Which condition is indicated by variable decelerations in fetal heart rate?

Variable decelerations in fetal heart rate are primarily associated with cord compression. This occurs when the umbilical cord is compressed during labor, leading to transient decreases in fetal heart rate due to reduced blood flow and oxygen delivery to the fetus during contractions. The deceleration pattern can be characterized by abrupt decreases and returns to baseline, often coinciding with uterine contractions.

In contrast, other conditions such as uteroplacental insufficiency typically produce late decelerations rather than variable ones, as they affect the placental blood flow rather than directly impacting the umbilical cord. Head compression can lead to variable decelerations as well, but it is more commonly associated with steady state changes in the heart rate that occur due to fetal head compression against the cervix, rather than the more abrupt changes characteristic of cord compression. Maternal hypoxia might affect fetal heart rate patterns but does not specifically correlate with variable decelerations. Thus, the characteristic pattern and the mechanism behind variable decelerations point directly to cord compression as the most accurate indication.