The terms variable, early, and late decelerations are all in reference to when the decel happens in relation to the uterine contractions. So... if your baby is having decels at the beginning of a contraction it is considered an "early decel," if the decel begins at the peak or after the peak of the contraction, it is considered a "late decel," and if the deceleration appears to have no relation to the contraction pattern, then it is considered a "variable decel." Because, and I'm assuming here that you aren't in labor, your decel occured outside of having contractions, I think that's why they referred to it as a variable decel.
Here is a website that explains in more detail the types of decelerations and what they usually indicate.
This is part of what the website says about variable decels:
Quote:
| Variable decelerations do not look like late or early decelerations. They are generally irregular, often jagged dips in the fetal heart rate that look more dramatic than late decelerations. Variable decelerations are caused when the umbilical cord of the baby is temporarily compressed. This happens in virtually all labors, and multiple variable decelerations can be found during the course of nearly all labors. As a rule, variable decelerations are not worrisome.However, the baby does depend upon steady blood flow through the umbilical cord to receive oxygen and other important nutrients. If variable decelerations are prolonged or repetitive, they can signify a reduction of blood flow, which is harmful to the baby. Doctors judge whether variable decelerations are worrisome or not primarily depending on the other features of the heart rate tracing, and how close to delivery they judge the woman to be. |
That said, if you are worried at all about what happened and about your baby, talk to your care provider until you feel reassured, that's what you're paying them for!
