NCC Certified Electronic Fetal Monitoring (C-EFM) Practice Exam

What umbilical artery cord blood gas pH level indicates fetal metabolic acidemia?

1. 6.84

2. 6.94

3. 7.04

4. 7.14

The correct answer is: 6.94

Fetal metabolic acidemia is indicated by a pH level that is lower than the normal range for umbilical artery cord blood, which typically falls between 7.20 and 7.40. Specifically, a pH level below 7.20 suggests significant acidemia. The value of 6.94 falls into the category of metabolic acidosis, indicating that the fetus has experienced a state where there is an accumulation of acids or a loss of bicarbonate, leading to a lower pH. This level is indeed suggestive of a fetal response to poor oxygenation or inadequate blood flow, which can occur in different complications during labor or pregnancy. The other values do not indicate metabolic acidemia as they are either within the normal range or above it. For instance, levels of 7.04 and 7.14 are still considered to be within a safer, more stabilized range, while 6.84 would be concerning as it reflects a more severe state of acidosis. Thus, 6.94 is the critical threshold indicating fetal metabolic acidemia.