HESI Obstetrics and Maternity Practice Exam 2026 – Complete Study Resource

Category III tracing signals fetal distress and requires urgent assessment and action. Its hallmark features reflect significant oxygen deprivation and CNS/adrenergic compromise: recurrent late decelerations point to uteroplacental insufficiency, absent or minimal baseline variability indicates impaired fetal autonomic function, and bradycardia shows a sustained drop in fetal heart rate. When these patterns are present, the tracing is classified as Category III because they reflect a high risk of hypoxia and require prompt interventions, potentially including expedited delivery. In contrast, a normal tracing with reassuring variability describes a well-oxygenated fetus, while an indeterminate pattern with occasional decelerations fits Category II and prompts closer monitoring. Intermittent artifact does not reliably reflect fetal status and isn’t considered a true Category III pattern.