An equivocal-suspicious CST may demonstrate:

An equivocal-suspicious contraction stress test (CST) may demonstrate intermittent late decelerations. This finding suggests that there may be some level of uteroplacental insufficiency or compromised fetal well-being, which is a key aspect being assessed during a CST. Intermittent late decelerations are concerning as they indicate that the fetus may not be handling the stress of contractions well, potentially reflecting issues with fetal oxygenation during periods of uterine activity.

In the context of a CST, a normal response would typically be the absence of any decelerations or the presence of reassuring patterns, while severe variable decelerations and repeated early decelerations indicate more definitive abnormalities. Severe variable decelerations are not classified as equivocal or suspicious; they signal a more severe problem, often related to cord compression. Repeated early decelerations can be normal, associated with fetal head compression, which does not indicate stress. Lastly, no fetal heart rate changes would suggest a normal test and would not fall under the category of equivocal-suspicious findings. Thus, the presence of intermittent late decelerations serves as a clear red flag in evaluating fetal health during labor.