A 35-year-old woman, G3P2, at 39 weeks’ gestation is admitted to hospital because of a blood pressure of 150/90. She has chronic hypertension being managed with labetalol. Ultrasonography shows a fetus cephalically engaged. Five hours after admission, the cervix is 5cm dilated. A fetal heart tracing is shown.
Which of the following is the most likely explanation for these findings?
Cord compression
Fetal hypoxia
Fetal sleep state
Head compression
Maternal fever