramnios, or postmaturity don’t produce this immediate compensatory rise in heart rate in the same way hypoxia does.