Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract (No URLs or Links)
NCC aligns with AWHONN’s “Practice Guidelines for Fetal Heart Monitoring”, which specify the appropriate frequency of intermittent auscultation (IA) based on labor phase and risk level. For low-risk patients in active labor, IA must occur:
Every 15–30 minutes during active labor
Every 5 minutes during second stage with pushing
AWHONN and Menihan emphasize that intermittent auscultation must follow standardized time intervals to ensure adequate fetal surveillance. These intervals reflect the physiologic understanding that fetal compromise may evolve over relatively short time periods, and active labor (4–7 cm dilation) represents a time of increasing stress on fetal oxygenation.
Simpson & Creehan explain that IA frequency should increase as labor intensifies, and that the 15–30-minute interval is the nationally recognized standard for low-risk active labor. NCC’s exam content domain “Fetal Assessment Methods” reinforces knowing these surveillance intervals for safe low-intervention care.
Thus, for a 4–5 cm dilated, low-risk, spontaneous labor, the correct IA interval is every 15–30 minutes.
References (No URLs)
NCC C-EFM Candidate Guide 2025 – Fetal Assessment Methods
AWHONN Practice Guidelines for Fetal Heart Monitoring, 2022–2024
Menihan: Electronic Fetal Monitoring
Simpson & Creehan: Perinatal Nursing
Miller: Fetal Monitoring Pocket Guide
